YFM Equity Partners has invested £7.6m into Swanky, a full-service Shopify Platinum agency headquartered in Exeter.
Swanky specialises in helping retailers and brands launch, scale and optimise their ecommerce operations within the Shopify ecosystem. The agency was appointed as one Shopify’s first ‘Plus’ Partners in EMEA in 2016.
YFM’s investment will support Swanky’s continued growth, including further investment in talent and service capability, and pursuing selective M&A opportunities.
“This investment marks an exciting new chapter for Swanky,” says Dan Partridge, CEO at Swanky. “Over the past few years, we’ve focused on building a strong foundation, refining our proposition, strengthening our team and deepening our expertise within the Shopify ecosystem.
“Partnering with YFM gives us the capital and strategic support to accelerate our growth plans, invest further in our people and capabilities, and continue delivering outstanding outcomes for our clients.”
As part of the transaction, Chris Hirst, formerly global CEO at Havas Creative Group, joins Swanky as its chair. Elly Adams, formerly PwC and Oxygen House Group, also joins the board as CFO.
“Swanky has built a highly regarded position within the Shopify Plus ecosystem, underpinned by deep platform expertise and long-standing client relationships,” says Matt Gordon-Smith, investment director at YFM Equity Partners.
“The team has demonstrated consistent growth and strong operational discipline, and we believe there is significant opportunity to scale further as more brands prioritise performance-led ecommerce strategies.”
