Natura & Co. reached an agreement to sell The Body Shop to private equity group Aurelius. The beauty company will be sold for 207 million pounds (around $257 million at the time), with an earn-out of 90 million pounds. 

“With the sale of The Body Shop, we are taking another important step in Natura & Co.’s new development cycle to unlock significant value,” Fabio Barbosa, chief executive officer of Natura & Co., said in a statement. “Refocused, deleveraged and leaner, Natura & Co. will now be able to fully concentrate on its core relationship selling expertise in Latin America while also continuing the optimization of Avon International’s footprint and investing in initiatives and innovations that positively impact people and the planet.” 

Natura & Co.'s board authorized its management to explore strategic alternatives for The Body Shop earlier in 2023 amid declining sales.

After upping its stake in the company, Amorepacific acquired beauty brand CosRx in October.

Amorepacific said it would acquire the 288,000 remaining shares from CosRx’s largest shareholder and related parties for 755.1 billion won (about $567.3 million at the time). The deal follows Amorepacific’s acquisition of 38.4% of CosRx’s shares in 2021. Amorepacific is now expected to own 93.2% of the company’s shares.

Amorepacific aims to accelerate its global expansion through collaborations with CosRx. Amorepacific’s portfolio includes other brands like Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Innisfree and Mamonde.

Unilever entered into an agreement to sell Dollar Shave Club to private equity firm Nexus Capital Management. Terms of the deal were not disclosed and it is expected to be finalized by the end of 2023.

Through the transaction, Unilever will keep 35% minority shareholding control in the men’s grooming and personal care brand. Unilever acquired the subscription-based shaving company in 2016 in what was reportedly a roughly $1 billion cash deal. Though Dollar Shave Club started off as a mainly DTC brand, it now sells at major retailers including Walmart and Target.

Children’s entertainment company Spin Master Corp. entered into an agreement to acquire toy brand Melissa & Doug for $950 million. 

The deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2024 and Spin Master – which operates the brands Paw Patrol, Bakugan and more – is supporting it with about $450 million in balance sheet cash and $500 million in debt financing. Melissa & Doug generated $489 million in revenue during fiscal 2022 and could receive up to $150 million in extra contingent earnout consideration if certain financial targets are met for 2024 and 2025.

Instant Brands, which makes popular kitchen brands Corelle, Pyrex and Instant Pot, was sold to Centre Lane Partners. The private equity firm will acquire the company in two separate transactions, both of which are subject to regulatory approval and closing conditions in the U.S. and Canada. 

Instant Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2023 and began to solicit offers to sell the business. 

“We believe our Company’s sale to Centre Lane Partners represents the best path forward for our customers, retail partners, suppliers and employees,” Instant Brands CEO Ben Gadbois  said in a statement.

Private equity firm Sycamore Partners, which in 2019 failed despite many attempts to acquire Chico’s, on Sept. 28 finally won the women’s apparel retailer over with a $1 billion deal. 

Chico’s, which in addition to its namesake brand runs White House Black Market and intimates label Soma, sells through 1,258 U.S. stores, 58 franchise locations in Mexico, two domestic airport franchises and various websites. Sycamore’s portfolio includes several retail companies and brands, including Belk, Staples, Talbots and The Limited.

Molly Langenstein, Chico’s FAS CEO, hailed what she called Sycamore’s “outstanding record in the retail industry in partnering with management teams to help businesses reach even greater levels of success.”

Grocery delivery company Instacart in September made its Nasdaq debut, trading under the ticker symbol “CART.” The company filed plans to go public one month earlier.

The company priced its initial public offering at $30 per share, raising $660 million. Instacart’s share price of $30 valued the company at $9.9 billion on a fully diluted basis. That’s a fraction of the nearly $40 billion valuation it had in early 2021 at the height of the pandemic.

Footwear brand Birkenstock filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering in September.

The German-based company listed on the New York Stock Exchange using the ticker symbol BIRK. Its filings show that it generated a revenue of 1.24 billion euros (about $1.33 billion at the time of the filing) and a net profit of 187.1 million euros during fiscal year 2022. 

Following the completion of its IPO, Birkenstock will be a controlled company with private equity firm L Catterton owning a majority of the combined voting power of its outstanding ordinary shares.

Reese Witherspoon’s fashion and lifestyle brand Draper James sold a 70% majority stake to private equity firm Consortium Brand Partners.

The actor and brand founder will stay on as a partner and board member for Draper James. The brand will continue to sell through its existing direct-to-consumer channels while also planning to grow globally through premium department and specialty stores, as well as expand its RSVP collection with Kohl’s.

“We are excited to join forces with the team at Consortium, who understand our vision as a company and the importance of our community,” Witherspoon said in a statement. “They are the perfect partners for Draper James as we continue to grow and build this brand and I’m looking forward to this next phase in our journey.”

Wolverine World Wide in August announced the sale of its leathers business to New Balance for about $6 million in total proceeds.

Wolverine World Wide called New Balance a long-time customer of the brand. All of Wolverine’s U.S. tannery contracts would be assigned to New Balance, the company said. Wolverine World Wide said it was continuing to “explore alternatives” for its non-U.S. leathers business.

At the same time, the company announced it was selling its Hush Puppies intellectual property in China, Hong Kong and Macau.

“These transactions are the latest actions in our ongoing effort to reshape our portfolio and target our most meaningful opportunities,” Mike Stornant, executive vice president and CFO of Wolverine World Wide, said in a statement. “We continue to streamline our organization and become more efficient, so that we can direct greater resources into our growth brands, pay down debt, and enhance long-term shareholder value.”

E.l.f. Beauty entered into an agreement to acquire skin care brand Naturium for $355 million.

Subject to closing conditions, the deal is expected to be finalized by Sept. 30. E.l.f. Beauty – which operates a portfolio including E.l.f. Cosmetics, E.l.f. Skin, Well People and Keys Soulcare – said the deal is expected to double its skin care presence to about 18% of retail sales. Naturium expects to generate about $90 million in net sales this year.

“With our complementary missions and cultures, I know E.l.f. Beauty will be the ideal partner as we expand our reach, and continue to make high performance skin care accessible for all,” Susan Yara, who joined as Naturium’s founder in 2020, said in a statement. 

E-commerce retailer Boxed agreed to be acquired by MSG Distributors, Inc. in an all-cash deal, though the terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Boxed – which sells bulk pantry items at wholesale prices – filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April. MSG said it would continue to service Boxed customers, vendors and brands.

MSG will offer established Boxed customers expeditious delivery services, introduce new brands and bring back established household brands for Boxed’s vendors.

Ariela & Associates International acquired direct-to-consumer intimates brand Parade for an undisclosed amount.

Intimates specialist group Ariela & Associates International lists Smart&Sexy, Curvy Couture and Fruit of the Loom bras as part of its portfolio. Parade will act as a division of the company, utilizing Ariela & Associates International’s “sourcing, design and forecasting capabilities to scale in the U.S. and globally.”

Parade was founded by CEO Cami Téllez and launched in 2019. 

In a move widely seen as fortifying competition potential against European luxury powerhouses, Tapestry agreed to buy rival fashion conglomerate Capri for $8.5 billion. The deal joins Tapestry-owned Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman with Capri’s Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors.

