Comfort-focused lifestyle brand Tommy John announced that Manny Chirico and David Landau of LNK Partners have joined the brand’s Board of Directors as part of the private equity firm’s minority investment in the company.
Chirico has also made a personal, undisclosed investment in the company. In addition to joining the board and investing in the brand, Chirico has also been named Chair of the Board’s retail committee, advising on the brand’s omnichannel strategy as it relates to wholesale launches, retail store expansion and brand evolution.
Tom Patterson, Co-founder & CEO of Tommy John with his wife and Co-founder, Erin Fujimoto, will continue to lead the business.
“LNK Partners is fortunate to have a long and successful track record of backing founder-led businesses,” said Landau. “Over the last 13 years, Tom and Erin have built an incredible business with industry-leading products for men and women. We’re thrilled to join the team and look forward to helping them build on this great foundation of success.”
“The comfort category has emerged in a powerful way over the last two years,” added Chirico.“I’m so impressed with how Tommy John has navigated this moment as a leader in comfort. As we look toward the future of the business, I’m proud to advise Tommy John as it accelerates its physical distribution and continues to evolve as the most beloved and accessible brand for all things comfort.”
Under Patterson’s and Fujimoto’s leadership, Tommy John has been profitable since its launch with its DTC e-commerce business and has continued to leverage wholesale partnerships and retail experiences as core pillars for growth. Tommy John, headquartered in New York City, is carried in over 1,300 points of wholesale distribution and has five owned retail stores.
“Since day one Tommy John has valued the importance of being an omnichannel business,” said Patterson. “We believe in showing up wherever our customers are and providing them with more comfortable solutions for their daily lives. Together we’ve learned to adapt to the evolving landscape and leverage our DTC data to influence our omnichannel strategy. We have developed a tremendous understanding of our customers and their shopping behaviors. With this data and Manny’s extensive experience as a true retail pioneer, we’re well-positioned to grow and expand our loyal customer base both online and in-store.”
“Our product strategy is set to accelerate innovative solutions over the next several years through a more inclusive and versatile approach,” added Fujimoto. “We have several new product introductions and partnerships slated for 2022 and beyond, and we’re thrilled to have David and Manny join the team as true thought partners in this next chapter of growth.”
Tommy John products can be found in Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Bloomingdale’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and in Tommy John stores in SouthPark Mall, Charlotte, NC, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Scottsdale, AZ, The Houston Galleria, Houston, TX, The Mall at Green Hills, Nashville, TN, Southlake Town Square, Dallas, TX, and online at tommyjohn.com.
