Merri

Merri operates a 3D visualization platform tailored for the event planning industry, addressing the complexities of designing and executing events. The company was founded in 2019 by Randi Bushell, whose personal challenges while planning her wedding in 2018 served as the catalyst for the business. Bushell's background in e-commerce at major retailers like Macy's, jet.com, and walmart.com provided a unique perspective, allowing her to identify an opportunity to build a marketplace for event design elements.

The platform's core function is to allow users to visualize an entire event through interactive 2D and 3D models. Clients, primarily event planners, venues, and rental companies, can create to-scale diagrams and 3D walkthroughs of event spaces. This enables them to drag and drop furniture, decor, and floral arrangements into a virtual rendering of their chosen venue, streamlining the design process. The business model is centered on a subscription service for its professional clients, with venue memberships starting at $150 per month. These clients can then invite their own customers, such as engaged couples, to collaborate on the platform.

The service functions as a virtual showroom for rental companies and a comprehensive planning tool for venues and planners. Features include customizable floorplans, seating chart creation, and controlled collaboration tools that allow planners to set specific permissions for their clients and vendors. In June 2024, Merri was acquired by Tripleseat, a sales and event management platform. This acquisition is set to integrate Merri's 3D floorplan technology into Tripleseat's broader suite of tools, aiming to create an all-in-one solution for event management and enhance data-driven insights for users.

Keywords: event planning software, 3D event design, floor plan visualization, event management platform, wedding planning tool, venue management software, event rentals marketplace, collaborative event planning, SaaS, virtual event design, seating chart software, event diagramming, Tripleseat, Randi Bushell, hospitality technology, event design collaboration, virtual venue tour, rental inventory visualization, event layout tool, 3D walkthroughs