Photo: Origami Owl’s co-founder, Bella Weems, welcomes Willa Doss and her eponymous skincare company, Willa, to the fold.
Two companies that began before their founders could drive are about to become an even stronger direct selling player.
Arizona-based custom jewelry seller Origami Owl has purchased Willa, a New York company that creates natural skincare products for teens and tweens. Bella Weems was 14 when she and her mother, Chrissy, founded Origami Owl. Willa Doss was nine when she and her mom launched their business. Both companies have focused on creating opportunities for mother-daughter teams to share beauty-related products through social selling.
“We’ve been so impressed by Willa’s team, mission and quality of products,” Chrissy Weems said. “Nothing gives us more pleasure than to share our momentum with a like-minded company like Willa.”
Willa CEO Annette McEvoy, a long-time beauty industry executive who will continue to serve as Willa CEO, said the companies are a great match. “All of us at Willa are thrilled to be joining the Origami Owl family of brands,” she said. “We both believe in high-performing better-for-you beauty for women of all ages. …This partnership will enable Willa to reach a larger social selling audience and share Willa’s inherent goodness with even more people.”
Now in its sixth year, Origami Owl saw meteoric growth in 2013. Sales increased 870 percent to $233 million, earning the startup a spot at No. 60 on the DSN Global 100. Willa, which does not disclose revenue, began six years ago, as well—initially selling its products on retail shelves but shifting to direct sales in early 2014.
The acquisition comes on the heels of Origami Owl’s announcement in August that it has been licensed to sell charms, lockets and other products featuring characters from Dreamworks films such as Trolls.
