The Success of Lillian Vernon It all began with black and white in 1951. Today, nearly 45 years later, the mail order business of Lillian Vernon has swept the mail order market and maintained a financial foothold where others could not. Lillian Hochberg (now known as Lillian Vernon) started her business at her Lillian's motivation was to supplement her husband's then $150 dollar a week income by working from her home. She could be homemaker and help with the finances too. Her success started by using $495 dollars of wedding gift money to place an mail order add in Seventeen magazine selling an inexpensive leather belt with matching purse that she herself had designed. As a hook,