Managing a company with your mate is not easy. If the business is struggling, that can damage your relationship. If the relationship is struggling, that can damage the business. And even if the company is thriving, the marriage can fall apart – in an ugly way.

    That was underscored with the latest chapter in the sad saga of Tory and Chris Burch. In 2004, the then-married couple founded Tory Burch. And while it grew into a global fashion brand, its two founders divorced – and at one point, became competitors.

    After the fact, it may be easy to spot the signs of trouble in the relationship or business (or both). But usually, couples who run companies together are figuring it out as they go along. The key to success: Setting clear boundaries between work and home, and communicating openly when there’s a problem. “Be really explicit [about] what’s allowed to spill over and what’s not,” says Nancy Rothbard, Professor of Management at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

    Here are seven famous examples of brands created by couples – and what happened after.

    和你的“另一半”共同打理一家公司，并不是一件容易的事。如果企业陷入了麻烦，甚至有可能影响你的夫妻关系。同理，夫妻感情出现了问题，反过来也有可能影响企业经营。即便公司繁荣发展，婚姻也有劳燕分飞的可能——而且是以一种尴尬的方式。

    托里•伯奇和克里斯的悲剧故事便印证了这一点。2004年，这对夫妻创立了Tory Burch公司。等到这家公司终于发展成全球知名的时尚品牌，两位创始人却离婚了，而且成了竞争对手。

    从“马后炮”的角度看，或许很容易找到他们的婚姻生活以及企业本身出现问题的迹象。通常，一起运营公司的夫妻会在前进中解决这些问题。“夫妻店”成功的关键，是要在工作和生活中划定明确的界限，当发生问题时，要勇于拿到台面上讨论。宾西法尼亚大学沃顿商学院管理学教授南茜•罗斯巴德指出：“要非常明确哪些能说，哪些不能说。”

    本文汇总了7个由夫妻共同创立品牌的知名例证，以及他们的最终结局。

 

    Chris and Tory Burch

    In 2004, Chris Burch, a successful entrepreneur and investor, helped his wife Tory open the first Tory Burch retail store. By 2006, the couple had divorced. In 2011, the relationship took a strange turn when Chris debuted C. Wonder, a clothing line viewed as so similar to the Tory Burch brand that his business was dubbed a"revenge retail company." A legal battle between Chris and Tory ensued.

    Telling quote:In 2012, Chris told Vanity Fair, "[Tory Burch] never could have existed without me, and it never could have existed without Tory." Some Tory Burch company representatives disputed that account, saying that Chris was not involved in day-to-day operations.

    The upshot:Tory and Chris announced a settlement of their legal battles in December 2012. The privately-held Tory Burch company is hugely successful and has been estimated to be worth more than $3 billion. Earlier this month, BuzzFeed reported that Chris was shutting down C. Wonder, but he's still pursuing another venture with comedienne Ellen DeGeneres. Together, they're launching her new fashion line, E.D.

    克里斯与托里•伯奇

    2004年，企业家兼投资人克里斯•托奇帮他的妻子托里开设了第一家Tory Burch零售店。2006年，这对夫妇宣告离婚。2011年，二人的关系出现了奇怪的变化。克里斯•托奇推出了一个名叫C•Wonder的服装品牌，由于它的定位和托里伯奇非常相似，因而它也被称为克里斯的“复仇公司”。这对劳燕分飞的夫妻随后就打起了一场官司。

    当事人说：2012年，克里斯对《名利场》杂志表示：“没有我就没有托里伯奇，但如果没有托里，也同样不会有它。”不过托里伯奇公司的代表强烈反对这种说法，并表示克里斯并未参与公司的日常经营。

    结局：2012年，托里与克里斯宣布庭外和解。作为一家私人公司，托里伯奇公司获得了巨大的成功，其估值超过30亿美元。据新闻网站BuzzFeed本月初报道，克里斯打算关掉他的C.Wonder，但同时也打算与知名喜剧女星艾伦•狄珍妮合作推出一个名叫E.D.的新时尚品牌。

    Kate and Andy Spade

    Kate wasn’t even officially a Spade when she and then-fiancé Andy nationally launched their iconic handbag line, Kate Spade, in 1993. In 1996, Andy left his full-time job and the next year, the couple sold their first men’s bag in their new line, Jack Spade. In 1999, the couple sold a 56% stake to Neiman Marcus for $33.6 million.

