Eight years after Shay Mitchell launched her travel bag brand BÉIS, the company was acquired by Samsonite in a deal worth $210 million.
Shay Mitchell doesn’t need to keep this news a secret.
The Pretty Little Liars alum is ready for a new chapter in her entrepreneurial life as Samsonite has acquired her lifestyle travel bag brand BÉIS in a deal worth $210 million, the companies shared.
"This is a dream come true,” Mitchell, 37, raved in an Aug. 13 press release. “I’m so proud of what our small but mighty team has built over the past eight years.”
As part of the deal, the majority shareholder Beach House Group is selling its entire 70 percent ownership stake for $147 million, while Mitchell is selling 15 percent—about half of her total equity—for $31.5 million and will keep a 15 percent ownership stake in BÉIS.
Now valued at $210 million, BÉIS will continue to operate as a stand alone brand among the Samsonite portfolio following the completion of the transaction, with Mitchell staying on as the Founder and Head of Creative and Design, per the press release.
“We've always dreamed big, and joining the Samsonite Group gives us the chance to dream even bigger. They're truly the perfect partner—our strengths complement each other so well, together we can take BÉIS places we couldn't have on our own,” Mitchell continued in her statement. “I’m so thankful that I get to do something I love every day. Eight years in, I'm as excited as I was on day one. It honestly feels like we're just getting started, and I can't wait for everyone to see what's next."
Mitchell first launched BÉIS in 2018 after noticing there was a gap in the market when it came to affordable but well-made travel bags.
“I’ve always known that there was an entrepreneurial side to me, and I always wanted to get into business, but I had never been to school,” she explained to Elle in 2023. “I’ve had experiences with luggage where wheels would fall off and I’d get angry at myself for not spending more money to get a better bag.”
So when the opportunity arose, the Dollface actress hoped to create “a line of affordable bags that had all the function I could dream up and look really good at the same time.”
“The price was really important to me, because I know how expensive traveling is,” she added. “I don’t want the bags to break the bank because you should be able to spend that money on the experiences you have.”
And for Mitchell, those experiences now include being a mom to her and partner Matte Babel’s kids Atlas Noa, 6, and Rome, 4, which changed the way she approached her career..
“I’m a lot more particular with my time,” she shared with Page Six in February. “However, the BÉIS office is my second home.”
“And my girls also love it,” she said. “There are a lot of snacks over there, so anytime mommy’s going to the office, they are more than happy to come, so it kinda works out.”
For a deep dive into more stars who have been open about their paydays, keep reading.
