# MerchSource

> MerchSource is the design-and-sourcing engine behind some of America's most recognizable consumer brands. Started as a three-person operation in 1999, it grew into the US retail-facing arm of ThreeSixty Group, which owns Sharper Image, FAO Schwarz and Vornado and licenses names like Discovery and Peanuts. MerchSource ideates the product, engineers it, sources it through offices across China, and ships it into tens of thousands of stores - handling the unglamorous middle of the consumer-goods business so a famous logo can keep appearing on new gadgets and toys.

- **Founded:** 1999
- **Headquarters:** Irvine, California, United States
- **Founders:** Kirk McLean (Co-Founder, Chief Customer Officer (ThreeSixty Group)), Johann Clapp (Co-Founder), Mike Roberts (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~160 (MerchSource entity); ~738 across ThreeSixty Group
- **Products:** Product design & development, Global sourcing & manufacturing management, Brand licensing & management, Sharper Image, FAO Schwarz
- **Notable:** Grew from a three-person startup in a borrowed back room (1999) to the US retail-facing arm of a company serving 75,000+ stores., Acquired the iconic FAO Schwarz brand from Toys 'R' Us in 2016., Acquired The Sharper Image brand for a reported ~$100 million in 2016-2017.

## Products & services

- **Product design & development** — In-house ideation and engineering of consumer products across electronics, toys, home decor, wellness and gifts.
- **Global sourcing & manufacturing management** — Sourcing offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ningbo and Guangzhou manage factories and supply chain for owned and licensed brands.
- **Brand licensing & management** — Licenses and operates names such as Discovery, Animal Planet, Peanuts, Emerson and Smithsonian alongside owned brands.
- **Sharper Image** — Owned brand of technology, health/wellness, RC and gift products.
- **FAO Schwarz** — Owned toy and retail-experience brand dating to 1862.
- **Vornado** — Owned brand of fans, heaters, humidifiers and air purifiers.
- **Black Series / Blue Hat** — Owned play and hobby brands spanning games, RC vehicles and drones.

## Achievements

- Grew from a three-person startup in a borrowed back room (1999) to the US retail-facing arm of a company serving 75,000+ stores.
- Acquired the iconic FAO Schwarz brand from Toys 'R' Us in 2016.
- Acquired The Sharper Image brand for a reported ~$100 million in 2016-2017.
- Acquired air-comfort brand Vornado in 2018.
- Secured a majority private-equity investment from AEA Investors in 2015.
- Built a LEED Silver, award-winning Irvine headquarters (REmmy Award, IES Awards of Merit).

## Latest updates

- **2022-10** — ThreeSixty Group refreshed its corporate site and brand portfolio presentation around Sharper Image, FAO Schwarz, Vornado and Discovery.
- **2018-06** — Completed acquisition of air-comfort brand Vornado, advised by Sawaya Partners.
- **2017-01** — Closed acquisition of The Sharper Image brand (reported ~$100M).
- **2016-10** — Acquired FAO Schwarz from Toys 'R' Us.

## Links

- Website: https://merchsource.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/merchsource
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/merchsource

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/merchsource
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-20