    Telling quote:"I think what we made the mistake of doing early on was taking every opportunity alone to talk about the business, at dinner, driving the car, you know at home brushing your teeth, as you're getting into bed, as you're waking up, and I think we made a conscious effort to not do that because I think it was just, you know, it would burn us out," Kate told CNN in 2002.

    The upshot:In 2006, when the company was pulling in $84 million in sales, they sold to Liz Claiborne, now renamed Kate Spade & Company KATE . They worked at the brand until 2007. After leaving, Andy went on to open Partners & Spade, a New York City-based branding firm, while Kate became an at-home mom.

    凯特与安迪•丝蓓

    1993年，凯特与她的未婚夫安迪•斯派德共同推出了手提包品牌Kate Spade，当时二人还未正式结婚。1996年，安迪辞去了他的全职工作，次年二人正式开卖他们的首款男包品牌Jack Spade。1999年，二人以3360万美元的价格，将公司56%的股权卖给了内曼马库斯公司。

    当事人说：“我认为我们早期犯的一个错误，就是在一切我俩独处的时间都要谈生意，不管是吃饭、开车、刷牙、睡觉还是起床的时候。后来我们有意地不再那样做，因为那样会耗尽我们的感情。”2002年接受CNN采访时，凯特这样说道。

    结局：2006年，该公司获得8400万美元的销售额，同年他们将公司卖给了丽诗加邦，现更名为Kate Spade & Company。他们在该品牌工作至2007年。离开公司后，安迪又在纽约开了一家名叫Partners & Spade的品牌营销公司，而凯特则成了一名全职妈妈。

    Doug Tompkins and Susie Tompkins Buell

    Though founded by Susie Tompkins Buell and a friend in San Francisco in 1968 under a different name, Esprit 330 was soon also led by her husband Doug, after he sold his own clothing company, North Face. The once-successful line and the marriage both began having serious troubles in the mid-1980s, chronicled by SF Weekly. While the couple divorced in 1989, the business’ drama took years to unfold. One minute Doug was leading the company, the next Susie.

    Telling quote:"Both Doug and Susie had very strong visions, but some of the synergy had fallen away, so it did make it more difficult," a former employee told SF Weekly. "It was more difficult because people knew there was internal conflict."

    The upshot:Lawsuits and takeovers moved faster than the products. These days, the publicly traded Esprit Holdings is based in Hong Kong and Germany, and in 2011, the company said in a filing, "The brand has gradually lost its soul over the past few years."

    道格•汤普金斯与苏西•汤普金斯•布埃尔

    1968年，苏西•汤普金斯•布埃尔与她的一个朋友在旧金山创立了Esprit公司的前身，当时这家公司还不叫这个名字。不久后，随着苏西的丈夫道格卖掉了自己的服装公司North Face，他也加入了Esprit的领导层。从80年代中期开始，他们的婚姻以及这家一度非常红火的公司都陷入了严重的麻烦。二人于1989年离婚后，公司的“宫斗”戏还上演了好几年。前一分钟是道格领导公司，下一分钟就换成了苏西。

    当事人说：一名曾在该公司工作过的员工对《旧金山周刊》表示：“道格和苏西都有很强的愿景，但他们之间的协同效应消失了，所以使公司变得更加困难，因为人们都知道公司有内部冲突。”

    结局：官司和收购来得比产品还快。如今，已经公开上市的Esprit控股公司将总部设在香港和德国。2011年，该公司在一份文件中称：“过去几年，这个品牌已经逐渐失去了灵魂。”

    Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby

    Originally a photographer, Burt Shavitz started beekeeping and selling his honey after leaving New York City for upstate in 1970. But it wasn’t until he picked up then-hitchhiker Roxanne Quimby in 1984 that the business really took off. By 1993, the company had $3 million in sales, but the couple's relationship – business and personal – dissolved when Roxanne caught him in an affair.

