Oiselle Advised by Bell Lap Advisors in Merger with Janji

Date

February 2023

Client

Oiselle

Service

M&A Advisory

Buyer

Janji and Digsbury Ventures

Running, Trail Running, Apparel, Athleisure, Soft Goods, DTC, eCommerce, Wholesale

Oiselle, a Seattle-based women’s athletic apparel company, and Janji, a Boston-based running apparel company, merged to form a collaborative partnership.

Oiselle, which was advised by Bell Lap Advisors, provides women athletes high performance apparel that also meets their style needs. Founder Sally Bergesen will step down into an advisory role, while long-time president Atsuko Tamura continues to lead Oiselle. Oiselle’s growth has fostered a passionate following, officially known as Volee, a global community of women runners with diverse backgrounds united by a love of running.

Janji, which is known for its commitment to sustainability and partnerships with underrepresented artists, will retain co-founders Mike Burnstein and Dave Spandorfer. As part of the transaction, Matt McCalpin was named the managing director of the partnership. He will support and coordinate operations across both brands. Janji also boasts a strong, tight-knit community, Janji Collective, which fosters connection and service within the context of running.

Janji and Oiselle will continue to operate as separate companies, and will also maintain separate headquarters. While each will operate individually, the merged companies aim to use their combined power to reach more runners and build a larger, stronger community through an expanded distribution network.

Both brands are releasing new collections for the spring and summer of 2023. They expressed optimism about their joint future, with Janji co-founder Spandorfer saying, “By coming together, both brands can grow their communities, lean in on their strengths and continue their unique mission—to support runners and make the world a better place through running. This merger allows us to think incredibly long-term and support our communities, the Volée and the Collective, even more.”

Bell Lap Advisors is a leading M&A advisory firm focused exclusively on outdoor recreation and active lifestyle industries and has extensive experience in endurance athletics, footwear, and apparel.

If you’re interested in learning more about our M&A services, or if you’re curious about the potential for your outdoors-focused company to benefit from a merger or acquisition, please contact us today for free information.