All told, those brands operate in more than 75 countries, and last year generated more than $12 billion in sales and almost $2 billion in adjusted operating profit. Once the deal closes, the new entity will be the fourth largest luxury house in the world, with combined share of around 5.1% of the luxury goods market; in the Americas, it will be the second largest luxury player behind LVMH, with a combined share of 6%, according to GlobalData.

Japanese beauty company Kao Corporation and its subsidiaries in Australia and the U.S. agreed to acquire Bondi Sands for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition of the Australian sun product brand will allow Kao to focus more on the skin protection category and will allow Bondi Sands to expand its global reach. Bondi Sands joins Kao’s consumer care portfolio which also houses John Frieda, Jergens, Curél, Bioré and more.

New York City-based Authentic Brands Group has expanded its retail brand holdings with the court-approved acquisition of Rockport. The sale pulls the venerable shoe company out of bankruptcy following a June Chapter 11 filing, its second in five years.The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Rockport said in court documents that it generated over $203 million in revenue in 2022, but it owed its top five vendors or suppliers nearly $47 million. Authentic reported its portfolio will generate more than $29 billion in global retail sales after the Rockport deal and another acquisition of sports apparel brand Boardriders close.

Apollo Global Management has acquired a minority stake in PetSmart. With pet ownership on the rise in the U.S. and an increasing focus on animal wellness, the retailer is positioned for growth, according to the private equity firm.

Apollo Global Management didn’t disclose the terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in Q4. BC Partners, a British private equity firm that acquired PetSmart for about $8.7 billion in 2015, will remain the company’s majority shareholder.

PetSmart has over 1,660 stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, and describes itself as the leading omnichannel pet retailer. It also has more than 200 cat and dog boarding facilities. PetSmart moved further into the companion animal healthcare sector with the launch of an online pharmacy in 2021. PetSmart also offers veterinary services, grooming and training.

David’s Bridal was in search of a buyer even before its bankruptcy filing in April, and executives warned it was prepared to liquidate if it didn’t succeed. One of the formal apparel retailer’s longtime lenders, Cion Investment Corp., stepped in. On July 24, the companies announced they closed a deal for Cion to acquire “substantially all of [David's Bridal’s] assets.”

Cion has invested $20 million into the business to fund growth and has assumed certain bankruptcy-related liabilities, per their release. Bank of America will also continue to provide financing through a $50 million revolving credit facility and a $20 million term loan facility.

Thanks to the deal, David’s Bridal will continue operations at up to 195 stores, preserving 7,000 jobs across the U.S.

“Our long experience with the operations and management of David’s Bridal and our position as a secured lender enabled us to facilitate a consensual bankruptcy exit transaction that we believe provides strong value to the company’s employees, vendors, landlords, business partners and customers as well as to our shareholders,” Cion co-CEO Mark Gatto said in a statement.

FullBeauty Brands acquired direct-to-consumer intimates brand Cuup, though terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cuup will be added to FullBeauty’s digital mall by the fall of 2023, which also houses other brands such as Eloquii, June+Vie and Swimsuits for All. The acquisition follows news in April that FullBeauty would acquire apparel brand Eloquii from Walmart.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cuup and the Cuup team to the FullBeauty Brands family, as we continue to grow as the leading destination for great fitting, quality, on-trend, size-inclusive apparel,” Jim Fogarty, FullBeauty Brands CEO, said in a statement at the time of the acquisition. “As an innovative, high-growth brand seeking to disrupt the intimates category, Cuup is an exciting addition to the FullBeauty Brands portfolio.”

Consumer technology company Oddity – which owns makeup brand Il Makiage and skin care brand SpoiledChild – started trading publicly on the Nasdaq Global Market in July at an increased share price of $35. 

Oddity on July 10 initially expected its share price to be between $27 and $30 for a maximum raise of nearly $316 million. The company then raised its expected pricing on July 17 to be between $32 and $34, raising its valuation to up to $1.92 billion from its initial $1.7 billion.

Chief Executive Officer Oran Holtzman will hold about 76.9% of the voting power of its outstanding share capital.

About two years after buying Elo7, Etsy sold the Brazil-based marketplace to another Brazilian corporation for an undisclosed amount. Etsy acquired privately-held Elo7 for $217 million in cash in June 2021. 

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, CEO Josh Silverman said despite the Elo7 team’s hard work, “we have not seen the performance we had anticipated when we made this acquisition two years ago, in part due to the macroeconomic environment.”

The sale of Elo7 leaves the company with three marketplace brands — its namesake Etsy, which in November said it reached a record 92 million active buyers; Reverb, which offers musical instruments; and Depop, which focuses on used and vintage apparel.

Digital brands platform Foundry acquired men’s personal care brand Blu Atlas for an undisclosed eight-figure sum.

The purchase marks Foundry’s third acquisition in the men’s personal care space, with Blu Atlas selling men’s skin care, hair care and fragrance. 

“We are thrilled for the opportunity to take Blu Atlas to its next stage of growth,” Foundry CEO Hendre Ackermann said in a statement at the time of acquisition. “We believe Blu Atlas has the potential to reach $100 million in sales over the coming years, by increasing distribution, building greater awareness, and continuing to offer a premium and differentiated product assortment.”

Dream on Me has gained BuyBuy Baby’s trademark and digital assets following a federal judge’s OK. New Jersey-based Dream on Me paid $15.5 million for a variety of assets including digital properties, mobile platforms and business and advertising data, according to court documents. 

But no one stepped up to bid on BuyBuy Baby’s physical stores, which are on track to liquidate and close. BuyBuy Baby was part of parent company Bed Bath & Beyond, which filed for Chapter 11 in April.

Overstock.com, the online-only retailer, bought selected items of Bed Bath & Beyond’s intellectual property following the retailer’s April bankruptcy. Overstock also plans to rebrand itself to Bed Bath & Beyond and retire its former name. 

The IP purchase includes customer and vendor data, mobile apps and private label trademarks. But it does not include any stores, warehouses or product inventory. Jonathan Johnson, CEO of the company formerly known as Overstock, said in a call with investors that the Bed Bath & Beyond brand and name still have significant consumer value.

Shoppers World appears to have swooped in just in time for Forman Mills. The companies announced June 22 that the regional department store acquired Forman Mills for an undisclosed amount.

The warehouse-style apparel discounter had recently laid off hundreds of employees and warned the state of Pennsylvania that it faced bankruptcy if it couldn’t find a buyer. Shoppers World CEO Sam Dushey said the company will continue operating all Forman Mills locations.

The two retailers share some overlap in geography; overall, the deal will double Shoppers World’s store count and expand its reach. Shoppers World runs 40 stores in 13 states, while Forman Mills runs 43 warehouse-style discount stores in nine states.

Curio Brands – a fragrance company that owns Capri Blue and Thymes – acquired direct-to-consumer candle company Otherland. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Otherland’s co-founders, Abigail Cook Stone and Sayyid Markar, will stay on at Curio. The candle brand will also remain headquartered in New York City, with Stone overseeing brand strategy and execution while Markar supports Otherland’s operations and supply chain.

DTC cookware brand Great Jones has been acquired by conglomerate Meyer Corporation for an undisclosed sum. Meyer is the maker of brands like KitchenAid, Farberware and Rachael Ray.

Great Jones’ CEO and co-founder Sierra Tishgart will remain the brand’s chief executive while also taking on an executive creative director role at Meyer. The brand will also remain headquartered in New York City following the deal.

