Licensing giant Marquee Brands is starting off the new year with a new name in its portfolio: home goods and fashion brand Laura Ashley.
Last week, Marquee Brands acquired Laura Ashley for an undisclosed sum. According to Rachel Terrace, Marquee Brands’ chief commercial and growth officer, the brand management company found Laura Ashley to be an “extremely compelling fit” for its family of properties. While Laura Ashley is already in some 80 countries, Marquee Brands aims to grow the brand’s footprint in markets such as the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and on digital marketplaces like Amazon, Terrace said.
Founded in 1953, Laura Ashley is based in the United Kingdom and is known for its bedding, wallpaper, home decor and textiles. This is the brand’s second time trading hands in five years; in April 2020, the investment firm Gordon Brothers acquired Laura Ashley out of insolvency amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to Gordon Brothers, under its purview, Laura Ashley grew to have more than $750 million in global retail sales.
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