Funatic owner to acquire About Face Designs

Acquisition will bring together a world-class portfolio of unique gift brands.

Giftware company About Face Designs has announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its intellectual property and other assets to Michael Barr, owner of Barrco Consumer Products Inc., parent company of Funatic, in a transaction that will bring together two leading brands in the gift industry, both of which sell hilarious, trendy, pop-culture inspired gifts.

Under the terms of the agreement, the sale finalized Dec. 1, 2023, and the new About Face Designs will relaunch 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.

About Face Designs offers heartwarming giftware that combines originality, creativity and quality. With over 2,800 unique products that appeal to a varying customer base, they’re always challenging themselves to be new, fresh and funny.

New owner Michael Barr said that he will continue to develop the About Face Designs 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. 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 About Face Designs in TOLA from their stunning new showroom in the Dallas Market Center, and in the Midwest from its Minneapolis showroom. And JustGot2HaveIt! will represent the relaunched About Face Designs in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with Cornblatt & Associates representing the line in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, DC. About Face Designs will continue to be available through Faire.com.

About Face Designs was founded in 1998 and has seen consistent growth in its 25 years of business. Owner and President Robert Ricciardi, who is retiring said, “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”.

Based in Minneapolis, Michael Barr is the owner of Barrco Consumer Products Inc., parent company of Funatic. Since 2016, Funatic has inspired people to find moments of humor and happiness in their everyday lives through an always evolving range of on-trend and pop-culture inspired products that appeal to men and women of all ages, including socks, stickers, tea towels, and a recently introduced line of hilarious 40oz Handle Mugs.