E-Commerce Acquisitions in 2024

Maurice Lévy, founder of YourArt, has acquired a majority stake in Artmajeur and will merge the two platforms into a new combined site called ArtMajeur by YourArt. The deal brings together more than 3.6 million artworks, ~130,000 artists and global reach across 78 countries while combining YourArt's AI capabilities (Iris) and editorial services with Artmajeur's marketplace.

Inflexion, a European mid-market private equity firm, has invested in Mecenat Group AB, a Swedish closed user‑group consumer loyalty and marketplace platform. The deal — the inaugural investment from Inflexion’s Enterprise Fund VI — will see Inflexion support Mecenat’s technology, data and product development and help accelerate its M&A-driven growth and geographic expansion beyond Sweden and Finland.

LeafLink has acquired Leaf Trade, a wholesale marketplace serving multi-state operators (MSOs) and enterprise cannabis companies, to expand its B2B marketplace capabilities and streamline technology for cannabis operators. The combined platforms will operate as-is while LeafLink rolls out an integration roadmap to deliver expanded marketplace, payments, banking, analytics, and retailer tools.

T.D. Jakes Enterprises has acquired e-commerce technology startup Castiron to power the launch of Nourysh, an all‑in‑one marketplace targeting underrepresented and under‑resourced entrepreneurs. Castiron’s technology will provide AI analytics, inventory and CRM tools, marketing automation, and payments support as TDJE scales the Nourysh platform through its Good Soil Movement community.

Wine Country Connect, led by co-founders David and George Studdert, has acquired the distressed wine e‑commerce brand Underground Cellar and relaunched the site with immediate shipping and improved customer service. The Studderts plan to leverage Wine Country Connect's fulfillment and logistics capabilities to restore the brand after Underground Cellar's April 2023 bankruptcy.

Paw Prosper, a pet health and wellness portfolio based in Colorado, has acquired K9 Mobility, a UK-based online marketplace for canine mobility products. The acquisition gives Paw Prosper a dedicated e-commerce presence in the United Kingdom and broader Europe, enabling easier access to veterinarian-recommended rehabilitative and supportive pet products across the region.

Printful and Printify have merged as equal partners to form a unified print-on-demand e-commerce company, with both platforms continuing to operate under their existing brands. The combined business, led by Printful CEO Alex Saltonstall as CEO and Printify CEO Anastasija Oleinika as President and Head of Platform, aims to expand product selection, geographic reach, and fulfillment capabilities for millions of merchants worldwide.

Group Bayport has acquired a majority stake in Connecticut-based Optamark and completed a 100% acquisition of Chicago-based NorthCape to expand its product personalization and promotional offerings. The deals add more than 3,000 products and strengthen Group Bayport's capabilities in promotional materials and custom outdoor covers and cushions, with both businesses remaining led by their current management teams.

2A Group, LLC has acquired the CheaperThanDirt.com brand and its ammunition and shooting-accessory inventory. The acquisition (made through subsidiaries) will be integrated with 2A Group’s existing ecommerce operations (including LuckyGunner.com); firearms inventory and the firearms division were not purchased and will not be offered on the site.

The TonerPartner Group, backed by private equity investor Rivean Capital, has acquired 100% of Trensco GmbH & Co. KG and its brands HD Toner and HQ‑Fit. The deal expands TonerPartner's e‑commerce platform, creating the largest online retailer in Germany for printer consumables with roughly one million active customers and over €100 million in annual revenue, and aims to capture growth via AI‑driven marketing, procurement synergies and new sustainable product ranges.

Patrick Industries, Inc. has acquired ICON Direct, Inc., which operates as RecPro.com, an e-commerce aftermarket platform focused on RV and marine parts. RecPro is expected to generate approximately $80 million in 2024 revenue and will continue to operate under its existing brand and facilities; the deal expands Patrick's aftermarket e-commerce capabilities and is expected to be accretive to net income per share.

Flaviar, Inc. has acquired Speakeasy Co. in a cash-and-stock deal to fold Speakeasy's agency, marketing and fulfillment capabilities into Flaviar Checkout and expand Flaviar's B2B/e-commerce enablement for beverage-alcohol brands. The combined business will give brand partners access to warehouse-based fulfillment, performance marketing, and Flaviar's data and ad products while preserving Speakeasy's team and client relationships.

