PAYING IT FORWARD To the next generation of Innovators How Lovesac, a Utah-based furniture business, is upgrading learning environments for Utah Tech students Story by Grayce Payne || Design by Brooke Tyler
Above: CEO Shawn Nelson Left: Shawn Nelson and Dave Underwood at their old factory in Salt Lake City, 1999
The college experience is typically defined by exploration, adventure, and finding your passion, but for Shawn Nelson and Dave Underwood, their college experience was shaped by the start of their multi-million-dollar furniture business, Lovesac.
University of Utah, so being involved with the university in our backyard has always been in our DNA,” Shawn said. “Now that we’ve relocated our families from Connecticut to Southern Utah, that’s now the university in our backyard, so we’re happy to continue that tradition in St. George.”
Lovesac was established in 1995 on the University of Utah’s campus, where Shawn was a student. Throughout their time at Understanding the importance of a college education and its college, Lovesac served as their side hustle while they finished impact on developing a business, Shawn and Dave have made earning their undergraduate degrees. As the business grew, it a priority to improve the learning environment for students and its founders graduated, Lovesac’s at Utah Tech. Now, thanks to Shawn headquarters moved to Connecticut and Dave’s generosity, Lovesac’s high“We’re locals...being to help raise venture capital and quality, professional furniture can be involved with the university reorganize the business. found in several locations across campus including Atwood Innovation Plaza, in our backyard has always Ten years later, in 2017, Shawn and Student Success Center, and Greater been in our DNA.” Dave moved their families back to Zion Stadium. Utah and opened a Lovesac office in After supporting Innovation Plaza, Dave and Shawn became St. George to focus on product development and engineering interested in learning more about the University from an efforts. With roots firmly planted in Southern Utah, Shawn engineering standpoint. During their conversations with and Dave began supporting Utah Tech University’s campus students and faculty from the engineering program, they and student body. discovered there was an opportunity to sponsor a lab for the Engineering Department, which has jumpstarted their “We’re locals, Dave and I. We grew up in Salt Lake City five-year investment into The Lovesac Designed for Life and started Lovesac when we were on the campus of the
12 • Utah Tech University Magazine • Spring 2023