The acquisition will help fuel international retail development and product expansion by tapping into Meyer’s operational support. Meyer has served as a supplier and minority investor in Great Jones’ previous fundraising.

Brand management company Authentic Brands Group on June 2 added British boot maker Hunter, known for its rubber Wellington style, to its portfolio. The 160-year-old brand also sells men’s, women’s and children’s waterproof and weatherproof footwear, outerwear, bags and accessories.

Terms were not disclosed. U.K. licensing and distribution management company and ABG partner Batra Group will design and develop Hunter footwear, apparel and accessories, and manage the brand’s e-commerce, wholesale distribution and licensing in the U.K. and Europe. Longtime ABG partner Marc Fisher Footwear will take on those responsibilities in the U.S.

Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ikea’s franchisee Ingka Group, acquired Made4net for an undisclosed sum, according to a company announcement. With Made4net’s technology, Ikea can speed up its deliveries, accurately fulfill orders and better manage its supply chain. 

Ingka Group will deploy Made4net’s tech across its stores, while Made4net will continue to operate as an independent subsidiary from its New Jersey headquarters and six international offices.

May 25, 2023

Vince announced the closing of its transaction with Authentic Brands Group. 

“With the proceeds from this transaction, we strengthened our financial foundation by repaying in full the outstanding balance of $27.7 million under our Term Loan Credit Facility as well as a portion of the outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility,” Jack Schwefel, CEO of Vince Holding, said in a statement. “With a stronger balance sheet in place, we are now better positioned to enhance our focus on driving margin expansion and executing against our strategic growth initiatives.”

April 21, 2023

Authentic Brands Group struck a deal to purchase the intellectual property of Vince. Under the deal, Vince Holding Corp. will move Vince’s IP to a newly formed subsidiary controlled by ABG. In return, Vince Holding Corp. will receive $76.5 million in cash and a 25% ownership stake in the subsidiary, to be called ABG Vince.

Regent, a Los Angeles-based investment firm, acquired Zulily from Qurate Retail Group, the parent company of QVC and HSN. Qurate didn’t disclose the transaction’s full terms but it did announce that as a part of the deal, Qurate repaid Zulily’s $80 million outstanding debt.

Qurate acquired Zulily for $2.4 billion in 2015. But the unit hadn’t performed well in recent years, and it regularly saw the largest losses in revenue within the Qurate brand portfolio. 

In May, Qurate CEO David Rawlinson said Zulily’s sale was part of a long-term strategy.

“We are in the midst of a turnaround at Qurate Retail,” Rawlinson said. “This divestiture will allow our management team to better focus on our core video commerce assets, QVC and HSN, and the Cornerstone Brands, while preserving liquidity to further strengthen our balance sheet.”

July 11, 2023

EBay on July 11 completed its acquisition of Certilogo. 

“Through this acquisition, eBay will be able to offer brands secure, connected product solutions that are both flexible and compatible,” EBay Vice President Charis Marquez said in a statement. “Brands will also be able to protect their customers from counterfeits and engage in recommerce through counterfeit-proof digital product passports.”

May 5, 2023

EBay agreed to purchase Certilogo, an AI-powered digital ID and authentication company, for an undisclosed sum. 

The deal will strengthen eBay’s ability to authenticate designer garments for secondhand shoppers.

“For many years, consumers have turned to eBay as a trusted destination for buying and selling pre-loved apparel and fashion goods, not only because of the unmatched selection, but because of our commitment to utilizing the latest technology to empower our sellers and buyers,” Charis Marquez, vice president of eBay, said in a statement. “Certilogo’s technology and talented team allows eBay to build on this commitment, establishing eBay as a leader in pre-loved fashion, and offering new ways for consumers to connect and engage with brands.”

FemTec Health, a women’s health company, sold Birchbox’s assets to e-commerce and subscription company Retention Brands for an undisclosed amount. 

Birchbox – the beauty subscription box brand – was acquired by FemTec Health in October 2021 for about $45 million. Birchbox co-founder Katia Beauchamp has since moved on to become CEO of Victoria Beckham Beauty.

In the months leading up to FemTec's sale of the business, Birchbox stopped fulfilling customer orders and left some vendors without payment. Along with the news that retention brands acquired the beauty company’s assets, FemTec Health announced creditors could submit claims for money owed.

Solo Brands in May announced it acquired TerraFlame — which sells fire pits, fire bowls and an indoor portable s’mores roaster — for an undisclosed amount.

TerraFlame’s team will become a part of Solo Brands and its CEO, Lenny Vainberg, will become TerraFlame’s general manager.

“We hope to leverage our direct to consumer and wholesale expertise to support TerraFlame’s growth while also leaning into TerraFlame’s shared passion for product innovation and incredible products to elevate the Solo Brands customer experience,” Solo Brands CEO John Merris said in a statement.

The acquisition helps bolster Solo Brands’ portfolio of companies, which include Solo Stove, Chubbies, Oru Kayak and Isle.

Franchise Group, the parent company of brands that include The Vitamin Shoppe and Pet Supplies Plus, announced in May it was going private in a deal valued at $2.6 billion. The company will be acquired by Brian Kahn, Franchise Group’s CEO, and other members of the company’s senior management team, alongside financial partners including B. Riley Financial and Irradiant Partners, a private equity firm.

Kahn said the deal allows the company to deliver value to stockholders “despite a challenging business environment” and it also allows Franchise Group to continue its partnerships “with high-quality franchisees, operators and financial institutions.”

Franchise Group employed about 8,500 full-time and 5,600 part-time workers as of Dec. 31, 2022. The company’s brand portfolio also includes Wag N’ Wash, American Freight, Badcock Home Furniture & More, Buddy’s Home Furnishings and Sylvan Learning.

Tempur Sealy International on May 9 announced a deal to acquire Mattress Firm in a stock-and-cash deal valued at about $4 billion. About $2.7 billion of cash consideration includes the repayment of Mattress Firm’s debt and other items, and 1.3 billion in stock will be issued to Mattress Firm shareholders.

Tempur Sealy expects to begin realizing various marketing and other synergies by the end of year two and to realize at least $100 million in annual run-rate synergies by the end of year four.

Mattress Firm has sold brands from Tempur Sealy – which include Tempur-Pedic, Sealy and Stearns & Foster lines as well as various private labels – for 35 years.  Mattress Firm’s more than 2,300 brick-and-mortar retail stores, e-commerce, and sleep education and tracking platforms complement Tempur Sealy’s DTC operations, “enabling a seamless omni-channel ecosystem that meets the needs of more consumers nationwide,” the companies said.

After a couple of bankruptcies and various owners in recent years, control of RadioShack changed once again in May. Unicomer Group, which first ran a RadioShack franchise in El Salvador in 1998, bought a majority stake from Retail Ecommerce Ventures. In 2015, Unicomer acquired RadioShack’s brands, intellectual property and existing franchise agreements for Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

REV, which also owns Pier 1, Modell’s Sporting Goods and other retail brands, acquired RadioShack’s IP in late 2020, and it’s unclear whether it retains a stake. Last year REV licensed the brand for a cryptocurrency venture dubbed RadioShack Swap, a separate company from RadioShack.

Francesca’s on May 2 announced a deal to acquire Richer Poorer — launched by CEO Iva Pawling in 2010 — for an undisclosed amount. 

Richer Poorer started out selling socks via wholesale before pivoting to DTC. Its assortment now also includes other wardrobe basics. 

