The Guild Gets $7 Million to Expand Catalog Business
Multichannel art retailer The Guild Inc. received $7 million in private equity financing from San Francisco Equity Partners and Dolphin Equity Partners. The Guild will use the money to expand distribution of The Artful Home catalog, which launched in 2004, and bolster the company's online branding and marketing.As a result of these moves, the Madison, WI, company expects to double revenue in 2006.
The Guild represents 1,200 artists across North America through its Web site, guild.com, catalog and business-to-business Sourcebooks. The works of art ship directly to consumers from artists' studios nationwide so that The Guild retains no inventory.
Also announced yesterday was the naming of San Francisco Equity Partners' Scott Potter as board chairman of The Guild. In addition, Cameron Steele of San Francisco Equity Partners and Salvatore Tirabassi of Dolphin Equity Partners have joined the board of directors.
Chantal Todé covers catalog and retail news and BTB marketing for DM News and DM News.com. To keep up with the latest developments in these areas, subscribe to our daily and weekly e-mail newsletters by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters
