Bezar was a curated online design marketplace founded in 2015 by former

Fab Fab or FAB may refer to: Commerce * Fab (brand), a frozen confectionery * Fab (website), an e-commerce design web site * The FAB Awards, a food and beverage award * FAB Link, a European electricity link * Flavoured alcoholic beverage or alcopop, ...

co-founder Bradford Shellhammer (CEO), Matt Baer (COO), PieterJan Mattan (Creative Director), and Justin Chen (CFO).“At Bezar, Design Meets Retail.” The Wall Street Journal.
/ref>“Fab Cofounder Bradford Shellhammer Is Launching Design Sales Site Bezar.” Fast Company.
/ref> The site featured unique pieces from both emerging designers and established brands in four categories: home, accessories, jewelry, and art.“Fab Cofounder Bradford Shellhammer is Launching Design Sales Site Bezar” Fast Company.
/ref> The company was headquartered in SoHo, Manhattan. The name “Bezar” comes from a combination of the words ''bazaar'' and ''bizarre'', which both are phonetically pronounced \bə-ˈzär\.

History

In 2013, Bradford Shellhammer left his role as co-founder and chief design officer of ecommerce website Fab, maintaining a role as a shareholder and non-executive advisor. In early 2015, Shellhammer announced he would launch and curate his own online design marketplace. Bezar launched in March 2015, featuring four new virtual ''pop-up shops'' daily, and a range of exclusive collaborations with designers, labels and brands like FLOS “Flos for Bezar 2015 Summer Kelvin Table Lamp” Hypebeast
/ref> and

Refinery29 Refinery29 (R29) is an American multinational digital media and entertainment website focused on young women. It is owned by Vice Media. History Justin Stefano, Philippe von Borries, Piera Gelardi, and Christene Barberich co-founded Refinery29 ...

.“An Instagram for Design Lovers, Artworks for Sale from the Refinery29 Staff and an Airstream on a Boho Mission” New York Times' T Style Magazine
/ref> Bezar's marketplace component, featuring hundreds of permanent designer storefronts, was rolled out in September 2015.“Bezar, Bradford Shellhammer’s Reimagined Fab.com, Goes Live Today.” TechCrunch.
/ref>“Bezar Launches Designer Storefronts” Fast Company
/ref>

Funding

Before its launch, Bezar raised a total of $2.25 million in two and a half weeks from seven investment funds and 20 individuals.
/ref> Notable investors include designer

Yves Béhar Yves Béhar (born 1967) is a Swiss-born American designer, entrepreneur, and educator. He is the founder and principal designer of Fuseproject, an industrial design and brand development firm. Béhar is also co-founder and Chief Creative Off ...

, Kenneth Lerer, Hiroshi Mikitani and

Whoopi Goldberg Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ' ...

.“Fab Co-Founder Returns with Bezar” Dezeen.
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Acquisition

In February 2016, Bezar was acquired by online luxury goods retailer AHAlife Holdings, Ltd. (ASX:AHL) “Online Marketplace Bezar Has Been Acquired By AHAlife.” Fast Company
/ref>“AHAlife Acquires Bradford Shellhammer’s Design Marketplace Bezar” TechCrunch
/ref>“Bradford Shellhammer's Bezar acquired by online retailer AHAlife” Dezeen
/ref>

References

{{Reflist

External links

Bezar Official WebsiteHome Supplies Store
2015 establishments in the United States Online marketplaces of the United States