Pawling will continue to lead the brand as well as the Francesca’s Franki tween line and its wholesale operations.

FullBeauty Brands, a conglomerate of plus-size apparel labels and retailers, in April said it would acquire DTC brand Eloquii from Walmart for an undisclosed amount.

The plus-size brand is yet another to be off-loaded by Walmart in recent years, undoing an acquisition spree of various e-commerce businesses that began in 2016. In a statement, a Walmart spokesperson said since acquiring Eloquii in 2018 for a reported $100 million, “Walmart.com has grown to hundreds of millions of items, and we’ve decided it’s the right time to sell Eloquii.”

Eloquii co-founder and brand chief Julie Carnevale will remain. The brand is set to anchor a new FullBeauty digital mall, joined initially by SwimSuitsForAll and June+Vie. It will also be part of an existing digital mall that features other FullBeauty brands.

The purchase will allow FullBeauty Brands to expand further into the $81 billion women’s plus fashion market in the U.S., which the company noted is growing three times faster than women’s apparel overall and remains an underserved market.

“While we hope to bring scale and platform expertise to bear, we will also humbly be learning from Julie and the talented Eloquii team, who are the soul of the Eloquii brand DNA, and who fortunately are joining us on this next phase of the Eloquii journey,” FullBeauty CEO Jim Fogarty said in a statement.

Direct-to-consumer apparel company Universal Standard acquired plus-size luxury womenswear brand Henning in April. Henning will be fully incorporated into Universal Standard’s brand, with Henning’s workwear focus to contribute to Universal Standard’s fall 2023 collection.

“Despite current trends suggesting otherwise, the future of fashion is rooted in inclusivity and we are confident that embracing size-inclusivity will continue to be profitable for the business,” Universal Standard CEO Polina Veksler said in a statement. “Our acquisition of Henning is the next wave of our vital mission to make fashion more accessible for all people, whether a size 2 or size 32.”

Henning’s founder Lauren Chan joins Universal Standard as its head of brand partnerships.

May 24, 2023

Express and brand management firm WHP Global closed on their acquisition of Bonobos in May. With the move, WHP Global’s portfolio, which also includes Toys R Us, Babies R Us and Anne Klein, grew to about 10 brands.

“Bonobos is delivering double-digit sales growth and we plan to continue that momentum while also realizing operating synergies and other economies of scale,” Express CEO Tim Baxter said in an April announcement. “This is a compelling addition to our brand portfolio, and I expect the transaction will be accretive to operating income and free cash flow positive in fiscal 2023.”

April 13, 2023

Walmart in April sold Bonobos for $75 million – less than a quarter of what it paid for the DTC menswear brand in 2017. The retail giant then was in the midst of acquiring several online apparel brands, but recently has begun selling them off.

Express Inc., which runs apparel retailers Express and UpWest, will pay $25 million for Bonobos’ operating assets and will assume related liabilities, while brand management firm WHP Global is paying $50 million for the Bonobos brand.

While Walmart developed a Bonobos sub-brand to sell in its stores, the DTC company has remained largely independent. Some observers saw that tie-up as a poor fit and said Bonobos may have a better chance of thriving with Express in charge.

“Bonobos is the latest brand to be offloaded and is being sold for way under the price Walmart paid for it back in 2017,” GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders said in emailed comments. “Other than learning from and experimenting with Bonobos, Walmart ultimately didn’t really know what to do with the brand and didn’t have all that much ambition to develop it.”

Disruptor mattress company Casper in April announced plans to sell its Canadian operations to traditional Canadian retailer Sleep Country.

Sleep Country will receive a $4.5 million marketing transition fee from Casper over the next three years and get three-year warrants that could convert into a roughly 1% stake in Casper once exercised, per the release. Additionally, Sleep Country invested $20 million in five-year convertible notes that could convert into about 5% of Casper’s shares.

“We are thrilled to expand upon our retail journey by partnering up with one of North America’s top sleep retailers,” Emilie Arel, CEO of Casper, said in a statement. “Sleep Country has been a retail mattress legacy for almost 3 decades, and sharing best practices with this leading retailer only helps accelerate our expertise and rapid growth in the retail omnichannel space.”

Aug. 30, 2023

L’Oréal completed its acquisition of luxury beauty brand Aesop, according to a company press release. 

“We are excited to begin this new chapter in the Aesop story. I am confident that L’Oréal is the best partner to take Aesop to the next level,” Aesop CEO Michael O’Keeffe said in a statement. “With L’Oréal’s support and unparalleled expertise, we will continue to grow and innovate, reaching even more people and expanding our brand globally, while staying true to our values, building on our distinctive brand and heritage.”

April 4, 2023

L’Oréal Group entered into an agreement with Natura & Co. to acquire luxury beauty brand Aesop for $2.5 billion.

“I am very excited to welcome Aesop and its teams to the L’Oréal Groupe family,” Nicolas Hieronimus, chief executive officer at L’Oréal Groupe, said in a statement. “Aesop is the epitome of avant-garde beauty, whose products are not only made with great care and exceptional attention to detail; they are a superb combination of urbanity, hedonism and undeniable luxury.”

Aesop operates about 400 points of sale across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. The beauty brand reported gross sales of $537 million in 2022, and Natura acquired a majority stake in 2012 for about 68 million Australian dollars.

May 17, 2023

B. Riley Financial acquired an equity interest in lifestyle apparel brand Scotch & Soda. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

The news came a few days after Bluestar Alliance – which previously announced it would buy the brand out of bankruptcy – said it completed an affiliate acquisition of Scotch & Soda’s U.S. assets.

Scotch & Soda closed several U.S.-based stores prior to the announcements, including in key markets such as California and New York City.

March 27, 2023

About a week after the brand filed for bankruptcy in the Netherlands, Scotch & Soda announced it had been acquired by brand management company Bluestar Alliance. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Bluestar continues to strategically build its portfolio and we see Scotch & Soda as a unique fit, widely known for its roots in Amsterdam and celebrating self-expression with a modern twist on timeless fashion pieces,” Joseph Gabbay, Bluestar Alliance chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Scotch & Soda will continue its business in select markets. Bluestar Alliance has a portfolio of brands including Bebe, Justice and Brookstone.

In February, Dick’s Sporting Goods agreed to buy online outdoor retailer Moosejaw from Walmart for an undisclosed amount, and will run it as part of Public Lands, its outdoor business. Moosejaw CEO Eoin Comerford will report to Public Lands President Todd Spaletto.

Walmart bought the e-retailer in 2017 for about $51 million, part of a concerted effort at the time to build up an e-commerce portfolio of brands. Moosejaw, known for its humorous marketing tactics, was founded in 1992 and runs a few physical stores in addition to its online business.

“We believe there’s potential to grow the Moosejaw business and provide compelling experiences and an expanded product assortment to its millions of loyal customers,” Spaletto said in a statement.

EBay purchased 3PM Shield, a company that provides AI-based marketplace compliance solutions, for an undisclosed sum in February. 3PM Shield’s tech will allow the marketplace to better spot suspicious or harmful sellers on its platform as well as fraudulent, illegal or otherwise unsafe items. 

“It is a top priority to help ensure that eBay remains a safe and trusted environment for our global community of sellers and buyers, particularly to prevent counterfeits and unsafe or illegal products,” Zhi Zhou, chief risk officer at eBay, said in a statement. “3PM Shield has been a valued and effective external partner in helping eBay tackle these challenges and we look forward to unlocking additional capabilities as we bring their technologies in-house.”

