Design Camp founders Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis have admitted a new member to the ownership of Design Camp, Southern California sales agency Bassman Blaine. The four partners—Dennis, Ellis, Bill Blaine and Ken Bassman—will manage the business together along with a full-time administration staff who will operate out of the company's new headquarters located in Costa Mesa, California.

From left to right: Ken Bassman, Bill Blaine, Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis

The move will allow for the “2.0” launch of Design Camp’s online property, Design Campus, which debuted last July. In addition, it will provide a built-in sales force which will be instrumental in boosting enrollment for both properties.

“By partnering with Bassman Blaine, Design Camp will now have immediate relationships with the industry's best Territory Managers and Sale Representatives throughout North America,” said Dennis. “This is important to Design Camp because they are our front line sales force to designers, decorators, stagers, architects, retailers, etc. They will market directly to campers for the live camps as well as sign up membership to Design Campus.”

Bassman Blaine’s outside sales teams works with brands such as Arteriors, Worlds Away, Noir and LeftBank Art.

The key components of Design Campus 2.0 are education, connection and storage.

It offers online CEU course tracking and reporting, as well as a robust video library of design related topics and bi-weekly virtual meet ups with Dennis and Ellis and guest "faculty" to discuss hot topics sent in by members. Live chats with Q&A follow each session. Social media profiles allow members to connect with other designers in the community, and design information (cheat sheets for measurements, important articles, reference files, vendor catalogs, price lists, etc.) may be stored in a virtual “locker.”