How a Luxury Supplier Built a Thriving Consumer Brand with Flexible Financing

March 18, 2026

In the world of luxury fashion, attention to detail is everything, right down to the hanger. For Michael Cregan, owner and founder of Butler Luxury, a custom hanger business, that detail became the foundation of a thriving e-commerce brand.

The business began supplying custom wooden hangers directly to top designers like CHANEL, Oscar de la Renta, and Calvin Klein. About 15 years ago, Michael recognized an opportunity to pivot: consumers wanted the same high-quality hangers found in luxury boutiques, sold directly to them. Butler Luxury successfully transitioned from a business-to-business supplier to a premier, direct-to-consumer luxury brand, maintaining a sophisticated operation with around 20 employees.

The Challenge: Scaling Inventory for Surging Demand

For a business built on reputation and quality, steady growth is the norm. But a year ago, that growth became a surge. This momentum was fueled by the post-COVID return to professional life and a strong digital presence driven by search engine optimization (SEO) and fashion writers. The introduction of exclusive materials, like African Rosewood hangers, further drove orders through the roof.

The problem was simple: to fulfill this increasing demand, they had to significantly increase their inventory, and fast. “We needed capital to expand what we were doing,” Michael explains. “Orders were increasing, and we couldn’t afford to have a gap between customer orders and our ability to deliver the luxury product they expected.”

The Solution: Simple, Efficient Funding

Though their clientele includes celebrities and the ultra-wealthy, scaling inventory for high-value products remained a classic small business hurdle.

When Michael heard about revenue-based financing, the concept immediately appealed to him. They had looked at a few funding options, but Forward Financing stood out. The process fit their exact needs: easy, efficient, and straightforward.

The Impact: Fueling Record Sales

The capital from Forward had a direct and measurable impact. It allowed Butler Luxury to acquire the inventory necessary to immediately meet and promote surging customer demand.

The result? The business saw sales increase over 50% in six months.

The funding provided more than just a quick cash injection; it facilitated the scaling required to meet their marketing success and product innovations. Although Michael hasn’t needed to utilize benefits like payment relief, he noted that it was a significant factor in choosing Forward, given the unpredictable nature of business at times.

By securing flexible funding, this luxury brand successfully translated its growing reputation into record sales, ensuring that they always have the inventory to deliver the perfect product.

Interested in learning more about how Forward can help your business? Check out our products or apply today. Still have questions? Give us a call at 888-244-9099 or email us at info@forwardfinancing.com. Our team is available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM EST.