BIDFTA.COM (BidFTA.com), an online auction and reverse logistics platform, has acquired Bargain Hunt Auctions, a division of Bargain Hunt, expanding its footprint into Nashville, Tennessee. The acquisition brings BIDFTA.COM additional auction inventory and a southeastern processing facility to better serve buyers and supply partners.

Charlesbank Capital Partners announced a strategic investment in Front Row Group, an e‑commerce agency and accelerator that provides fully outsourced marketplace management for beauty, health & wellness, and CPG brands. HighPost Capital is also an investor (per a related release noting a partnership with Charlesbank); the capital will be used to accelerate Front Row Group’s product and service innovation, scale its Catapult technology, and support continued growth and M&A activity. Financial terms were not disclosed.

EdenGrene Inc. (dba Bower & Branch), an online marketplace that sells trees and plants direct to consumers, has acquired Tilly, a virtual landscape design service. The combined company will integrate Tilly's design technology and team to expand a nationwide Pro Network offering landscape design fulfillment and professional installation, while Bower & Branch secures additional growth funding led by Denver Angels.

AutoScout24 has signed an agreement to acquire TRADER Corporation (TRADER Canada) from Thoma Bravo, with funds affiliated with existing majority shareholder Hellman & Friedman making an incremental equity investment in AutoScout24. The acquisition expands AutoScout24's presence into Canada and adds TRADER's leading marketplaces (AutoTrader.ca, AutoHebdo.net), dealer software (AutoSync), lender portal (DealerTrack) and collateral management services to its product set.

Trove, a branded-resale and trade-in platform, has acquired Recurate to combine Trove's trade-in, returns processing and non-new inventory capabilities with Recurate's peer-to-peer expertise and Shopify integrations. The deal gives Trove control of over 75% of U.S. branded resale traffic and adds 29 brand partners; Recurate's co-founders will join Trove's executive team.

GrubMarket has completed the acquisition of Oakland-based online grocer Good Eggs to expand its consumer e-commerce footprint and strengthen its operational capabilities. Good Eggs will gain access to GrubMarket's AI-powered supply-chain technology and global network to scale operations while GrubMarket deepens its direct-to-consumer offerings in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles.

TBAuctions has acquired Surplex in a transaction that closed on August 7, 2024. The deal expands TBAuctions' geographic footprint across Europe and adds deep industry vertical expertise in metal and woodworking while combining the platforms' scale, traffic and team.

ShakeStir LLC (dba Cocktail Courier) has acquired Thirstie, Inc., a New York–based e-commerce technology provider for alcohol brands. The deal combines Cocktail Courier's direct-to-consumer cocktail kit and fulfillment capabilities with Thirstie's branded e-commerce platform and data tools to enable new on-site experiences for liquor brands and accelerate growth.

An affiliate of H.I.G. Capital has completed the acquisition of Health-E Commerce, the Dallas-based e-commerce retailer operating FSAstore.com, HSAstore.com and the Caring Mill private label. The majority stake in Health-E Commerce was previously held by BPOC (since 2019); H.I.G. will partner with management to expand product selection, telehealth services and technology integrations with third-party administrators to drive growth.

9dcc has acquired 0x Shop, a Web3 e‑commerce platform and its engineering team, to integrate 0x Shop’s on‑chain storefront and product tooling into 9dcc’s Networked Products platform. The acquisition will accelerate 9dcc’s capability to deliver phygital and onchain shopping experiences for luxury brands and expand its consumer engagement and loyalty offerings.

The Chernin Group (TCG) has invested $38.5 million of growth equity in Classic Football Shirts to fund aggressive global expansion, with a particular focus on growing the brand in North America. The investment will support new permanent retail locations in the U.S., broaden the assortment and audience, and follows the appointment of Cormac Barry as Executive Chairman.

Karma Wallet, a Raleigh-based fintech focused on sustainable consumer spending, has acquired DoneGood, an ethical e-commerce marketplace featuring 100+ vetted brands. The acquisition will integrate DoneGood's marketplace and merchant network into Karma Wallet's membership, data platform and upcoming prepaid card to offer members cashback, free shipping and sustainability ratings tied to their purchases.

STORY3 Capital Partners announced a significant new investment in Saks.com to provide liquidity and support the e‑commerce retailer’s next wave of growth, including enhancements to digital customer experience and data-driven personalization. The investment positions Saks.com to expand globally and better monetize its luxury brand partnerships and proprietary customer data.

