JLL (NYSE: JLL) is set to expand its Project and Development Services (PDS) and Retail businesses with an agreement to acquire Big Red Rooster, a brand experience and retail design services company that creates multi-dimensional experiences for the world’s top retailers and consumer brands. The acquisition is consistent with the firm’s disciplined growth strategy and is expected to close in January 2016 subject to customary closing conditions.
The acquisition will expand JLL’s project management and design services with dedicated brand experience and design experts who can serve a broad mix of retail, food service, grocery and healthcare companies across the United States. Named 2015 ‘Design Firm of the Year’ by Design Retail magazine, Big Red Rooster has earned a reputation for innovative customer experience and design with work for clients such as Under Armour, FedEx, T-Mobile, American Express and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
“Adding Big Red Rooster’s team of designers and brand experts gives JLL a new level of expertise and a unique understanding about how important the customer experience is today to retailers and other consumer-facing companies,” said Todd Burns, President of PDS, Americas, JLL. “This acquisition strengthens our project and development capabilities while adding further expertise to our retail multi-site and brokerage services.”
Martin Beck and Aaron Spiess, who founded the company in 2002, will run the new arm of JLL’s PDS business in the Americas. Big Red Rooster’s entire staff of more than 100 strategists, designers, architects and digital experts is expected to join JLL.
“Our business has grown dramatically since it began 13 years ago as companies have realized the need to create multi-channel experiences for their customers,” said Aaron Spiess, co-founder, Big Red Rooster. ”The next step in our evolution is to integrate our strategy and design services with JLL’s project implementation processes to give clients a global and full-service experience for all of their retail brand experience needs.”
Strategic acquisitions are part of JLL’s ongoing strategy to grow the company and better serve its clients. Recent acquisitions that have expanded the scope of JLL’s retail and project management services include Wilson Retail Group, Shelter Bay Retail Group and Martin Potts & Associates.
About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying and investing in real estate. A Fortune 500 company with annual fee revenue of $4.7 billion and gross revenue of $5.4 billion, JLL has more than 230 corporate offices, operates in 80 countries and has a global workforce of approximately 58,000. On behalf of its clients, the firm provides management and real estate outsourcing services for a property portfolio of 3.4 billion square feet, or 316 million square meters, and completed $118 billion in sales, acquisitions and finance transactions in 2014. Its investment management business, LaSalle Investment Management, has $57.2 billion of real estate assets under management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit www.jll.com.
About Big Red Rooster
Founded in 2002, Big Red Rooster is an award-winning provider of design and brand strategy consulting to the world’s top retailers and consumer brands. Its 100-strong team of experts develops the environments and communications that impact brand and customer experiences. Specific services include: Brand Experience / Strategy / Research + Insights / Innovation / Brand + Visual Identity / Environmental Design / Visual Merchandising / Marketing Communications / Digital Design + Development / Architectural Services. Big Red Rooster’s clients range from major international retailers to healthcare systems to professional sports organizations to food service companies.