    Telling quote:Burt told The Daily Beast in 2013 that when Quimby discovered his affair, she played hardball. “She consulted a lawyer and put the paper on a desk and said, ‘There! Take it or leave it!” I had no one to turn to for guidance, so I signed it. I went one way and she went another."

    The upshot:He ended up selling his one-third share of the company for 50 acres of land and a home, worth only $130,000, according to The New York Times. In 2000, AEA Investors bought 80 percent of the company, paying Quimby $141.6 million, making Shavitz’s share, had he still owned it, worth about $59 million, according to theTimes. Shavitz, the report said, was able to get $4 million more from Quimby and still gets paid an undisclosed sum each year for the use of his image. In 2007, Burt's Bees was bought by the Clorox Company CLX .

    伯特•夏维茨与罗珊•昆比

    伯特•夏维茨最早是一名摄影家，1970年离开纽约，去农村养蜂卖蜜。但他的公司真正做大做强，还是罗珊•昆比于1984年加入公司以后的事。到1994年，该公司的销售额已经达到300万美元，但由于伯特出轨被罗珊抓获，这对夫妇（包括私人关系与商业关系）也随之一拍两散。

    当事人说：2013年，伯特对《野兽日报》表示，当年罗珊发现他出轨后，态度甚是强硬。“她咨询了一名律师，然后把协议放在桌子上，说道：‘看吧！要么接受要么滚！’没人能给我提供指导，所以我就签了。于是我俩就分道扬镳了。”

    结局：据《纽约时报》报道，伯特最终卖掉了三分之一的公司股权，换来了50英亩土地和一幢房子，价值仅有13万美元。2000年，安盈投资公司支付昆比1.416亿美元，购买了公司80%的股权。也就是说伯特如果依然拥有股份的话，他所持股权的价值将达到5900万美元。该报纸还称，伯特还可以从昆比那里获得400多万美元，每年还可以获得一笔数额不明的款项，让公司得以继续使用他的肖像权。2007年，Burt’s Bees公司被高乐氏公司收购。

    Andrew and Peggy Cherng

    If any restaurant chain embodies the American dream, it’s Chinese chain Panda Express. Co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng immigrated to the U.S. (he from China and she from Burma), met in college, got married, and became billionaires. Their empire started in 1973, when Andrew opened the Panda Inn with $60,000 of savings, a small business loan, and free labor from family members.

    In 1975, the two wed, and when Andrew opened his second restaurant in 1982, Peggy left her engineering job and joined the business.

    Telling quote:In 2013, Peggy told Fortune, "We had to learn how to resolve business disagreements. It’s not 'Your way is best' or 'My way is best,' but the alternative way — which incorporates everybody’s ideas — is best."

    The upshot:The privately-held company had $2.2 billion in revenue last year, according to the Los Angeles Times.

    程正昌与蒋佩琪

    最能代表“美国梦”的餐馆，非中餐连锁店“熊猫快餐”莫属。两名CEO程正昌与蒋佩琪都是亚裔移民（程正昌来自中国，蒋佩琪来自缅甸），二人在大学相识，然后喜结连理，又携手成为亿万富翁。二人的商业帝国奠基于1973年，当时程正昌靠着一笔6万美元的积蓄、一笔小额商业贷款以及家人的免费劳动力开了一家“熊猫旅馆”。

