Creative Co-Op
A Memphis, Tennessee-based wholesale home décor and lifestyle company built to design and source at scale for tens of thousands of independent retailers across the United States.
- Founded
- 2001
- Headquarters
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Founders
- Robert & Susie Wang
- Ownership
- Acquired by Household Essentials, Jan 2021
- Operations
- Sourcing in Asia · Design in Portland · Memphis HQ
- Categories
- Home décor · Seasonal · Jewelry · Fashion accessories
- Retailer base
- Tens of thousands of independent stores
- Specialty
- Custom product development, private-label programs
The story
Robert and Susie Wang founded Creative Co-Op in Memphis in 2001, building on relationships from a previous craft and gift import business. The premise was simple: independent retailers needed a wholesale source for design-forward home décor at competitive prices, with the catalog refresh cadence of a much larger player. The company scaled quickly and became one of the dominant generalist suppliers in the wholesale home décor space.
In January 2021, Creative Co-Op was acquired by Household Essentials in a buyout transaction. The company continues to operate from Memphis with the same brand and product strategy.
What they make
The catalog is broad by design. Home décor anchors the line — decorative accessories, accent furniture, wall décor, ceramics, lighting, and tabletop. Seasonal and holiday product is a meaningful share of the business. Jewelry, fashion accessories, candles, and entertaining product round out the assortment.
What distinguishes the operation from many gift wholesalers is a strong custom product development and private-label capability. For larger retailers, Creative Co-Op functions less as a name-brand line and more as a design-and-source partner; for smaller retailers, the wholesale catalog is the primary touchpoint.
How they sell
Distribution is wholesale to a broad cross-section of retailers — specialty gift shops, home stores, garden centers, regional chains, and a long tail of independents. The company's sales force works the major U.S. trade shows and maintains an in-the-field presence rather than relying solely on rep groups.
Operations are deliberately distributed: sourcing teams in Asia (where most of the catalog is manufactured), design and product development in Portland, Oregon, and distribution and administration in Memphis. That structure is built for speed of catalog turnover at high SKU counts.
Why they're worth knowing
For an independent retailer, Creative Co-Op is a fill-out vendor — the kind of line a buyer uses to round out a section without overcommitting to any single category. The pricing structure works for stores that need volume at moderate retail price points; the design quality holds up well enough that the product doesn't read as commodity.
For larger retailers and category-specific buyers, the custom and private-label capabilities are the more interesting opening — Creative Co-Op can develop product to a brief and deliver at scale, which most gift wholesalers cannot.
Where to find them
- Wholesale site: creativecoop.com
- Headquarters: 6000 Freeport Avenue, Suite 101, Memphis, TN 38141
- Trade show presence: Atlanta Market, Las Vegas Market, Dallas Total Home & Gift, NY NOW
- Capability: Custom product development and private-label programs available for qualified retailers
Profile based on public information from Creative Co-Op's official site, PitchBook records of the 2021 ownership transaction, and the company's published statements. Updated November 2025. Return to all profiles →