Chairish Inc., the parent company of online marketplaces Chairish and Pamono, announced today that it has been acquired by Auction Technology Group for $85 million.
“Joining forces with ATG marks an exciting new chapter,” said Gregg Brockway, CEO of Chairish Inc., in a press release announcing the acquisition. “This partnership is about amplifying what makes Chairish special—wide and premium selection, sharp-eyed curation, and a passion for sustainability—while opening up entirely new ways for our community to connect, shop, and sell.”
Founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife duo Gregg and Anna Brockway, Chairish itself has been in acquisition mode over the past six years, purchasing online marketplace Dering Hall in 2019 and Berlin-based Pamono in 2021—and raising a $33 million round of Series B funding in between. Between Chairish’s U.S. business and Pamono’s European presence, the company says that it has over 12,000 sellers at present.
It will now join London-based ATG’s portfolio of arts, antiques, collectibles, design and industrial marketplaces, among them LiveAuctioneers, The Saleroom, Lot-tissimo and EstateSales.net. By bringing Chairish into the fold, ATG is angling to strengthen its role as a major player in the global antiques and auction market. John-Paul Savant, CEO of ATG, referred to the move as a “milestone step” for the company, which was originally founded in 1971 as the Antiques Trade Gazette, a publication that lists art and antiques sales. It’s changed hands a number of times since then and is currently backed by a consortium of private equity companies, with U.S.-based TA Associates holding a majority stake.
Looking ahead, it seems that Chairish sellers and buyers can expect a few changes, with the announcement of the deal noting ATG’s intention to bring together the platform’s design-focused model with ATG’s auction marketplaces: “Sellers will benefit from seamless access to multiple sales channels and global audiences, while buyers will enjoy a significantly expanded selection of rare and remarkable items, available through both fixed-price and auction formats.”
Speaking to Business of Home in 2020 after the brand’s successful Series B round, Brockway referred to funding as necessary for growth. “It’s not about the money you can bring on, it’s about the right investors. … It takes time to build an enduring brand, and that’s our goal for Chairish.”
