Blu Dot

Blu Dot is an American modern furniture retailer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It operates 17 retail locations across the United States, Mexico, and Australia.[1][2]

Blu Dot
IndustryFurniture
Founded1997 (1997) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Founders
  • Maurice Blanks
  • John Christakos
  • Charlie Lazor
Headquarters
Minneapolis, MN
,
U.S.
WebsiteBluDot.com

History

Maurice Blanks, John Christakos, and Charlie Lazor founded Blu Dot in 1997.[3] The trio conceived the idea during a backpacking trip across Asia a decade earlier, when they were undergraduate students at Williams College.[3][4] In April 2008, Blu Dot received a $10 million growth equity investment from private equity firm CHB Capital Partners.[5][6][7]

In 2018, Blu Dot was given the Product Design award at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards.[8]

Products

Blu Dot oversees its product development internally, managing the process from initial design to retail through its in-house team[4][9] and does not put its designers' names on the products.[10]

Blu Dot's products include indoor/outdoor dining chairs, glass nesting tables, plastic lounge chairs,[11] storage ottomans, pillows and room staple sofas.[12] These products are marketed as "skewing midcentury, but with a sleeker, more contemporary edge."[13]

References

  1. ^ Lagorio-Chafkin, Christine. "How Two Architects and a Sculptor Built an Enduring Furniture Design Firm". Inc. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  2. ^ Ewoldt, John (2015-03-21). "Blu Dot furniture to open its first outlet store". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  3. ^ a b Studach, Mel (26 November 2018). "Why Blu Dot wants to make good design democratic". Business of Home. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kenefick, Courtney (2017-05-09). "How It's Made: Blu Dot". SURFACE. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  5. ^ "CHB Capital Partners Portfolio Investments, CHB Capital Partners Funds, CHB Capital Partners Exits". www.cbinsights.com. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  6. ^ "Blu Dot - Products, Competitors, Financials, Employees, Headquarters Locations". www.cbinsights.com. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  7. ^ "CHB Capital Partners". www.chbcapital.com. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
  8. ^ "The year's best design firm according to Cooper Hewitt". Business of Home. June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  9. ^ Felensthal, Julia (16 August 2011). "John Christakos and Maurice blanks, Blu Dot". Slate. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  10. ^ Jow, Tiffany (8 May 2018). "Blu Dot Keeps Turning Furniture Design on Its Head". Surface.
  11. ^ Beall, Kelly (13 February 2023). "Get Ready for Spring 2023 With New Furniture From Blu Dot". Design Milk. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  12. ^ Hollowood, Kate (26 March 2023). "4 tips for having throw pillows on a couch while keeping the room calm and uncluttered". Living Etc. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Why Designers All Shop at This Small Brand for Minimalist Furniture". House Beautiful. 2024-12-25. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
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