Harper Group

What Harper Group does

Harper Group, LLC is a B2B wholesale sales and marketing agency founded in 2000 in New York City, representing home, gift, publishing, and lifestyle brands to specialty retailers across the United States. The company operates a multi-channel distribution platform comprising (i) a dedicated W-2 field sales force of Territory Managers organized across 8 regions and 46 states, (ii) 7 permanent showrooms in New York City, Saco (ME), Minnetonka (MN), New Bedford (MA), Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Oakland, and (iii) a MarketTime-powered online B2B wholesale marketplace (harpergroup.markettime.com) enabling 24/7 ordering by approved retail accounts. Its brand portfolio spans 9 categories and 25+ partners, including Penguin Random House, Hachette, Chronicle Books, Macmillan, Vera Bradley, LAFCO, Thymes, and QUDO.

Harper Group monetizes through wholesale commissions and margins on transactions it facilitates between brand partners and its tens of thousands of specialty retail accounts. It does not publicly disclose pricing; retailers must apply and be approved before accessing wholesale terms, and minimum order amounts vary by brand from $75 to $1,000. The go-to-market emphasizes consultative, relationship-based selling augmented by seasonal buying guides, curated trend collections (Surreal Soirees, Terra Futura, Fisherman Aesthetic), livestream shows, and trade show presence. The company is privately held by the Harper family, with Scott Harper serving as President and CEO, and has no disclosed institutional funding. Geographic scale was materially expanded in October 2024 via the acquisition of Oakland-based Keena, which added Las Vegas and Oakland showrooms and West Coast/Rocky Mountain coverage. Subsequent 2025 partnerships with Vera Bradley (national representation) and Abbott (AmericasMart Atlanta) indicate active brand-side expansion on top of the integrated distribution platform.

Name

Harper Group

Legal name

Harper Group, LLC

Website

https://harpergroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harper Group is a privately held, family-owned B2B wholesale sales and marketing agency founded in 2000 that represents 25+ home, gift, publishing, and lifestyle brands to tens of thousands of specialty retailers across 46 states via dedicated Territory Managers, 7 permanent showrooms, and a MarketTime-powered B2B online marketplace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Sales Agency

NAICS

Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters (455211)

akta.pro primary industry

Membership Warehouse Clubs (General Merchandise + Grocery) (CRAHACAA)

Keywords

• Wholesale sales agency
• Brand representation services
• Specialty retail distribution
• Territory manager field sales
• Home and gift brands

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Commission/Margin: Harper Group operates as a wholesale-only sales agency representing home, gift, publishing and lifestyle brands to retailers. The company earns revenue by facilitating sales between brand partners and retail customers through their showrooms, Territory Managers, and online platform. Harper Group acts as the brand ambassador, educator, advocate and salesperson for the brands they represent.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Harper Group is a wholesale sales and marketing agency that represents home, gift, publishing, and lifestyle brands by acting as their outsourced sales force to specialty retailers. The company employs dedicated W-2 Territory Managers across 8 U.S. regions and 46 states, operates 7 permanent showrooms, and runs an online B2B wholesale marketplace that allows approved retail accounts to browse brand catalogs and place orders 24/7. Harper Group functions as a brand ambassador, educator, advocate, and salesperson on behalf of its brand partners, facilitating wholesale transactions and providing merchandising, marketing, and account penetration support.

