StyleHaul

StyleHaul, Inc.
IndustryMarketing
FounderStephanie Horbaczewski
HeadquartersLos Angeles, CA
Number of locations
Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, London, Singapore
Services
ParentRTL Group

StyleHaul was a marketing services, media, and technology company which gained recognition as an early pioneer of branded content and native advertising on digital platforms.[1] The company was founded in 2011 by Stephanie Horbaczewski and operated as a portfolio company of RTL Group, which paid $127 million USD to acquire a controlling stake in the company in 2014.[2]

StyleHaul was known for its large-scale influencer and paid media campaigns for major beauty brands and retailers, such as Sephora, Maybelline, and Walgreens,[1] as well as for its high-profile talent network, which has included creators like Zoella,[3] Ashley Tisdale,[4] Chloe Lukasiak[5] and Joey Graceffa.[6]

In 2018, StyleHaul founder and CEO Stephanie Horbaczewski left the company in order to launch an artificial intelligence startup, Vody, alongside former StyleHaul Chief Technology Officer, Jeremy Houghton.[7] In 2019, StyleHaul shuttered operations, which coincided with the arrest and guilty plea of Dennis Blieden, 29, a former StyleHaul executive and professional poker player who embezzled $22 million from the company to pay his poker debts, personal debts and bad investments in cryptocurrencies.[8]

  1. ^ a b Moore, Kristina. "Designer Spotlight: StyleHaul Builds Style YouTubers' Careers". Forbes. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  2. ^ Mance, Henry (November 3, 2014). "Register". Financial Times. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  3. ^ O'Connor, Clare. "Forbes Top Influencers: How Zoe 'Zoella' Sugg Makes Millions From YouTube Beauty Tutorials". Forbes. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ashley Tisdale Signs with StyleHaul for Her YouTube Channel". Variety. May 24, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  5. ^ Guide, Game & (October 2, 2016). "'Dance Moms' 2016 News & Update: Chloe Lukasiak Is The New Face Of StyleHaul! Focusing More On Modelling Career?". Gamenguide. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  6. ^ joshuajcohen (December 20, 2013). "YouTube Star Joey Graceffa Joins StyleHaul". Tubefilter. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  7. ^ "Former StyleHaul Execs Launch Vody, Big-Data Startup Aimed at Enhancing Content Recommendations". Variety. October 23, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  8. ^ "Former executive at influencer marketing firm StyleHaul accused of embezzling millions to play poker". Los Angeles Times. July 12, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.