Combination with Bulletin’s Visionary Brands and Integrated Platform to Power Discovery within the Gift + Home Industry, Drive NY NOW Transformation

Rhea-AI Summary

Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE: EEX) has announced the acquisition of Bulletin Inc, a wholesale marketplace linking over 3,000 independent brands with 26,000+ retailers. This merger will enhance the NY NOW platform, providing year-round access to innovative brands and creating a 24/7 connection for buyers and sellers. Key Bulletin leaders will join Emerald, with expanded roles to drive growth. The acquisition aims to revitalize the wholesale experience by merging digital and in-person interactions, fostering enduring relationships in the industry.

Positive

• Acquisition of Bulletin Inc enhances NY NOW's offerings.
• Expansion of leadership roles indicates strong commitment to growth.
• Combines digital efficiency with in-person retail experience.

Negative

• None.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE: EEX), the owner and organizer of NY NOW®, the wholesale market for retail where brands, buyers, and designers gather to connect and discover, today announced the acquisition of Bulletin Inc, a wholesale marketplace connecting over 3,000 independent brands with over 26,000+ retailers.

All Bulletin employees will join Emerald as part of the acquisition, including co-founders Alana Branston and Ali Kriegsman. The co-founders will remain committed to and lead the future growth and success of both Bulletin and NY NOW, with Branston moving into an expanded role of Group Vice President, Gift & Home and Kriegsman moving into the role of Vice President, Strategy, Gift & Home.

The acquisition of Bulletin will elevate the experience for wholesale buyers to discover a broader array of innovative brands and makers via a fusion of in-person and e-commerce offerings, creating a 24/7 platform for brands and retailers to connect and transact with each other. Further, the merger will infuse the iconic NY NOW Gift and Home Show with Bulletin’s entrepreneurial spirit, industry expertise and extensive customer base of brands and retailers. The union of these two platforms will provide small businesses access to a solution that allows them to fuel innovation and design and provide buyers with year-round inspiration and discovery.

“NY NOW is experiencing a period of transformation and revival,” said Karalynn Sprouse, EVP, Emerald. “The combination of Bulletin and NY NOW not only provides us with a dynamic platform that delivers year-round discovery and engagement, but Alana, Ali, and the Bulletin team’s thought leadership, forward-looking perspectives, and extensive network of makers, designers, influencers, and media will serve as new pathways of expression and creativity. In addition, this union reconfirms our unwavering commitment to NY NOW, especially as our 100th anniversary of being the preeminent resource for the Gift and Home industry grows near.”

“We see a massive opportunity to combine the efficiencies of our leading digital platform with the pure magic of an iconic in-person event,” says Alana Branston, Bulletin’s CEO and Co-founder. “During the pandemic, our industry lost a lot of its humanity despite the explosion of wholesale e-commerce and became very transaction-driven and impersonal. Because of this, it’s grown harder for brands and buyers to broker real, enduring relationships. So, we’re excited to rethink and revamp NY NOW’s format, programming, and positioning to guarantee an in-person show that puts those relationships front-and-center, underpinned by transactions and commerce at the event and year-round. It’s exactly what our customers have been asking for.”

The Bulletin marketplace supports independent brands like Piecework Puzzles, Apotheke, Golde, Kitsch and Brightland, and powers wholesale discovery and order management for innovative online-only retailers like Fast AF and social shopping app Flip, as well as a diverse pool of brick-and-mortar stores like Prelude & Dawn, Onatah General Store, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, Friends NYC, and thousands more.

For more information on NY NOW and Bulletin or to inquire about participating in the upcoming Summer Market taking place August 14-17, 2022, at the Jacob Javits Center, NYC, please email:

NY NOW: Amy Hornsby, Amy.Hornsby@emeraldx.com

Bulletin: Rachel Krug, Rachel@bulletin.co

Emerald was exclusively represented and advised by Progress Partners.

About Bulletin Inc: Bulletin’s wholesale marketplace connects 3,000 independent brands with over 26,000 online-only and omni-channel retailers all over the U.S. The platform offers a consumer-grade discovery, checkout and order management experience for buyers sourcing inventory from its platform, transforming a once-manual process with line-sheets, phone calls and emails between buyer and seller into a seamless and central transaction for both parties. For more information, please visit: www.bulletin.co

About NY NOW: NY NOW is today’s wholesale market for tomorrow’s retail world. Rich with diverse products for discerning retailers, museum stores and specialty buyers. Where artisans meet designers, celebrate creativity and tell their stories. Where eclectic products shine, from home style to fashion statements, from amazing accessories to the perfect gift. Twice a year in New York City, America’s design capital. NY NOW is the best platform to build brand exposure. To generate leads and write orders. For more information, please visit: www.nynow.com

About Emerald: Emerald’s talented and experienced team grows our customers’ businesses 365 days a year through connections, content, and commerce. We expand connections that drive new business opportunities, product discovery, and relationships with over 140 annual events, matchmaking, and lead-gen services. We create content to ensure that our customers are on the cutting edge of their industries and are continually developing their skills. And we power commerce through efficient year-round buying and selling. We do all this by seamlessly integrating in-person and digital platforms and channels. Emerald is immersed in the industries we serve and committed to supporting the communities in which we operate. As true partners, we create experiences that inspire, amaze, and deliver breakthrough results. For more information, please visit: www.emeraldx.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220713005636/en/

Emerald Media Contacts:

Financial Contact:

Emerald Holding, Inc

David Doft

Chief Financial Officer

1-866-339-4688 (866EEXINVT)

Emerald Media Contact:

Beth Cowperthwaite

SVP, Communications

Beth.Cowperthwaite@emeraldx.com

Bulletin Media Contact:

Ali Kriegsman

VP Strategy, Gift and Home

Ali@bulletin.co

Source: Emerald Holding, Inc.

FAQ

What is the significance of Emerald Holding's acquisition of Bulletin Inc?

The acquisition enhances NY NOW's product offerings and fosters better connections between brands and retailers.

What will happen to Bulletin employees after the acquisition by Emerald Holding?

All Bulletin employees will join Emerald, with co-founders taking on expanded leadership roles.

How will the acquisition of Bulletin Inc affect NY NOW's operations?

It will create a dynamic platform for year-round discovery and engagement in the wholesale market.

When is the upcoming NY NOW Summer Market event?

The Summer Market will take place from August 14-17, 2022, at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC.