Shawn David Nelson

Nelson graduated from the University of Utah.{{cite book |author=Zoran Orlov |title=How you can reach wealth by using proven millionaires ideas |publisher=Zoran Orlov |isbn=9789539590909}} In 1995, he made his first "not-bean bag" from shredded foam camp mattresses. Nelson founded LoveSac in 1998.{{cite web |author=Alexander Soule |date=December 23, 2014 |title=Lovesac kicks back in new HQ |url=http://m.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/Lovesac-kicks-back-in-new-HQ-5976611.php |access-date=November 26, 2016 |publisher=Stamford Advocate}}{{cite web |author=Melanie Spring |date=June 16, 2015 |title=Want to Be an Entrepreneur? Get Off the Couch |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247380 |access-date=November 26, 2016 |publisher=Entrepreneur}} He hired a few college friends who helped him produce the "sacs" until Limited Too ordered 12,000 Lovesacs. Nelson obtained the requested fabric from a factory in China.{{cite web |author=Jennifer Johnson |date=August 25, 2015 |title=Utah native and Lovesac founder's life is reflected in his furniture |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865635248/Utah-native-and-Lovesac-founders-life-is-reflected-in-his-furniture.html?pg=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828232207/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865635248/Utah-native-and-Lovesac-founders-life-is-reflected-in-his-furniture.html?pg=all |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 28, 2015 |access-date=November 26, 2016 |publisher=Desert News}}{{cite journal |date=July 2005 |title=Shawn Nelson's Series of Miracles |journal=Worthwhile}} He opened the first retail location in 2001.{{cite web |author=Clint Engel |date=September 3, 2015 |title=Lovesac wants to own 'couch category' |url=http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/523339-lovesac-wants-own-couch-category |access-date=November 26, 2015 |publisher=Furniture Today}} Nelson was given the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2003.{{cite web |date=June 19, 2003 |title=Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/991168/Ernst--Young-Entrepreneur-of-the-Year-awards.html?pg=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127152418/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/991168/Ernst--Young-Entrepreneur-of-the-Year-awards.html?pg=all |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2016 |access-date=November 26, 2016 |publisher=Deseret News Utah}} In 2005, Nelson appeared on Richard Branson's The Rebel Billionaire and won a $1 million investment. He spent three months following the show as acting president of Virgin companies.{{cite journal |author=Jordan Burke |date=May 2, 2005 |title=Real Life Trumps Reality TV |journal=Business Week}}{{cite journal |author=Darren Wendroff |title=Chairman of the Board |journal=Wakeboarding}} Nelson expanded his company's products to include the only changeable sectional couch in the world.{{cite web |author=Clint Engel |date=September 1, 2015 |title=At Lovesac, the couch is the new kitchen table |url=http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/523249-lovesac-couch-new-kitchen-table |access-date=November 26, 2016 |publisher=Furniture Today}}{{cite web |author=Dawn Garcia |date=November 16, 2015 |title=Shawn Nelson of Lovesac |url=http://atodmagazine.com/2015/11/16/shawn-nelson-of-lovesac/ |access-date=November 26, 2016 |publisher=ATOD Magazine}}

Shawn won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the "Emerging Entrepreneur" category in 2003. Nelson also appeared on Young Entrepreneur Society in 2009.{{cite web |title=Shawn Nelson |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1783423/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t5 |access-date=November 26, 2016}} He spoke at the Economy and You forum at Western Connecticut State University in 2015. Nelson earned his master's degree in strategic design and management from Parson's New School for Design in 2015. He also became a part-time instructor for the school. That same year, he appeared on the CNBC show Make Me a Millionaire Inventor.{{cite web |title=Shawn Nelson on "Make Me a Millionaire Inventor" |url=http://sds.parsons.edu/designmanagement/shawn-nelson-on-make-me-a-millionaire-inventor/ |access-date=November 26, 2016 |publisher=Parsons}} In July 2015, Nelson gave the keynote address at the 40 Under 40 awards for Fairfield County, Connecticut.{{cite web |author=Danielle Brody |date=July 7, 2015 |title=40 Under 40 awards honor Fairfield County achievers |url=http://westfaironline.com/72574/40-under-40-awards-honor-fairfield-county-achievers/ |access-date=November 26, 2016 |publisher=Westfair Online}}

On June 26, 2018, Shawn Nelson, Founder & CEO of LoveSac, Inc, announced its initial public offering and shares of the Company's stock began trading the following day on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LOVE”.

Nelson resides in St. George, Utah, with his wife Tiffany and four children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lovesac.com/about-us|title=Lovesac|last=Lovesac|website=Lovesac.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-15}}

Nelson is an avid motorcyclist riding dirtbikes, adventure bikes, and more. Nelson has a passion for older classic cars and enjoys restorations, charitable donations, and giving back to the community. Nelson has spent most of his life mentoring and coaching fellow entrepreneurs in their businesses and also elects to invest in those he finds innovating.

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Category:Living people

Category:American furniture designers

Category:University of Utah alumni

Category:Businesspeople from Salt Lake City

Category:1977 births