Guess? Goes Private, Quince Expands Into Beauty, & More
Consumer VC Roundup #132 – Latest News in Emerging Consumer Brands, Tech & Commerce Enablement From the Week of August 18th
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📰 Consumer News📰
Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on imported furniture within the next 50 days, though the rate hasn’t been set. The move follows recent levies on appliances and comes amid ongoing investigations into lumber and timber products. Analysts warn the policy could hurt wholesalers, retailers, and shipping volumes. RD
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💰Fundraises💰
Skincare brand Magic Molecule secured funding from NexPhase Capital and acquired its hypochlorous acid manufacturer, reportedly Minneapolis-based Simple Science. BI
Magic Molecule was incubated by Squared Circles, which partners with and launches brands with IP holders. Here’s my episode with Osman Khan, CEO of Squared Circles, if you want to learn more about their incubation process and strategy.
Spanish plant-based startup Vanetta raised funding from BeFuture Invest, boosting its valuation 70% in a year to expand production, HORECA presence, and R&D. VG
London-based Wype raised $1.4M in an oversubscribed seed round to expand its sustainable “bottom care” product line and scale retail. BI
💸M&A💸
Claire’s has paused its planned store closures after striking a $140M deal to sell its North America operations to an affiliate of private equity firm Ames Watson. The agreement includes $104M in cash, a $36M seller note, and the assumption of certain liabilities, covering some rent and employee wages. The move comes after the bankrupt retailer had planned to close at least 700 of its 1,500 stores. RD
Guess? is going private in a $1.4 billion deal with Authentic Brands Group, which will acquire 51% of its IP while co-founders and executives retain 49%. Management will continue running the business, and shareholders will receive $16.76 per share, topping WHP Global’s earlier offer. The brand operates over 1,600 stores worldwide. RTP
Lowe’s is acquiring Foundation Building Materials for $8.8B to expand its offerings for pro customers. FBM distributes interior building products across North America. The deal, expected to close in Q4, will be financed with debt, supported by $9B in bridge financing. RD
Dillard’s and Trademark Property Co. have acquired the 646,000-square-foot Longview Mall in Texas from WPG. Trademark will oversee operations and leasing of the regional shopping center, where Dillard’s serves as an anchor tenant. RD
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansions🚀
Abercrombie Kids is expanding wholesale partnerships, adding Nordstrom and Dick’s Sporting Goods to Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. The brand will now be in 1,000+ locations, offering boys’ and girls’ styles (sizes 5–18), including back-to-school and fall collections. RD
Nakery Beauty, HSN’s top beauty brand, has generated about $100 million in sales in just three years with products targeting pain, exhaustion, hot flashes, and more. The brand is now expanding its reach by launching at Ulta Beauty. BI
Knix has opened a 1,400-square-foot store in New York’s SoHo, featuring bra, underwear, and activewear “bars” plus a section for its teen brand Kt by Knix. The store uses mobile checkout instead of a traditional cash desk as the brand expands its U.S. retail presence. RD
Quince, the DTC fashion brand known for its high-quality, low-price model, is expanding into beauty after building a strong following on Instagram and TikTok. BI
Curly hair brand Ocoa, the first Dominican American-owned hair care brand, is joining Ulta Beauty as it heads toward seven-figure sales. BI
Best Buy has launched a third-party digital marketplace, more than doubling its product lineup with new categories like small appliances, furniture, seasonal decor, and musical instruments. The expansion introduces brands such as Martha Stewart and Beach Camera, with marketplace purchases returnable in stores or by mail. RD
🪇Collabs🪇
Temu has partnered with Rithum to simplify U.S. seller onboarding, enabling bulk product uploads and real-time syncing of inventory and shipments. Since opening to U.S. sellers in late 2024, the platform has grown its merchant network across 600+ categories. RTP
Tops Friendly Markets has partnered with NationsBenefits to integrate its Basket Adjudication Service (BAS) at checkout. The system validates purchases of eligible fresh produce, pantry staples, and wellness products in real time, making it easier for health plan members to use benefits and helping address food insecurity. RTP
🔻Closures, Bankruptcies & Downsizes🔻
Target is ending fulfillment operations at its Indianapolis distribution center, impacting about 201 employees, according to a July 16 notice. Terminations will take effect Sept. 19, though the facility’s regional replenishment work will continue. RD
After 26 years, trusted beauty review site MakeupAlley will shut down on Sept. 27 as users increasingly turn to social media platforms for reviews and community. BI
🛒eCommerce & Retail Tech🛒
💰Fundraises💰
Amsterdam-based Vox AI has raised €7.5M Seed funding to scale its autonomous voice AI for drive-thrus, with plans for global expansion and a new San Francisco office. EUS
Copenhagen-based AI startup Propane raised €1.2M pre-seed from EIFO, Heartfelt, and angels to build an AI-powered customer intelligence platform. EUS
💸M&A💸
Belgium’s Showpad is being acquired by Vector Capital and merged with Bigtincan, creating a unified AI-first revenue enablement platform under the Showpad brand. EUS
🚀Product Launches🚀
Google is expanding its payments strategy by partnering with Wise, Affirm, Klarna, and others to enhance remittance and e-commerce services. The company will soon enable Google Pay users to send cross-border payments through providers like Ria Money Transfer, Xe, and Wise, while also integrating buy now, pay later options into Chrome’s autofill for online purchases. These moves aim to streamline transactions and reduce friction for shoppers. RD
David’s Bridal rolled out Pearl Planner, a free AI-powered tool to help couples manage wedding tasks. The platform offers over 100 guided tasks, vendor recommendations, registry integration, and a built-in chat assistant to centralize planning in one workspace. RD
Thanks for reading!