Brand Sense Partners acquires stake in DwellStudio

Deal expected to help brand grow

Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, July 15, 2011

LOS ANGELES — Brand Sense Partners said it has acquired a stake in DwellStudio, which the company said will allow the lifestyle brand to focus on continuing its growth in the wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels.

BSP did not disclose the size of the stake or whether it had majority ownership in DwellStudio.

Officials said there are also plans to open a DwellStudio flagship store that will allow the company to merchandise its entire collection together for the first time. BSP also said it will take a hands-on operating role in helping drive licensing, international and business development initiatives at DwellStudio, the company said.

The investment is the second reach into home furnishings for Brand Sense Partners, which bought controlling interest in Shabby Chic in 2009. Shabby Chic has partnered with upholstery manufacturer Miles Talbott to produce a medium-to-upper-end line of upholstery and with Guildcraft to make its case goods.

Founded in 1999 by designer Christiane Lemieux, DwellStudio sells a broad range of home textile products, case goods, upholstered furniture and baby and kid's products. The company operates a shop-in-shop at ABC Home in New York and is carried by over 750 retailers with 2,000 units in 30 countries.

DwellStudio recently partnered with Precedent Furniture, a division of Sherrill Furniture, to produce a collection of mid-to-upper-price upholstery.

"We have been actively seeking investment opportunities where we can leverage our capabilities and drive incremental value for brands in the home furnishings arena," said Ramez Toubassy, president and CEO of Brand Sense Partners. "As both admirers and longtime customers of the DwellStudio brand, we are very excited to be partnering with Christiane, CEO Joshua Young and the rest of the DwellStudio team as we work together to take the DwellStudio business to the next level."

"The DwellStudio business is as strong as it has ever been and, with the capital and expertise being brought to bear by BSP, we believe we are in an incredible position to continue all of our positive momentum," said Young, DwellStudio's CEO. "This is a great step for our brand and we are very excited about the many new initiatives we already have in progress."