Product overview

Harper Group is a wholesale-only sales and marketing agency that operates as a unified platform connecting home, gift, publishing, and lifestyle brands with specialty retailers across the USA. The company's core offering consists of its Online B2B Wholesale Marketplace (MarketTime) for 24/7 ordering, permanent showroom spaces in 7 locations, and dedicated Territory Manager consulting services. Harper Group's product portfolio spans multiple brand categories including Books (Penguin Random House, Hachette, Macmillan), Children's, Gifts, Home, Home Fragrance (LAFCO, Thymes, Paddywax), Paper, Personal Accessories (INK+ALLOY, QUDO, Vera Bradley), Personal Care, and Tabletop. The company differentiates through curated seasonal buying guides, trend collections (Surreal Soirees, Terra Futura, Fisherman Aesthetic), and white-glove brand representation services. Recent expansion via the Keena acquisition added West Coast coverage, bringing representation across 8 regions and 46 states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MarketTime Online B2B Wholesale Marketplace A proprietary online wholesale ordering platform that allows approved retail accounts to browse brands, access product information, and place orders 24/7. Retailers must apply and be approved before gaining access to wholesale pricing and ordering capabilities.
• Permanent Showroom Services Physical showroom spaces in seven U.S. cities (New York City, Saco ME, Minnetonka MN, New Bedford MA, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Oakland) where retailers can view curated product assortments, attend seasonal buying events, and meet with Territory Managers in-person or virtually.
• Brand Representation Services Outsourced sales and marketing agency services that connect home, gift, publishing, and lifestyle brands with specialty retailers across the United States, including strategic sales planning, field sales execution, merchandising, tradeshow representation, and account penetration strategies.
• Territory Manager Consulting Services Dedicated sales representatives providing consultative sales support to retailers, matching them with appropriate brands, offering insights on trends, merchandising, and assortment optimization, and assisting with online selling, marketing execution, and promotional event planning.
• Seasonal Buying Guides Curated seasonal buying guides (Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter editions) featuring brand promotions, gift picks, new arrivals, and trend insights for retailers, available as digital publications and free printed copies.
• Harper Group Brand Portfolio (25+ Brand Categories) A curated portfolio of 25+ premier brand partners across Books, Children's, Gifts, Home, Home Fragrance, Paper, Personal Accessories, Personal Care, and Tabletop categories, made available to approved wholesale retail accounts.
• Terra Futura Trend Collection A 2025 trend collection focused on sustainable, eco-conscious home design featuring products such as recycled textiles, upcycled furniture, and energy-efficient items from brands including Blue Planet Eyewear, ORI, and Modern Sprout.
• Surreal Soirees Trend Collection A 2025 trend collection featuring modern surrealism-inspired home entertaining products including sculptural candlesticks, fantastical florals, and gravity-defying centerpieces from brands such as Paddywax, nora fleming, and True Brands.
• Fisherman Aesthetic Trend Collection A 2025 nautical-inspired trend collection featuring maritime aesthetics including cozy knitwear, classic stripes, and coastal accessories from brands such as K'Lani, Louenhide, and Blue Planet Sunglasses.
• Virtual Livestream Buying Events Livestream early-buy holiday shows featuring brand partners such as Thymes, Capri Blue, LAFCO, PADDYWAX, and MERSEA, where Jeff Harper hosts virtual events to showcase new products and limited-time promotional offers to retailers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Brands report season-after-season growth, with some seeing 50% year-over-year increases

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AbbottcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025Abbott has partnered with Harper Group to expand its presence in key U.S. regions, specifically the Midwest and Southeast, by joining the Harper Group showroom at AmericasMart Atlanta. The partnership aims to support retail channels by increasing sales support, visibility, and strengthening relationships with specialty retailers.
• Vera BradleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Harper Group is now proudly representing Vera Bradley nationwide, bringing the brand's signature collections into their dynamic, curated showroom spaces alongside like-minded brands. Harper Group is showcasing Vera Bradley at AmericasMart Atlanta and Las Vegas' World Market Center. Key Accounts Manager Emily Schouller states the partnership began in March 2025 and Harper Group has fully embraced their brand, visiting hundreds of customers and presenting both everyday and seasonal collections.
• KeenacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2024Harper Group acquired Keena, a premier wholesale agency based in Oakland, California, representing global brands in gift, home and fashion categories. The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Harper Group's strategy to expand geographic reach and enhance service offerings. Keena represents brands across 13 Western States and holds prominent showroom positions in Las Vegas and Oakland. Keena was founded in 1982 by Catharine Keena in San Francisco and is now helmed by CEO Adriana de Mello.
• La ChatelainecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Chatelaine is a French beauty and prestige quality brand represented by Harper Group. Sales Director Julie Marks states 'I am so pleased. I feel total support and buy-in from Jeff Harper. He has been a wonderful partner. He has the same energy and excitement about the brand we do.'
• Bella TunnocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBella Tunno is a gift brand represented by Harper Group. Sales Analyst and Relationship Manager Taylor Brunson states 'It's been amazing working with Harper Group. Season after season we always see insane growth. I think last year was up 50% from the year before.'
• Hachette Book GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHachette Book Group is the third largest trade publisher in the world, represented by Harper Group. Sales Manager of Special Markets Alexis Kuzma states 'Harper Group is such a great group with reps that just love their customers. They are very responsive and they learn the line and know it well. They are just wonderful.'

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/harpergroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/harpergroupnyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harper-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/harper_group
• Xx.com/harpergroupnyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harper Group