XCelerate Capital-backed Company Acquires Bourbon & Boots

Bourbon & Boots, the Southern-inspired online merchandising hub has sold its assets to a new company – Bourbon & Boots Acquisition Co., a newly formed operating company funded by early stage investment firm XCelerate Capital.

XCelerate Capital is run by Rod Ford and Dustin Williams, a duo that has been on a tear making investments in a number of startup ventures in central Arkansas.

The acquisition terms of the private deal were not disclosed.

Bourbon & Boots was started and run by Matt Price and a team of operators in February 2013. It quickly grew its product base to more than 2,000 unique southern-style items and has more than 250,000 customers.

In a release announcing the news, XCelerate said the new operating team will be led by interactive commerce veteran Dustin Williams as CEO and will assume operations of the brand through the immediate new hire of at least six key operating positions.

Ford said that the new capital injection and operating team will be supported by board members, consultants, and advisors “who are experienced interactive executives from companies such as TJMaxx Online, Charming Shoppes, and Hayneedle.”

“The Bourbon & Boots founder team did an outstanding job of creating a highly distinguishable brand with a cult like following and now is the time in its lifecycle to recapitalize the business and bring in a highly experienced operating team to accelerate the brand to its next level of success,” said Ford.

“I am very proud of our creation of an innovative brand based in Arkansas”, said Price, who says he will still have a stake in the new company. “We were very rapidly able to establish a unique brand and a company positioned to scale. XCelerate Capital is the perfect capital partner to bring in a highly experienced operating team and take the brand to the next level. I am confident of their ultimate success.”