    1975年，程正昌与蒋佩琪结婚。程正昌于1982年开设了第二家餐厅，蒋佩琪也辞去了工程师的工作，加盟公司。

    当事人说：2013年，蒋佩琪对《财富》表示：“我们必须学会怎样解决商业分歧。并不是说‘你的方法是最好的’或者‘我的方法是最好的’，那种能够接纳每个人想法的方法才是最好的。”

    结局：据《洛杉矶时报》报道，去年这家私人公司的营收达到22亿美元。

    Sandy Lerner and Leonard Bosack

    Sandy Lerner co-founded technology giant Cisco Systems in 1984 with her then-husband Leonard Bosack. After the two designed their breakthrough invention — a router that connects computer networks — and spent six years building the company, Lerner was fired by its board of directors in 1990, the same year Cisco went public. Bosack resigned alongside her, but the emotional damage, apparently, had been done. The couple later divorced.

    Telling quote:In a 2013 speech, Lerner advised the women in the audience, "You are not the company, and the company is not you.” Her experience with Cisco "broke up my marriage and broke up my health. I was an emotional basket case."

    Upshot:When they left the company, Lerner and Bosack sold their two-thirds stake for $170 million. Lerner went on to create the nail polish brand Urban Decay, which she then sold to LVMH LVMUY . It is now owned by L'Oreal LRLCY . Leonard is reportedly retired.

    桑迪•雷纳与莱纳德•博萨克

    1984年，桑迪•雷纳与前夫莱纳德•博萨克共同创立了科技巨头思科公司。不过就在二人设计出突破性的重大发明，也就是能够连结计算机网络的路由器之后，雷纳却于1990年被公司的董事会开除了，此时她已经在公司辛苦经营了六年。同年，思科正式上市。博萨卡也与桑迪一起辞职了，但此事带来的情感伤害显然已经铸成。后来这对夫妻也宣告离婚。

    当事人说：在2013年的一次演讲中，雷纳向在座的女性建议道：“你不是公司，公司也不是你。”在思科的经历“毁掉了我的婚姻，损害了我的健康。我在感情上已经成了一个空心人。”

    结局：他们离开公司后，雷纳与博萨克以1.7亿美元卖掉了他们的三分之二的公司股份。后来雷纳创立了一个名叫Urban Decay的美甲品牌，后来她将公司卖给路易威登集团。目前该公司为欧莱雅所有。莱纳德据说已经退休了。

    Sharon and Kip Tindell

    Sharon Tindell wasn't a cofounder of her husband's mega-business, The Container Store TCS . But since starting behind a register in the 70s, she found her passion in the store's inventory. Now the Chief Merchandising Officer, Tindell has become an integral part of company operations. (Her husband, Kip, is the CEO). And the company, she says, has become a big part of their marriage.

    Telling quote: "I can't say it's always been smooth," Sharon told Fortune in December, "but [Kip and I] are like-minded in our values. If we have a disagreement, we can intellectualize it, so we can get the emotions out of it and get to the right place."

    Upshot: In 2013, The Container Store went public, and it continues to expand. It has been on Fortune's Best Companies to Work list 15 years in a row.

    莎伦和基普•廷德尔

    莎伦并不是她丈夫的Container Store公司的创业功臣之一。不过自从莎伦从70年代当上一名登记员开始，她发现自己对这家公司的存货产生了兴趣。现如今，身为首席商品官的莎伦，已经成为这家公司不可或缺的一分子。（她的丈夫基普担任公司的CEO）。莎伦表示，这家公司也是他们婚姻的一个重要组成部分。

    当事人说：莎伦去年12月对《财富》表示：“我不敢说它总是很顺利，但基普和我的价值观是志同道合的。如果我们产生了分歧，我们可以进行理性的分析，所以我们可以排除情感因素，找到正确的方法。”

    结局：2013年，Container Store公司正式上市，目前仍在继续扩张。它已经连续15年登上《财富》的最佳雇主榜单。（财富中文网）

    译者：朴成奎

    审校：任文科