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If there’s been a particular corner of the design world that’s actually managed to have a decent year, it’s online home decor retailers. Between the sudden, significant spike in demand for home office pieces plus an abundance of time to dream up and complete home improvement projects, consumers seem more inclined than ever to buy furniture and other products online.
So it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Chairish, an online marketplace for antique, original, and exclusive high-end furniture, has ridden that wave to the tune of $33 million in Series B funding. Led by Austin-based Tritium Partners, the funding round also includes investments from Altos Ventures Ltd, Azure Capital, O’Reilly AlphaTech, and Chairish’s founding partners.
The growth of Chairish is the product of both its ability to capitalize on recent coronavirus-induced shifts as well as the overall expansion of the online home furnishings space since the company’s 2013 launch. Thanks to a well-curated marketplace of 10,000 sellers and more than 500,000 items, Chairish has attracted an audience of 3.8 million luxury-minded shoppers, earning a loyal audience of professional interior designers. According to CEO and cofounder Gregg Brockway, that’s translated to Chairish more than doubling its gross revenue over the past year. At a time when amateur shoppers and professional interior designers are more willing to source chic pieces online, Chairish sees itself as a potential leader in the new normal of digital furniture retail.
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“As Americans are spending more time at home and upgrading their spaces like never before, it’s important for the home furnishings industry to meet buyers where they are: online,” Brockway tells AD PRO. “Chairish is uniquely positioned to support the high-end design community as it transitions into the digital future.”
With its new funding round secured, Chairish plans to grow its team, build on the specialized services it offers to buyers and sellers (with a focus on expanding how it works with interior designers), and eye potential strategic acquisitions similar to the deal that saw the company purchase Dering Hall in 2019 (Chairish fully merged with Dering Hall and sister site Decaso earlier this year). In short, the goal is to scale its operations and provide a superior online shopping experience to both meet increasing demand and win over new customers.