Gordon Brothers, a global asset specialist, has strategically acquired Laura Ashley, a legacy home, fashion, and lifestyle brand known for its romantic English aesthetic, from Marquee Brands, a global brand accelerator and owner of 17 globally recognized brands. Founded in 1953, Laura Ashley has established itself as a symbol of classic design, combining exquisite craftsmanship, vintage-inspired designs, and delicate flowers in hundreds of goods and categories. With the launch of its first European offices in London, the strategic purchase broadens Marquee Brands’ worldwide reach while retaining Laura Ashley’s UK-based workforce. The purchase of Laura Ashley raises the retail value of Marquee Brands’ global portfolio to $4+ billion. The company is distributed in more than 80 countries through top wholesalers, best-in-class digital marketplaces, and more than 150 branded retail locations worldwide.
“Laura Ashley is a perfect fit for Marquee Brands because to its licensed business strategy and strong network of excellent partners. The CEO of Marquee Brands, Heat Golden, stated, “We are thrilled to capitalize on the strong affinity for this iconic brand and propel expansion across new platforms and partnerships.” “With the current UK team in place, we are prepared to capitalize on Laura Ashley’s seven-decade history to realize the brand’s full potential as a lifestyle brand that innovates new products and categories, offers distinctive partnerships, and engages audiences of all ages in strategic global markets.”
Tobias Nanda, Head of Brands at Gordon Brothers, stated, “As a company that actively invests in and revitalizes iconic brands like Laura Ashley, we acquired the British heritage brand out of insolvency in 2020 and over the last four years have built a flexible, scalable licensing business and a global e-commerce presence.” “We are extremely proud of Laura Ashley’s expansion under the direction of Carolyn D’Angelo, the company’s former president, and we are confident that Marquee Brands is leading the brand to further global expansion.”
Building on its track record of growing famous brands, Marquee Brands adds Laura Ashley to its portfolio as a well-known lifestyle brand with a fully licensed business model that operates in South Korea, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other major Asian countries. With items available at thousands of retail locations, Laura Ashley works in more than 200 lifestyle categories through a network of more than 100 licensed partners. Marquee Brands is well-positioned to expand Laura Ashley’s reach by utilizing its extensive worldwide network, which will generate new revenue in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, EMEA, and other crucial regions.
For Marquee Brands, the acquisition of Laura Ashley represents the end of a year of transformation. With the hiring of Rachel Terrace as Chief Commercial and Growth Officer, John Hayes as Chief Financial Officer, Joseph Zarro as Chief Business Development Officer, and Natasha Fishman as Chief Marketing Officer, Marquee Brands strengthened its executive team in order to support its rapid growth to $4+ billion and dedication to growing organic revenue. The ascent of Marquee Brands has been significantly influenced by the inclusion of prominent figures in the business. With important leadership in place, Marquee Brands begins 2025 in a strong position to propel growth, maximize operational effectiveness, and promote long-term development throughout its growing portfolio.
