Handbag company meli melo pursues ‘global lifestyle brand’ ambition with £700k crowdfund

A handbag and accessories brand worn by the Duchess of Cambridge has announced the launch of a six-figure crowdfunding campaign.

meli melo is aiming to raise £700k on Crowdcube to fuel its expansion plans in the UK and overseas.

The cash will be used for marketing campaigns as the company diversifies its product range to become a full lifestyle brand.

Led by husband-and-wife team Doug Ker and Melissa Del Bono, the firm has already raised more than 20% of the total from backers including venture capital firm Venrex and investor Sian Westerman, one of the early investors in the Anya Hindmarch handbag brand.

meli melo has grown in the last five years from a £400k-turnover company to a business with revenues of £3.55m.

Founder Melissa Del Bono launched the brand after spotting a gap in the market in 2005 for understated but versatile luxury handbags, free from overt branding.

The name meli melo, which means a ‘mish-mash of things’ in French, relates to Melissa’s upbringing on a volcanic island to an English mother and Italian father.

The firm has been based in London since 2013.

CEO Douglas Ker said: “We have a strong brand with beautifully crafted handbags and accessories. I believe there are amazing opportunities for meli melo at home and abroad to grow significantly.

“We are joining a group of luxury businesses such as Mr & Mrs Smith, who currently have raised £2m via Crowdcube, in giving our customers a real piece of our brand and an opportunity to be involved in the exciting next chapter, as we look to ramp up marketing and distribution overseas and move meli melo into a global lifestyle brand.”

Creative director Melissa commented: “Involving the ‘crowd’ is so exciting, they are my customer, and it would be great to have them onboard as our investor, to come on a journey with us.”

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