Lax.com, the Norwalk-based lacrosse e-retailer and team dealer, has acquired competitor Universal Lacrosse, including its 10 retail stores and team sales division. The deal combines two leading lacrosse-focused ecommerce platforms to expand omnichannel reach, scale team sales capabilities, and strengthen Lax.com's position in the lacrosse market.

Gordon Brothers has completed the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Catch Co., the owner of Mystery Tackle Box and a portfolio of fishing brands. The asset purchase preserves the business operations and jobs while positioning the brands for future growth under Gordon Brothers' ownership.

Paris-headquartered B2B e‑commerce leader Manutan has acquired UK educational resources supplier Findel from private equity owner Endless. Findel, headquartered in Hyde, Greater Manchester with around 300 employees, will join Manutan's group to expand its educational supplies offering and UK presence.

Lensrentals has acquired the BorrowLenses brand and select assets, consolidating two prominent online photo and video equipment rental businesses. The deal expands Lensrentals' inventory, customer base and regional footprint — BorrowLenses will continue to fulfill existing orders in the near term while Lensrentals integrates assets and order histories.

Beyond Inc. (the parent of Overstock and Bed Bath & Beyond) purchased Zulily's intellectual property and brand assets for $4.5 million in cash, excluding liabilities. The assets include the website, domains, trademarks, customer database and social accounts; Beyond says the acquisition strengthens its off-price retail positioning and the new Zulily site is expected to be functional by the end of Q2.

Razor Group has acquired Perch, a leading US Amazon aggregator, and announced a Series D financing round led by Presight Capital. The deal consolidates scale across the combined portfolio (roughly 40,000 products across 30+ channels) and aims to accelerate Razor's technology-driven automation and path to $1 billion in revenue.

Havenly, the Denver-based interior design service and home furnishings company, has acquired direct-to-consumer home decor brand The Citizenry. The acquisition expands Havenly's portfolio of DTC home brands and broadens its furniture, textiles and home decor offerings; financial terms were not disclosed.

POS Nation has acquired GrazeCart, an e-commerce technology provider built for farm-to-fork food suppliers. The acquisition brings GrazeCart's D2C e-commerce and subscription capabilities into POS Nation’s point-of-sale and distribution network to help farmers and food purveyors scale online sales.

The Ambr Group, an omnichannel e-commerce brand platform, acquired Profound Commerce, a brand holding company that operates 15 e-commerce brands. The deal increases Ambr’s portfolio to 45 brands and reinforces its Amazon-first, omnichannel scale strategy while adding senior leadership hires to support growth.

The Buy Build Fund has acquired Prints of Love, an online print marketplace specializing in wedding cards, baby announcements and other custom print products. The acquisition will enable Prints of Love to leverage The Buy Build Fund's digital strategy and operational expertise to expand product offerings and accelerate growth.

Trellus Inc., a Long Island-based same-day local delivery marketplace, has acquired LocaLI Bred, a Long Island curator of gift and subscription boxes featuring local artisans. The LocaLI Bred brand will continue as "LocaLI Bred curated by Trellus," enabling Trellus to expand its product offering and support more local merchants across Long Island and Westchester County.

Forge Equity Partners has acquired LocalSodFarm.com, a Watauga, Texas-based e-commerce platform specializing in sod supply and installation. The transaction, which closed January 19, 2024, was advised by Generational Equity and is intended to support growth through investments in people, processes, technology and strategic expansion.

APPlife Digital Solutions, Inc. completed an acquisition of certain assets and operations of London-based LeSalon Beauty Ltd. The transaction was paid in APPlife common stock and cash; APPlife will retain key LeSalon leadership and technical staff as consultants and plans to expand the LeSalon platform into the EU, U.S. and other international markets.

Relationshop has finalized a merger combining Toronto-based Mercatus Technologies and Tel Aviv-based Stor.ai into a single company called Mercatus, which will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Relationshop. The combined business unifies Mercatus’ enterprise grocery eCommerce platform with Relationshop’s data-driven shopper engagement and personalization capabilities to deliver an integrated connected-commerce solution for regional grocers and independents globally.

Fresh2 Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: FRES), through its subsidiary Fresh2 Technology Inc., agreed to acquire 100% of Youfood Group Inc. in a stock-for-stock transaction. The deal—payment in 38,333,334 newly issued Fresh2 Class A common shares—is intended to expand Fresh2's cross-border B2C food e-commerce capabilities and provide access to new North American customers sourcing food from Asia and South America.