B&B Italia and Flos parent Design Holding has bought an up-market American etailer.
The group has agreed to buy YDesign a US-based etailer headquartered in Walnut Creek, San Francisco and a leader in the US online high-end lighting market. It also sells furniture, rugs and accessories.
YDesign, which has 200,000 active customers among high-end consumers, architects, designers and specifiers, generated US$160m in sales in 2020, driven by 30% growth in the consumer segment which makes up about two-thirds of turnover.
YDesign operates through two websites: YLighting.com and Lumens.com and distributes several well-known European brands including Artemide, Foscarini, Kartell, Muuto, Nemo and Tom Dixon as well as Design Holding’s Flos and Louis Poulsen.
The acquisition is part of the group’s strategy to expand its geographic reach, particularly in the North-American market, strengthen the its digital presence and provide more services and added value to its customers, both private individuals and architects and designers.
YDesign’s management will be retained.
‘We are very excited to welcome YDesign Group and the management team as part of the Design Holding family. This acquisition fits into the broader plan of establishing Design Holding as the leading innovative high-end design platform with a truly multi-channel value proposition. We have been impressed with YDesign’s reputation for trusted relationships with world-class vendor brands and its broad product assortment, operational excellence and ability to support customers throughout the purchase process with highly trained customer sales and service teams. The preservation of YDesign’s existing organisation and the continued independence of its commercial value propositions are both integral to the success of this combination. At the same time, YDesign will benefit from Design Holding’s global presence, distinctive product knowledge and marketing experience,’ says Gabriele Del Torchio, Design Holding chairman.
‘We are thrilled by the many growth opportunities that lie ahead for YDesign. Leveraging the strategic support of Design Holding’s international platform and reach, we’ll continue to strengthen our positioning as the market leader in the US high-end lighting industry,’ says Laura Walsh, YDesign ceo.
