Licensing agency The Wildflower Group and Hermes-OTTO International have teamed up to expand the home furnishings brand Bombay.
Launched in the 1970s as The Bombay Company, the brand began as a mail-order business that eventually grew into a chain of more than 450 boutique specialty stores.
Now the brand’s owner H-OI and The Wildflower Group are planning a broad-based lifestyle licensing and merchandising program for the property that will capture the Bombay’s global aesthetic on an expanded range of home furnishing and decorating products.
“It’s very exciting to be part of a brand revival with so much opportunity,” says Michael Carlisle, principal, The Wildflower Group. “Our comprehensive brand expansion program will capitalize on the sky-high name recognition for the iconic brand among consumers, while delivering distinctive ‘value luxury’ offerings with classic styling and unexpected detail.”
Planned categories include kitchen textiles, home office essentials, fabric and upholstery, flooring, home storage/organization, seasonal décor, bathroom fixtures, luggage/travel accessories and men’s and women’s gifts. Some products are already available at retail from Powell Furniture and JLA Home Fashions with collections from Lifetime Brands and Arden Companies planned for 2014.
“We are delighted to partner with The Wildflower Group to expand the reach of the Bombay brand into additional licensed product categories,” says Wil Hollands, president, H-OI USA. “Establishing strong licensing partnerships is a fundamental element of our overall growth strategy, and we sought out The Wildflower Group as a partner because they are a proven leader in the licensing business.”
