B8ta has acquired Re:store, a startup that provides retail-as-a-service for online fashion brands with partners including Instagram brands Sezane, H&M’s & Other Stories and Nasty Gal. The deal will help b8ta, which has focused primarily on technology, to enter the fashion and lifestyle market.
Re:store offers its partners a model that lets them display products at Re:store’s shop in San Francisco, giving online brands a physical presence. The service includes a proprietary dashboard that provides these brands with real-time visibility to automate their merchandising, buying and logistics. Re:store will be integrated into Forum by b8ta, which seeks to offer “one cohesive solution” for the needs of fashion and lifestyle brands seeking retail distribution both online and offline.
“The future of retail is discovery,” said Vibhu Norby, co-founder and CEO of b8ta in a statement. “I am a huge fan of what Selene built at Re:store, and we’re incredibly excited to add their Maiden Lane location to our portfolio.”
Re:store founder Selene Cruz will stay on in an advisory role with b8ta to support brand curation and community experience. Under the terms of the deal, Re:store will maintain licensing rights while handing off its business dealings to b8ta.
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