Nov 6, 2023

Michael Barr acquires About Face Designs

Giftware company About Face Designs entered into an agreement to sell its intellectual property and other assets to Michael Barr — owner of Barrco Consumer Products, parent company of Funatic — in a transaction that brings together two brands that sell trendy, pop-culture inspired gifts.

Under the terms of the agreement, the sale will finalize on Dec. 1, and the new About Face Designs will relaunch on Jan. 1, 2024. The transaction includes the purchase of the brand and its intellectual property and does not include any inventory or staff. The About Face Designs brand will remain intact and will continue to be marketed independently with the goal of continued growth and expansion.

“We are thrilled that About Face Designs will live on under Mike’s ownership and we’re excited to watch the brand evolve under creative new leadership,” said Robert Ricciardi, owner and president of About Face Designs, who is retiring.

New owner Barr said that he will continue to develop the brand, adding his own spin with new creative and new offerings.

“I’ve been a huge fan of About Face Designs for years, and their products align beautifully with our mission of bringing funny, on-trend gifts to independent and specialty gift retailers nationwide,” Barr said. “I’m looking forward to building on the strong foundation that Bob has built over the last 25 years.”

The new team plans to curate and streamline About Face Designs’ existing categories, expand into new trending categories, and introduce new designs while maintaining the same humor and irreverence that their customers have come to expect. As part of the acquisition, several administrative and creative positions will be added.

About Face Designs will continue to be represented by Darrah & Co. in the Southeast (Atlanta) and Anne McGilvray & Co. in the Pacific Northwest and West (Las Vegas Market Center). Anne McGilvray & Co. will also begin representing the company in TOLA from their new showroom in the Dallas Market Center, and in the Midwest from their Minneapolis showroom. And JustGot2HaveIt! will represent the relaunched company in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with Cornblatt & Associates representing the line in Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. The company will continue to be available through Faire.