Wolverine Worldwide sold Keds to Designer Brands, parent company of DSW, in a sale that closed on Feb. 4.

“We are particularly pleased to have reached this agreement with Designer Brands, a longtime retail partner of ours and a natural fit to guide the iconic Keds brand into its next phase,” Brendan Hoffman, Wolverine Worldwide’s CEO, said in a statement.

At the end of 2022, Wolverine announced that it would shed Keds in order to cut costs and continue revenue growth. The company said at the time that the brand was one of its low-profit contributors.

In January, American Exchange Group acquired White Mountain Footwear. The multi-division manufacturer and wholesaler of shoes and accessories previously acquired luxury footwear brand Aerosoles in 2022. American Exchange plans to integrate the two businesses, including sourcing and manufacturing, as well as expand their distribution channels.

White Mountain is currently sold at Macy’s, Amazon, DSW and more. American Exchange Group Chief Strategy Officer Steve Velasquez also stated in a press release that the company could expand White Mountain's merchandise beyond women’s footwear.

Marquee Brands in January provided a minority investment to maternity brand Hatch and additionally gave up operational control of three of its brands — Destination Maternity, A Pea in the Pod and Motherhood Maternity — to Hatch CEO Ariane Goldman. As a result of the deal, a new parent company dubbed Hatch Collective was formed, led by Goldman.

Marquee will retain ownership over the intellectual property of those brands and has gained a board seat on Hatch Collective.

Procter & Gamble on Jan. 11 announced its intent to acquire textured hair care brand Mielle Organics, pending regulatory approval. Mielle said in an Instagram post that it had no plans to change any product formulas, and it will act as an independent subsidiary of P&G Beauty. 

While specifics about the transaction were not disclosed, both companies have committed $10 million to the non-profit Mielle Cares, which is focused on “providing resources and support to advance education and economic opportunities in Black and Brown communities.”

Vince Holdings sold Rebecca Taylor’s intellectual property and certain ancillary assets to RT IPCO, an affiliate of Ramani Group. The company said it wanted to close Rebecca Taylor in order to focus on its core business. 

“In light of the continued challenging macro environment and after careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to exit the Rebecca Taylor business,” Vince CEO Jack Schwefel said on a call with analysts at the time. “This decision will allow us to focus all of our resources on the growth and profitability of the Vince brand going forward.”

Designer Brands Inc., the parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, announced Dec. 19 that it acquired Topo Athletic, an outdoor footwear and performance athletic company. Designer Brands did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.

Topo founder and CEO Tony Post will stay on as CEO. He will report to Designer Brands’ President Bill Jordan. Designer Brands has about 650 DSW and The Shoe Company locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Expanding its product offerings through its owned brands and private labels is a key part of the company’s strategy and “allows us to control our own destiny with access to the brands our customers love,” the company said earlier in the year.

Global fashion company Lanvin Group and Primavera Capital Acquisition Corporation in December announced Lanvin’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol LANV.

Lanvin Group raised $150 million through the transaction. In October, the company cut its valuation to $1 billion, down from the previous $1.25 billion it stated earlier in the year. The company announced in the fall of 2021 that it had formed Lanvin Group, a change from its previous name, Fosun Fashion Group. It owns Lanvin, Sergio Rossi, Wolford, St. John and Caruso.

"Listing on the NYSE today marks an important milestone in our strategy to build a portfolio of iconic luxury fashion brands,” Joann Cheng, CEO of Lanvin Group, said in a statement. “The Group's rapidly improving performance in recent years has demonstrated the strength of our global platform and the success of our innovative growth strategy.”

Gap Inc. agreed to sell its Gap Greater China business to e-commerce solution provider Baozun, who will operate the company’s in-market site and stores under a franchise agreement.

Baozun has partnered with Gap Greater China since 2018.

The deal is an all-cash transaction with a primary consideration of $40 million, subject to adjustments within a limit of $50 million. It is expected to close in the first half of 2023.

Feb. 3, 2023

Sycamore Partners in early February announced it closed on its deal to acquire Lowe’s Canadian business. The unit, which will now operate under the name Rona, will include approximately 450 operated or serviced corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores under the banners Rona, Lowe's, Réno-Dépôt and Dick's Lumber.

"We are excited to announce that Rona is once again an independent company headquartered in Boucherville, Quebec," Stefan Kaluzny, managing director of Sycamore Partners, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with Rona's 26,000 associates and over 200 dealer partners to meet the home improvement needs of Canadian families, builders, and contractors."

Nov. 3, 2022

Lowe’s in early November announced it entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Canadian business to private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $400 million in cash.

Lowe’s Canadian unit has more than 450 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores under the banners Rona, Lowe’s Canada, Reno-Depot and Dick’s Lumber.

The business represents about 7% of the home improvement retailer’s full-year 2022 sales outlook and represents about 60 basis points of dilution on its consolidated operating margin for the period.

The deal is expected to close in early 2023, and the company anticipates a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge of about $2 billion on Lowe’s third quarter earnings statement.

Jan. 3, 2023

Victoria’s Secret on Jan. 3 said it closed on its acquisition of Adore Me and that it expected the DTC lingerie brand to create “meaningful sales and profit upside opportunities.” The company noted that Adore Me expects some $250 million in profitable sales for 2022. Wells Fargo analysts said they expect the newly acquired brand to add $210 million to the intimate giant’s 2023 revenue.

Nov. 1, 2022

On Nov. 1, Victoria’s Secret said it struck a deal to acquire DTC intimates brand Adore Me for $400 million in cash. 

Adore Me’s growth potential, inclusivity, “Home Try-On” service, technology, monthly subscription options and B Corp. status will “improve the Victoria’s Secret and Pink customer shopping experience and accelerate the modernization of [the company’s] digital platform,” the company said in a press release.

Goat Group has furthered its ongoing evolution with a deal to acquire Grailed for an undisclosed amount, following its investment into the streetwear resale marketplace last year. The merged entity will boast more than 50 million members in 170 countries.

Goat merged with rival Flight Club in 2018 and brought athletic footwear chain Foot Locker to its investor roster in 2019.

Order volume more than doubled in the last 12 months, the company said in its press release. As of mid-2021, the company reported $2 billion in gross merchandise value in the previous 12 months, according to a March research note from Wedbush analysts.

Walmart announced that it acquired e-grocery automation firm Alert Innovation, which produces custom-built inventory-handling technology. The company’s system is designed to store, retrieve and dispense orders by using robots that move omnidirectionally without lifts or conveyors. Walmart will be able to scale the company’s capabilities, and speed pickup and delivery for customers via the tech.

Jan. 5, 2023

Naver on Jan. 5 completed its acquisition of Poshmark. As a result of the deal, Poshmark was delisted from the Nasdaq. The secondhand platform will continue to operate under its existing brand, maintain its current employee base, and will stay headquartered in Redwood City, California. The two companies are focused on increasing conversion rates, improving user experience and want to “create an industry leader in livestreaming commerce.”

Oct. 3, 2022

Less than two years after its IPO, Poshmark cut a $1.2 billion deal to sell itself to South Korean search and e-commerce giant Naver.  

The companies said in the announcement that the merger aims to combine “Poshmark’s unique discovery-based social shopping platform and deeply engaged community with Naver’s technological prowess in upleveling the e-commerce experience.”

The deal surprised at least some analysts, coming as it did so soon after Poshmark's IPO and with so much growth potential in the resale market. Under the deal, Poshmark would sell all of its stock to Naver for $17.90 a share, a premium to its current trading price but far below its IPO price.

The parties expect the deal to close in the first quarter of 2023.

After announcing the deal in July, intimates brand Knix on Sept. 26 closed on its deal to be acquired by global health and hygiene brand Essity. The acquisition values Knix at $400 million.

Joanna Griffiths, who founded the company in 2013, will stay on as president of Knix and will continue to lead the brand.

Through the deal, Essity acquired 80% of Knix’s shares for $320 million, while Griffiths maintained a 20% stake.

EBay announced that it entered into an agreement to acquire TCGplayer, a technology platform for the collectibles industry. The total value of the deal is around $295 million, and it is expected to close the first quarter of 2023. TCGplayer will continue to operate independently following the acquisition. The acquisition will provide eBay with capabilities like order fulfillment and cart optimization.

Trading cards as a category has been growing at eBay, hitting $2 billion in transactions during the first half of 2021.

Coming on the heels of its $490 million acquisition of Diamonds Direct last fall, Signet Jewelers agreed in August to buy Blue Nile for $360 million in cash. 

The deal would automatically place Blue Nile, which is owned by Bain Capital and made half a billion dollars in sales in 2021, at the top of Signet’s luxury banners and will accelerate its expansion of bridal offerings and grow what it calls its “accessible luxury” portfolio. Signet also pointed to Blue Nile’s “attractive customer demographic that is younger, more affluent, and ethnically diverse which will broaden our customer acquisition funnel.” 

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter, and Signet expects to begin reaping financial benefits from the acquisition next year. Blue Nile had previously announced plans to go public through a SPAC deal.

Amazon announced in August that it plans to acquire Roomba vacuum creator iRobot for around $1.7 billion.

The news showed that Amazon was looking to expand its reach into the homes of consumers, adding iRobot’s mapping and cleaning technology to its list of home gadgets, which includes Blink security devices and the Alexa assistant.

Amazon’s planned deal still needs to go through regulatory approval, but if approved, will further the company’s technological capabilities.

As it continues beefing up its omnichannel capabilities, Walmart said in August it is acquiring Volt Systems for an undisclosed amount. The software company positions itself as a solution for omnichannel management, with its products focusing on vendor management and product tracking, among other areas.

In its release announcing the deal, Walmart said that Volt “provides suppliers with enhanced on-demand visibility into merchandising resources,” and the tech company’s application “delivers current store-level data, actionable analytics, and shelf intelligence for suppliers to plan, forecast, and optimize product assortment.” With the acquisition, Walmart will take on Volt System’s talent, technology and customer agreements

Walmart announced in late June that it would acquire augmented reality optical tech firm Memomi for an undisclosed sum. Memomi employees will become part of the Walmart Global Tech organization. With this acquisition, the retail giant aims to further its strategy of using technology to “improve engagement, health equity and outcomes.”

Memomi has provided digital tech measurement tools at Walmart and Sam’s Club locations since 2019.

Foot Locker announced in June that it had sold the team sales unit of its Eastbay brand to BSN Sports, a division of Bain Capital-owned Varsity Brands. The team sales business, which dates back to 1980, had a sales team of more than 100 that engaged with thousands of high school coaches and athletic directors. It became part of Foot Locker when the footwear retailer bought Eastbay in 1997. At the time of the sale, it accounted for less than 1% of Foot Locker’s yearly sales.

The divestiture comes as Foot Locker continues merging its Champs Sports and Eastbay brands and operations. Later this year, Eastbay’s online presence will be folded into Champs’ website.

EBay announced on June 22 that it acquired non-fungible token marketplace KnownOrigin, according to a company announcement. The deal also closed that day, but further terms were not disclosed.

KnownOrigin gives artists and collectors a space to create, buy and resell NFTs through blockchain-supported transactions. 

The acquisition comes about a year after eBay allowed the buying and selling of NFTs on its own platform. The company expects that it will usher in “a new era of digital collecting to the world’s top destination for collectibles.”

Running shoe store franchise Fleet Feet struck a deal to acquire the New England-based running shoe retailer Marathon Sports in June for an undisclosed amount. The deal also includes Marthon’s soundRunner and Runner’s Alley brands, as well as its e-commerce business. The parties expect the deal to close in July. 

Under the deal, Marathon Sports will operate as a separate but wholly owned entity, and it will keep its current leadership and Massachusetts headquarters. 

Marathon Sports’ owners Colin and Penny Peddie plan to retire at the same time as the deal completion. With the retirement, Ben Cooke, who most recently served as vice president of business development and flagship retail for Fleet Feet and has held management roles at Princeton Running Company and Running Specialty Group, will take over as president of Marathon Sports.

Athleta, in a deal brokered by Gap Inc.’s Strategic Growth Office, has joined specialist consumer fund IRIS in leading an $8 million series A funding round into Saysh. As part of the investment, Gap Inc. has acquired an equity stake in Saysh, and Athleta will showcase the brand’s footwear on Athleta.com. 

Athleta, now Gap Inc.’s fastest-growing brand, signed track-and-field star Allyson Felix as its first sponsored athlete in 2019. The tie-up surprised many observers used to athletes of her caliber opting for powerhouses like Nike, her former sponsor, and burnished Athleta’s activewear and female-empowerment bona fides.

Last year Felix, who is known for her activism around the needs of women and mothers, founded Saysh with her brother Wes Felix. Their lifestyle and apparel brand focuses on designs that meet the unique needs of female anatomy – something the likes of Under Armour and Puma are also scrambling to develop.

German fashion e-retailer Zalando has taken a majority stake in streetwear-focused news and cultural media site Highsnobiety, whose founder and CEO, David Fischer, will hold on to a minority stake. The companies are not disclosing the terms, according to a Zalando press release.

Highsnobiety will “retain its editorial independence, with creative agency work remaining fully autonomous and management structure unchanged,” per the release. The influential site already offers a curated assortment of merchandise, but this tie-up will enable it “to leverage Zalando’s expertise and resources to fuel its own e-commerce capabilities.”

Meanwhile, Zalando has obtained a lot of street cred, and Highsnobiety will be obligated to help the e-retailer with both content and strategy, per the release.

DTC diamond company Blue Nile in June announced it would re-enter the public markets through a deal with Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation II, a special purpose acquisition company. 

The deal implies an enterprise value of approximately $683 million for Blue Nile, the company said in its announcement. The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, will result in the combined company listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

The companies expect the transaction to produce $450 million in capital before expenses, including $50 million of new preferred capital from Mudrick Capital and an $80 million PIPE from Bain Capital Private Equity, Bow Street and Adama Partners.

Blue Nile, which was founded in 1999, initially went public in 2004 before being acquired by Bain Capital Private Equity and Bow Street for about $500 million in 2016.

In May, Walmart announced that it was bringing Symbotic’s automation technology to all 42 of its regional distribution centers over the next eight years, an expansion of an earlier partnership. 

Not long after, Walmart disclosed that it now owns a stake in Symbotic that amounts to 11.1% of the company’s total common stock and 4.3% of its voting power as of June 7. 

The retailer has said that Symbotic’s system would increase its capacity to receive and ship products to stores, as well as increase its inventory accuracy. At a conference earlier this year, Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs suggested Symbotic’s technology could help reduce time-consuming, labor-intensive work like unloading trucks.

