Wolf & Badger Merges With Online Marketplace Boticca.com to Create Global Omni-Channel Powerhouse for Independent Fashion Brands

LONDON, July 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Wolf & Badger, the revolutionary London-based concept store which supports and promotes independent designers and brands, has announced it is to merge with global online marketplace and accessories curator, Boticca.com.

The merger, which takes place this week, will see Wolf & Badger acquire Boticca.com, creating a world-class multi-channel retailer for independent designers and brands in the luxury fashion market.  The move will see Boticca.com transition into the Wolf & Badger brand and platform, with Boticca.com Founder & CEO Kiyan Foroughi remaining in place as an advisor to the business.

Wolf & Badger is best known for its two award-winning concept stores, in Notting Hill and on Dover Street in Mayfair, but its unique model goes far beyond just bricks-and-mortar. The business provides independent designers with a multi-channel sales and marketing function, customer service and international distribution so that its member brands are free to focus on design and production. With this acquisition, the Wolf & Badger business will strengthen its existing online capabilities and further extend its global reach as it looks to internationalise its web platform at http://www.wolfandbadger.com and open stores in New York and other fashion capitals worldwide.

Founded in 2010, Boticca.com is a content-led, global curated marketplace that allows customers to connect with independent designers of fashion accessories around the world, discover their stories and shop directly from their studios. With brands in 40 countries worldwide and customers from over 60 countries every month, Boticca.com established itself as a unique and truly international online destination for one-of-a-kind accessories and jewellery.

The combined business will now work with over 600 individually selected independent brands and sell to an existing user email database of over 800,000. Wolf & Badger will bring on-board a number of the Boticca.com team in the merger, strengthening the already expert management team based in London which will continue to be led by brothers George Graham, CEO and Henry Graham, Creative Director.

Boticca.com CEO, Kiyan Foroughi, comments "As the lines of commerce between the offline and online worlds blur, omni-channel retailing is where the industry is heading to. Combining Boticca's strength in the online world with Wolf & Badger's established offline presence is a natural step in this evolution.  This merger enables us to build the world's leading omni-channel platform for independent brands and designers to get access to global distribution, bringing an exciting retail destination to customers across the world."

Wolf & Badger CEO, George Graham, adds "We have long shared a vision to provide independent brands with the opportunity to gain the global reach and scale previously reserved for only for the largest and best capitalised luxury fashion brands. This merger will enable us to introduce many more customers globally to the unique and wonderful collections that are produced by the world's most talented designers."

Wolf & Badger will merge with Boticca.com this week, transitioning the Boticca.com site to within the Wolf & Badger online and offline channels and incorporating many of the existing Boticca.com brands.

Editors' notes:

About Boticca.com:

Boticca is the leading online destination that allows customers to connect with up-and-coming, independent designers of fashion accessories around the world, discover their stories and shop directly from their studios - wherever they may be. The website was launched in late 2010 in London, offers nearly 8,000 different pieces from over 330 designers worldwide and ships to customers in 60 different countries monthly.

Award-winning Boticca.com takes customers on an inspiring journey across the world via its journalistic editorial content focused on telling the stories of its designers and their pieces.

About Wolf & Badger:

Wolf & Badger is a revolutionary retail concept founded in 2009 by brothers Henry and George Graham. The Wolf & Badger ethos is to promote, support and retail only the most exciting independent fashion and design brands. With stores in London's Mayfair and Notting Hill as well as online, Wolf & Badger presents an omni-channel sales, marketing, customer service and distribution platform for independent designers. The stores and website enable customers to discover and buy a curated selection of limited-edition pieces from the world's most interesting and unique luxury brands.

For more information, please contact: Samantha Emson via samantha@wolfandbadger.com / +44(0)2072294848 or Lauren Stevenson via lauren.stevenson@aisle8.com / +44(0)7834458055