Sugar Inc.

Sugar Inc. Launches Sugar Digital Entertainment with former Fox TV President

brian — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:53:40 -0700

New Unit to Expand Sugar Brand into Video, TV and Film; Sugar has also Acquired Video Shopping Start-Up Shopflick.com and Completed a $16 million Series C Funding from Sequoia Capital

San Francisco, CA, June 1, 2009 – Sugar Inc. announced today a series of steps to expand and diversify the fast-growing woman’s lifestyle media company.

Sugar is launching Sugar Digital Entertainment, an LA-based unit that will expand the Sugar brand into online video, television, film, videogames and other content formats. David Grant, former President of Fox TV Studios, Exec VP of the FOX Network and founder and CEO of Shopflick.com, joins Sugar as President of SDE with a mandate to work with talent and media partners on Sugar-branded projects.

Sugar has acquired Shopflick.com, the video-powered fashion marketplace founded by Grant in 2008. Shopflick is a pioneer in online video-driven shopping, with a critically-acclaimed brand that has quickly built a following with both designers and shoppers. Shopflick will enable Sugar’s ShopStyle -- the leading social shopping destination for women -- to pioneer a new video-driven commerce offering for its merchant partners.

Sugar also announced that it has completed its Series C funding by securing $16M from existing investor Sequoia Capital. Sugar intends to use the funds for acquisitions and international expansion to support the company’s growth into a major media company targeted to women’s lifestyle. In conjunction with the transaction, the Company has repurchased shares sold in 2007 to NBC Universal.

“These moves further our rapid growth into a leading media company,” said Brian Sugar, founder and CEO of Sugar Inc. “Sugar Digital Entertainment, run by an executive with a successful track record in television and digital, will leverage our brand and expertise into online video, TV and film. Shopflick’s team and online video expertise will enable ShopStyle to further leverage the powerful relationship between content and commerce, an area of vast potential online. In short, we have become a media company with exceptionally diversified revenue streams encompassing advertising, commerce and license fees.”

David Grant, founder and CEO of Shopflick.com said: “Sugar has tapped into the passions and interests of women in a way other media companies can only dream of, so I see this as a big opportunity to help the founders take an already successful company to another level. Sugar’s brand and expertise in women will play a role in creating great video content on all platforms, including online, TV, film and wherever smart, passionate woman are gathering. I am equally excited about finding a terrific home for the Shopflick team and the opportunity to turn our vision of video-driven shopping into reality for the millions of women who visit Sugar every month.”

About Sugar Inc.
Sugar Inc. is an online media network focused on creating the richest, most relevant online community for trendsetting, passionate and smart women. The company owns and operates ShopStyle, OnSugar and the Sugar Network, which includes the insanely addictive flagship website, PopSugar as well as BellaSugar, BuzzSugar, YumSugar, FitSugar, GeekSugar, CasaSugar, TresSugar, TeamSugar and FabSugar. Founded in April 2006, the San Francisco based Sugar Inc. overall receives over 10 million unique visitors a month and is backed by world class investor Sequoia Capital.

About Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital provides venture capital funding to founders of startups who want to turn business ideas into enduring companies. As the "Entrepreneurs Behind the Entrepreneurs", Sequoia Capital's Partners have worked with innovators such as Steve Jobs of Apple Computer, Larry Ellison of Oracle, Bob Swanson of Linear Technology, Sandy Lerner and Len Bozack of Cisco Systems, Dan Warmenhoven of NetApp, Jerry Yang and David Filo of Yahoo!, Jen-Hsun Huang of nVIDIA, Michael Marks of Flextronics, Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google, Chad Hurley and Steve Chen of YouTube, Dominic Orr and Keerti Melkote of Aruba Wireless Networks and Jonathan Kaplan of Pure Digital. To learn more about Sequoia Capital visit www.sequoiacap.com.

ShopStyle Goes Mobile

PRSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

The world’s gone mobile and now shopping has too! Tech-savvy fashionistas know ShopStyle is the premier destination when searching for clothing and accessories and now the site’s incredible inventory, search functions and tools are accessible regardless of where you are with ShopStyle Mobile, a new, free iPhone app.

With ShopStyle Mobile, iPhone users can access hundreds of the most fashionable stores – such as Net-a–Porter.com, Barney’s New York and Shopbop.com – and top designer brands – like Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch and J. Crew – right on their iPhones. The mobile app makes it easy to comparison shop while on-the-go. Out trying on jeans and have a hunch they're cheaper at another store or online? Just look it up on ShopStyle and purchase them directly from the retailer or email yourself a link to buy them later.

Just like the original version, ShopStyle Mobile features unparalleled search and browse features, allowing visitors to scroll through multiple products at once or see each one close-up in our gallery view. The ever-popular sale filter is also available, allowing visitors to see only those items that are on sale.

To celebrate ShopStyle Mobile’s launch, we’re giving away a gorgeous Diane Von Furstenberg Roberta Wrap Bag and a $500 gift card to Barney’s. Visit the “Shop Where You Go Giveaway,” by June 10th to enter!

BusinessWeek Thinks Sugar is Sweet

PRSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:32:34 -0700

BusinessWeek's columnist Jon Fine interviewed Lisa and Brian Sugar last month at Sugar's San Francisco office. The result of his interview, including a fun video of the session, appears in his Media Centric column in the March 23rd edition of the magazine. Check out the entire article to see just how much we have expanded since the company was founded almost three years ago.

Sugar Sites Update Their Looks

PRSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:31:58 -0800

Be sure to check out the new look we unveiled across the Sugar Network this afternoon. The new design should help readers navigate the network's 17 sites better, increase the sites' speed and provide a cleaner look overall. The most noticeable changes include a new navigation bar to the top of each page and an updated look for the "Sugar Girls" who appear in the upper left-hand corner of each site.

Molly Goodson Rates Ranting Celebs in USA Today

PRSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:13:09 -0800

Our own Molly Goodson is featured in an USA Today story about celebrities caught ranting about one thing or another. Following actor Christian Bale's lashing out at a crew member, Molly rates some of the most infamous celeb screamfests in the article.

FabSugar Featured in USA Today Inaugural Fashion Story

PRSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:11:34 -0800

FabSugar's Samantha Durbin was featured in USA Today's review of Michelle Obama's Inaugural weekend fashion. Samantha offered her opinions on each of the First Lady's outifts and readers were invited to comment as well.

lilSugar Mentioned in Soap Opera Digest

PRSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:04:44 -0800

lilsugar's Assistant Editor, Michele Bell, was interviewed by Soap Opera Digest about what it is like to be best friends with a soap opera actress. Michele dished about The Bold and the Beautiful star Ashley Jones.

CasaSugar Named Bemz Contest Judge

PRSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:22:45 -0800

Elka Karl, Editor of CasaSugar, was named a judge for Bemz's My Home, My Way contest. Elka will be reviewing entrants' photos of their recovered sofas, chairs and cushions to determine who used the slipcovers most stylishly. You can read Bemz's entire interview with Elka here.

Lisa Sugar Interviewed by USA Today

PRSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:18:07 -0800

Sugar Inc.'s Editor-in-Chief, Lisa Sugar, was interviewed by USA Today about the best options for last minute holiday gifts.

Molly Interviewed By USA Today

PRSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:12:56 -0800

PopSugar Editor Molly Goodson was interviewed by USA Today about Hollywood's celebrity feuds. Among the ones she discusses are Britney Spears vs. Kevin Federline, Rosie O'Donnell vs. Barbara Walters and Taylor Swift vs. Joe Jonas.