June 10

Pinterest announced the completion of its acquisition of The Yes on June 10. The social image sharing platform said the acquisition “will help accelerate Pinterest’s vision for it to be the home of taste-driven shopping,” per a press release.

June 2

Pinterest in June announced an agreement to acquire The Yes, an AI-powered shopping platform for fashion, according to a press release. The news from Pinterest builds on the list of social shopping features it has implemented in order to become a shopping destination.

The Yes was founded by CEO Julie Bornstein in 2018. Bornstein was previously the chief operating officer of fashion retailer Stitch Fix, as well as the chief marketing and digital officer for Sephora.

Although The Yes was made for fashion, its brand relationships and shopping expertise could be used for other categories Pinterest focuses on, including home, beauty and food, the companies said.

When the deal closes, The Yes app and website will be shut down to focus on integrating the technology into Pinterest’s platform.

Luxury plus retailer 11 Honoré, which previously attracted investment from Nordstrom, among others, was snapped up by inclusive apparel retailer Dia & Co. for an undisclosed amount. The move brings together two entities dedicated to apparel sales and styling services for underserved plus customers, and adds luxury to Dia’s portfolio.

The 11 Honoré Collection, a private label capsule, will be available on Dia & Co. Otherwise, 11 Honoré, which was founded in 2017, two years after Dia & Co., will continue as its own luxury e-commerce destination until it’s fully integrated into dia.com in coming months. Brands within the 11 Honoré portfolio include Diane Von Furstenberg, Carolina Hererra, Good American and Tanya Taylor.

Brand strategy firm GoGlobal, which last year bought upscale children’s apparel brand Janie & Jack from Gap Inc., is furthering its ambitions in the space with the addition of premium Italian brand Brums Milano, its first acquisition in Europe. Brums Milano was founded in 1951 and designs, markets and distributes children's apparel and accessories under the Brums and MEK banners, according to a GoGlobal press release. The purchase amount was not disclosed.

The children’s apparel label boasts more than 150 owned and franchise stores in Italy and robust e-commerce. It’s also sold at Milan-based department store La Rinascente and at 300 independent third-party retailers, per the release.

While the brand will stay based in the Milan area and initially remain focused on its Italian customer base, some things will change. GoGlobal will invest in its digital capabilities, including AI and predictive analytics, for example. And it will be featured as a portfolio brand on the Janie & Jack platform. The tie-up will allow the company to leverage back office synergies for technology, e-commerce, digital marketing, sourcing, and raw material collaboration for the two companies, according to GoGlobal.

In May, WHP Global announced a deal to buy a controlling stake (70%) in fashion brand Isaac Mizrahi from Xcel Brands. 

The deal was valued at $68 million, including $46.2 million in cash. Under the agreement, Xcel will retain a 30% minority stake in Isaac Mizrahi and will manage its QVC business. 

Founded in 1987 by the designer of the same name, the brand has generated more than $1 billion in sales since launching and has been worn by everyone from Michelle Obama to Rihanna to Kate Moss. Isaac Mizrahi will continue to serve as chief design officer after the deal.

Robert D’Loren, Xcel chairman and CEO, said the deal was the first time the company has monetized one of its brands and leaves the company debt free, with $17 million in cash to help finance strategic initiatives.

For WHP, the deal adds to its stable of acquired fashion brands, which include Anne Klein, Joseph Abboud, Joe’s Jeans and William Rast. The company also owns the Toys R Us brand property, among others.

GoDigital Media Group took on 900 new employees and 42 stores when it acquired outdoor retailer and brand Eastern Mountain Sports, as well as apparel and footwear retailer Bob’s Stores from Frasers Group in May for an undisclosed amount. 

Prior to the acquisition, GoDigital was mainly focused on the media world, its holdings including music publishers and networks, among other businesses. 

“The acquisition of EMS and Bob’s is a major step in our strategy to generate synergy between content, community, and commerce,” GoDigital CEO Jason Peterson said in a press release. “This transaction also presents a great opportunity to apply our prowess in product development, supply chain, and e-commerce across all of our brands.”

The teams of both acquired businesses will stay on at GoDigital

Arklyz, owner of The Athlete’s Foot, announced in late May that the company is acquiring Baltimore-based sneaker and streetwear retailer Shoe City. 

The acquisition will add 40 store locations, including in the DMV region, which encompasses Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Shoe City’s e-commerce presence will “help jumpstart” The Athlete’s Foot’s omnichannel strategy, according to the companies.

David’s Bridal announced in mid-May that it acquired the assets of custom wedding dress company Anomalie. The startup’s co-founder and CEO, Leslie Voorhees Means, joined David’s Bridal to “lead the implementation of new strategic initiatives” as part of the deal. The terms of the acquisition were not released. 

Anomalie will not operate as a stand-alone company. Rather, its assets, team and technology will be integrated into David’s Bridal digital offerings. Additionally, under David’s Bridal, Anomalie will no longer create custom dresses.

David’s Bridal on May 3 said that it acquired the assets of online wedding resource Forever Bride, according to a company announcement. The community-based platform, which launched in 2010, connects brides with a curated list of wedding businesses. 

"Forever Bride is unlike any other platform we have seen in our industry, and we believe this mobile-friendly, content-driven, and community-focused model is exactly where wedding planning is going," Jim Marcum, David’s Bridal's CEO, said in a statement.. "Forever Bride means our brides will have unmatched access to the most premier local vendors while being able to put some fun back into the planning process."

Forever Bride’s CEO and co-founder, Ashley Hawks, will join David’s Bridal and will lead strategic partnerships. Hawks will report to Chief Marketing and IT Officer Kelly Cook.

June 2

G-III in June announced it completed its acquisition of Karl Lagerfeld. The company purchased the remaining stake from a group of investors and the transaction was funded in cash. The deal makes Karl Lagerfeld a wholly owned subsidiary of G-III.

May 2

G-III Apparel Group on May 2 said it will take full ownership of the Karl Lagerfeld brand by acquiring the remaining 81% interest for 200 million euros in cash ($210 million).

In taking full ownership of the label, G-III knows exactly what it’s in for. In 2015 the company entered into a joint venture that gave it the rights to Lagerfeld’s apparel and accessories in the North America market, and the following year it bought a 19% minority stake.

The company’s near-term plan for the brand is, in a word, expansion — in digital, retail, wholesale, geography, categories and licensing. Executives said they expect the acquisition to be moderately accretive this year and more so in future years. The business could reach annual net revenue in sales to end consumers of between $1 billion and $2 billion-plus, the company also said.

Wella Company, which owns beauty brands such as Clairol, OPI and Wella Professionals, on April 29 acquired Black-owned hair care brand Briogeo for an undisclosed sum. Nancy Twine, founder and CEO of Briogeo, created the brand to focus on natural hair care for all hair types and textures.

"Acquiring Briogeo marks Wella Company's first portfolio expansion as an independent entity,” Wella Company CEO Annie-Young Scrivner said in a statement. “Briogeo's high-growth, eco-ethical and natural hair care products complement our existing hair portfolio and sustainable offerings and will fuel our growth momentum in the hair category, which is now the fastest growing segment in beauty."

Briogeo is looking to expand its reach, as Twine said the acquisition will help grow the brand globally and into new delivery channels.

