Saevil Row buys branding studio Smack Bang in seven-figure deal

Sydney creative branding studio Saevil Row has acquired fellow branding agency Smack Bang in a seven-figure deal. The exact price was not disclosed. The deal was reported by Mumbrella and Business News Australia.

Smack Bang was founded by Tess Robinson in 2011 and has built a client list over 15 years that includes P.E Nation, The Beauty Chef, The Memo, Faithfull the Brand, Gritty Pretty, Mister Zimi, Westfield and Microsoft. Saevil Row, founded by Rachelle Saevil, works with global lifestyle brands across beauty, wellness, fashion and interiors.

Both studios keep their names, teams and services, and will sit side by side in a single group structure. Robinson steps back from day-to-day operations into an advisory role to support the handover of clients and staff, and will focus on her supplement brand Land Lab and other ventures.

Why this deal makes sense

The two studios play in similar territory but tend to serve businesses at different sizes and stages of growth. That makes this less about cutting overlap and more about covering more of the market under one roof, with each brand keeping its own identity and client base.

Saevil was clear that the plan is to protect what Smack Bang already has. "We don't want to change what makes it great," she said, describing the deal as building on Smack Bang's legacy and giving it a new chapter.

For Robinson, the sale was part of the plan all along. She said growing the business to the point where it could be sold had always been one of her ambitions, and that she quickly felt Saevil was the right person to take it forward.

What founders can learn from this

Robinson built Smack Bang with an exit in mind, and it shows. A recognisable brand, a client list full of names buyers want, and a business that could carry on without its founder in the chair are exactly what made a seven-figure sale possible.

The structure matters too. Keeping both brands intact protects the client relationships the buyer is paying for, and moving the founder into an advisory role gives clients and staff a proper handover rather than a cliff edge.

Founders who want a similar outcome should start planning years ahead, not months. Build the brand, build a team that can run without you, and pick a buyer you trust with what you have built.

Planning your exit? Agencies.co helps agency founders find the right buyer.

Sources: Mumbrella, Business News Australia