Shay Mitchell is making some major business moves.
The Pretty Little Liars alum, 39, announced on Wednesday, August 12, that her travel bag company, BÉIS, has been acquired by luggage giant Samsonite in a deal worth around $210 million.
Mitchell started the company with Beach House Group in 2018 after finding fame playing Emily Fields in Pretty Little Liars, which aired from 2010 to 2017. The brand sells affordable luggage, travel bags, passport holders and other accessories.
Samsonite Group will acquire an 85 percent stake in BÉIS for $178.5 million, buying out Beach House Group’s 70 percent ownership stake, as well as 15 percent from Mitchell. The actress will retain 15 percent ownership, the two companies said in a press release.
According to the press release, BÉIS generated approximately $210 million in net sales last year.
“This is a dream come true. I’m so proud of what our small but mighty team has built over the past eight years,” Mitchell said in a statement. “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. 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.”
“We’re excited to welcome BÉIS into our family of innovative and iconic brands,” added Samsonite Group CEO Kyle Gendreau. “This transaction aligns closely with our key growth priorities: elevating awareness of consumer-centric brands, strengthening our digital capabilities to further support multi-channel growth, expanding our presence in lifestyle bags, and continuing to deliver innovative products that resonate with consumers around the world.”
“BÉIS is spearheaded by an impressive leadership team and has cultivated a loyal customer following through differentiated products, authentic storytelling and a best-in-class digital-first business model,” he continued. “We see significant opportunities to accelerate BÉIS’ long-term growth while preserving the entrepreneurship, creativity, and strong brand identity that have fueled the enterprise’s success since its founding.”
Mitchell announced BÉIS in 2018, telling Us at the time, “It’s a fun thing to not just be the face of the brand but to really be in it. I can literally tell you why I chose the zippers.”
“I am never not on the road. Yes, you can go and buy a luggage that’s beautiful but expensive, but I want people to go out and see the world and do it with a cute bag that you don’t have to spend a ton on,” she added.
Alongside the continued success of BÉIS, Mitchell will be back on television screens in January 2027 with a starring role in Fox’s reboot of Baywatch. The series costars Stephen Amell and Brooks Nader.
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