Crate and Barrel Acquires Boutique Brand Hudson Grace

June 19, 2019  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

Founded in 2012 by veteran retailers Monelle Totah and Gary McNatton, Hudson Grace is known for modern tabletop and entertaining essentials evoking the coastal California lifestyle. Fueled by a shared passion for elevated design and experiential retail, the brands will create new customer experiences and an expanded presence in the home space.

"We're excited to welcome Hudson Grace and look forward to focusing our digital expertise on creating a wider audience for the brand," said Neela Montgomery, CEO of Crate and Barrel. "Hudson Grace has an entrepreneurial spirit, boutique feel and curated mix of new and vintage product that enhances our current brand portfolio including CB2 and Crate and Kids."

Crate and Barrel plans to grow the Hudson Grace brand through retail expansion into niche markets and an invigorated online presence to engage new and existing customers across channels. With more than 47% of their sales coming through online channels, Crate and Barrel will leverage its digital capabilities to grow Hudson Grace's developing e-commerce business. 

In addition, the acquisition introduces Hudson Grace as a new touchpoint for customers to shop from a Crate and Barrel brand in small-format retail settings. Future plans include the introduction of an edited Hudson Grace collection in select Crate and Barrel stores in time for the holidays.

"Teaming up with Crate and Barrel opens up endless opportunities to expand our visibility and explore new creative concepts while maintaining our unique approach to in-home entertaining through elevated product and merchandising style," said Hudson Grace co-founder Gary McNatton, adding, "We're a natural fit."