Xcel Brands Secures $9M Investment from United Trademark Group

Xcel Brands has announced a strategic partnership and $9M investment from United Trademark Group. UTG aims to elevate brands through immersive experiences, leveraging emerging media and social platforms. The partnership will focus on consumer-driven brand experiences through direct-to-consumer sales, interactive campaigns, influencer collaborations, and experiential retail.

Xcel Brands (NASDAQ: XELB), a leading media and consumer products company, has announced a strategic partnership and a $9 million strategic investment from United Trademark Group (UTG), a global leader in brand development and licensing. The collaboration, announced on April 24, 2025, aims to elevate brands through immersive consumer experiences leveraging emerging media and social platforms.

UTG, headquartered in Shanghai, China, with offices in Toronto, Paris, and Milan, specializes in mergers, acquisitions, brand strategy, and digital innovation. The company empowers brands and merchants by providing infrastructure and operational expertise across design, manufacturing, distribution, and retail. By combining their expertise with Xcel Brands' social commerce and live streaming capabilities, both companies aim to create dynamic, consumer-driven brand experiences.

Alex Wang, Co-Founder and Chairman of UTG, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: "We are excited to work with Xcel Brands. By combining their expertise in social commerce and our shared vision and commitment to product and innovation, we look forward to building the next generation of great brands."

Robert W. D'Loren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xcel Brands, echoed the sentiment: "We are very excited to partner with UTG. There is tremendous synergy between our companies’ goals, missions, and visions for the future of the global consumer sector."

The partnership will focus on consumer-driven brand experiences through direct-to-consumer sales, interactive campaigns, influencer collaborations, and experiential retail. Both companies are rooted in a social-first, creator-driven approach, leveraging digital communities, cultural relevance, and influencer partnerships to build brands that resonate with today’s consumers.

Xcel Brands, founded in 2011, has generated over $5 billion in retail sales via livestreaming and digital channels, with a social media presence of approximately 40 million followers. The company owns and manages several prominent brands, including Halston, Judith Ripka, and C. Wonder, and has recently launched new pet and bakeware brands. UTG currently manages a diverse portfolio of over 10 brands, generating more than $1.5 billion in annual retail sales across 12 countries.

The collaboration reinforces Xcel Brands' commitment to transforming how consumers engage with brands. With UTG's global expertise and Xcel Brands' innovative technologies, the partnership is poised to unlock new growth opportunities in the consumer sector.

References:
[1] https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9438405/leading-global-brand-development-licensing-company-united-trademark-group-utg-announces-a-strategic-partnership-and-a-9-million-strategic-investment-in-xcel-brands
[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/XELB/