DSW owner Designer Brands acquired the domain and intellectual property of Shoes.com from an undisclosed buyer for an undisclosed amount. 

The website has traded hands at least five times over the past two decades. Walmart controlled the domain for a few years until recently, having combined it with its ShoeBuy business. In 2020, Walmart sold Shoes.com to private equity firm CriticalPoint Capital, which made it part of its running-focused specialty retail group, which included the chain JackRabbit. 

The sale to Designer Brands only included intellectual property, no operating assets. A spokesperson for DSW told Retail Dive, “The high-traffic Shoes.com domain furthers Designer Brands’ long-range strategy to expand its footprint digitally and strategically position and distribute Designer Brands’ Owned Brands as well as shoes from top National Brand partners.”

Visitors to shoes.com are now directed to DSW’s online store.

Helen of Troy, which owns brands including Hydro Flask, Drybar and Hot Tools, on April 25 announced one of its subsidiaries had acquired Curlsmith parent company Recipe Products for $150 million in cash. With the acquisition, Curlsmith became the most profitable brand in Helen of Troy’s portfolio, the company said in a press release.

“We believe Curlsmith is an excellent fit with Helen of Troy, both strategically and financially,” CEO Julien Mininberg said in a statement. “This transaction advances Helen of Troy’s strategy to invest in businesses that can accelerate profitable growth in categories where we can add value and leverage our scalable operating platform.”

Mininberg added that 60% of U.S. consumers have curly or textured hair, and prestige products that serve those needs are growing faster than non-textured hair products. Helen of Troy expects Curlsmith to complement its Drybar, Revlon and Hot Tools brands in particular.

“The business more than doubled in size between calendar years 2020 and 2021 and we expect it to continue to grow at a healthy double-digit rate,” Mininberg said of Curlsmith.

ThirdLove made its first acquisition in April, bringing on “cult favorite intimates brand” Kit Undergarments. Founded by celebrity stylists Jamie Mizrahi and Simone Harouche, Kit Undergarments is meant to help ThirdLove reach a younger demographic — and it also comes at a lower price point than ThirdLove’s standard range.

“We wanted to create a sub-brand that targets a younger demographic,” Heidi Zak, co-founder and CEO of ThirdLove, said in a statement. “Rather than leveraging our team’s time and effort on creating a new brand from scratch, our solution was to find an incredible existing brand we could scale through the backing of ThirdLove.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Kit Undergarments will be sold on ThirdLove’s website as “Kit Undergarments for ThirdLove,” but will not be available in ThirdLove stores at the moment.

Farfetch in April agreed to make a minority common equity investment of up to $200 million in Neiman Marcus, a deal that closed at the end of May.

Farfetch is getting a fair amount of business out of this deal as both Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman have agreed to use its platform services, with the Bergdorf website and app getting overhauled by Farfetch Platform Solutions. Both the namesake department store and its New York-centric sibling will join Farfetch’s e-commerce marketplace as well.

For Neiman Marcus Group, the tie-up indicates relevance in the luxury space, following its bankruptcy two years ago, among other travails, according to GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders. 

“Farfetch’s $200 million investment in Neiman Marcus is a vote of confidence by a new-generation luxury player in a more traditional business,” Saunders said.

Victoria’s Secret on March 25 said it would drop $18 million on a minority stake in California swimwear brand Frankies Bikinis, making progress on two goals.

One is rectifying the mistake it made a few years ago by exiting the swimwear category, a move that hurt sales and has sent the lingerie retailer scrambling back. The other is amplifying its recent switch away from sexualized marketing toward female empowerment.

"Our investment in Frankies Bikinis is a continuation of our efforts to expand partnerships with culturally relevant brands founded by women entrepreneurs," Victoria's Secret CEO Martin Waters said in a statement.

The decade-old Frankies sells directly to customers online as well as through various retail partners, including Victoria’s Secret. The partnership will enable the brand “to grow and extend into new categories and attract new customers in the direct-to-consumer channel," Waters also said.

Centric Brands, which has a license portfolio of more than 100 brands and also owns and operates several others, on March 24 closed on a deal to acquire the hosiery division of Daytona Apparel Group.

Centric is assuming license agreements including Stanley, Free Country, Real Tree and Umbro, according to an April 27 press release. A number of employees from Daytona’s hosiery team will join Centric and report to Abe Dweck, Centric’s executive vice president of accessories.

The business will be merged into Centric’s accessories division, led by Jarrod Kahn, group president of accessories, the company also said. Brands in that division at Centric include Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, All Saints, Frye, Timberland, Hunter and Jessica Simpson.

L’Occitane in late March announced it acquired a majority stake in Australian skincare brand Grown Alchemist, which emphasizes botanical skincare formulas and anti-aging technology. Grown Alchemist was founded in 2008 by Jeremy and Keston Muijs, and its product line also includes nutricosmetics and body and haircare products, according to a company press release.

The acquisition will help L’Occitane in its quest to appeal to more Gen Z and millennial customers and become “a truly global, multi-brand group.” L’Occitane last year acquired Sol de Janeiro, a prestige body care brand. 

Grown Alchemist’s founders will retain a share in the company and L’Occitane Group “will support and share its expertise with Grown Alchemist while offering the co-founders the autonomy to lead and drive the business.” Grown Alchemist has plans to expand its omnichannel presence, having already opened one flagship store in Melbourne in 2020.

“With a unique and inspiring brand story and international fan base, Grown Alchemist is poised for international scalability and rapid growth,” Vice Chairman and CEO of the L’Occitane Group, André Hoffmann, said in a statement.

With the United States already representing its largest market, Vestiaire Collective is expanding here  further with its acquisition of rival Tradesy for an undisclosed amount.

Both sites were founded in 2009 by women. Vestiaire founder Fanny Moizant will stay on as the company's president and Maximilian Bittner will stay  as chief executive, while Tradesy founder and CEO Tracy DiNunzio will become CEO of the combined U.S. operations.

In a statement, Bittner said the deal is a confirmation of "Vestiaire Collective's ambition to be a truly global player, promoting circularity in Europe, the U.S. and Asia-Pacific." Moizant said the companies' leadership is "particularly enthusiastic about the scale we are reaching together and the associated benefits in the highly attractive U.S. market."

The combined company will have 23 million members, a catalog of 5 million items and gross merchandise value exceeding $1 billion, according to a press release.

After initial reports of an investment, Authentic Brands Group struck a deal with David Beckham to co-own and co-manage the soccer icon's brand. As part of the agreement, Beckham has also taken an undisclosed stake in the brand specialist. Authentic Brand's new European headquarters in London will house the David Beckham brand team, the company said. 

The deal also makes Authentic Brands the largest shareholder in Studio 99, a production studio founded by Beckham. 

Authentic Brands noted in a press release about the deal that Beckham's digital presence is "considered one of the most influential in the world," with a following of 138 million, which is nearly a third of Authentic Brands’ total following across its entire portfolio post-deal.  

Bloomberg previously reported that Authentic Brands agreed to pay $269 million for a 55% stake in Beckham's brand management company DB Ventures.

Kimberly-Clark — which makes Kleenex, Kotex and Huggies — acquired a majority stake in period underwear brand Thinx.

The investment will help further the brand’s direct-to-consumer channels and drive growth with Kimberly-Clark’s retail partners, said Russ Torres, group president of Kimberly-Clark’s North American consumer business.

Kimberly-Clark made an initial minority investment in Thinx in 2019.