MONROE - Colony Brands, Inc. announced Friday, May 31 that it has created a new subsidiary that acquired the catalog and internet brands of One Step Ahead and Leaps and Bounds.
The brands, formerly owned by Chelsea & Scott, Ltd., Lake Bluff, Ill., were purchased in Chicago May 31. Chelsea & Scott was founded in 1987 by Ian and Karen Scott.
"The addition of these brands represents both an exciting and challenging opportunity," said John Baumann, President and CEO of Colony Brands, Inc. "As recently as two years ago, One Step Ahead recorded annual sales of $60 million to more than 300,000 customers. The brand's reputation for very high quality children's products is nationally recognized and highly valued."
"We believe our experience in database marketing, catalog production and product fulfillment will be very synergistic with the strong merchandising capability currently in place at One Step Ahead," he added.
Baumann said the acquisition of One Step Ahead is consistent with Colony Brands' efforts to appeal to younger consumers and build stronger internet-based businesses.
"In order to continue to build our catalog and internet businesses, we need to attract a greater number of young adult customers," he said. "One Step Ahead has a strong following among parents of babies and toddlers. Additionally, One Step Ahead has a strong presence on the internet and receives about 95 percent of its orders through the web. The acquisition of One Step Ahead should enable us to learn how to better serve that very important market of younger consumers."
The merchandising team for One Step Ahead will remain in Lake Bluff, Baumann said. However, the marketing and logistics functions will be housed in Monroe and the company's warehouse and fulfillment offices in Peosta, Iowa.
Colony Brands was founded in Monroe as The Swiss Colony, Inc. in 1926. Colony Brands will now have 12 catalog and internet affiliates. Affiliates include The Swiss Colony, Seventh Avenue and Montgomery Ward.
The brands, formerly owned by Chelsea & Scott, Ltd., Lake Bluff, Ill., were purchased in Chicago May 31. Chelsea & Scott was founded in 1987 by Ian and Karen Scott.
"The addition of these brands represents both an exciting and challenging opportunity," said John Baumann, President and CEO of Colony Brands, Inc. "As recently as two years ago, One Step Ahead recorded annual sales of $60 million to more than 300,000 customers. The brand's reputation for very high quality children's products is nationally recognized and highly valued."
"We believe our experience in database marketing, catalog production and product fulfillment will be very synergistic with the strong merchandising capability currently in place at One Step Ahead," he added.
Baumann said the acquisition of One Step Ahead is consistent with Colony Brands' efforts to appeal to younger consumers and build stronger internet-based businesses.
"In order to continue to build our catalog and internet businesses, we need to attract a greater number of young adult customers," he said. "One Step Ahead has a strong following among parents of babies and toddlers. Additionally, One Step Ahead has a strong presence on the internet and receives about 95 percent of its orders through the web. The acquisition of One Step Ahead should enable us to learn how to better serve that very important market of younger consumers."
The merchandising team for One Step Ahead will remain in Lake Bluff, Baumann said. However, the marketing and logistics functions will be housed in Monroe and the company's warehouse and fulfillment offices in Peosta, Iowa.
Colony Brands was founded in Monroe as The Swiss Colony, Inc. in 1926. Colony Brands will now have 12 catalog and internet affiliates. Affiliates include The Swiss Colony, Seventh Avenue and Montgomery Ward.