Boll & Branch Deploys AI Agent Across Entire Operation Using OpenClaw Technology

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4.6.2026

Quick Facts

Boll & Branch created an AI agent named Tess using OpenClaw open-source software to handle administrative tasks across the company
The agent integrates with Slack, Shopify, and marketing platform Iterable to analyze customer segments and business data
OpenClaw has gained 247,000 GitHub stars and an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 users since launching in November 2025

Boll & Branch is deploying an AI agent throughout its operations using OpenClaw, an open-source AI platform that has rapidly gained popularity among businesses seeking autonomous workflow solutions.

The $200 million bedding retailer created an AI agent called Tess that handles administrative tasks and data analysis across the company. CEO Scott Tannen built the agent using OpenClaw, which allows businesses to create autonomous AI agents that integrate with existing software systems.

“We use it everywhere where it can remove friction but not replace humanity,” said Chief Commercial Officer Katia Unlu. The company positions AI as “an efficiency play” rather than a replacement for human creativity.

Tess started as a scheduling assistant but has expanded to connect with Slack, Shopify, and marketing platform Iterable. The agent can analyze specific customer segments, including the company’s Chestnut Hill store customer base since the location opened in December.

The next phase involves social trend analysis. Boll & Branch is integrating Tess with Sprout Social to monitor social media patterns and flag trends relevant to the brand.

OpenClaw has experienced viral adoption since its November 2025 launch. The open-source project gained 247,000 GitHub stars and 47,700 forks as of March 2026, with an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 users.

The platform allows AI agents to read files, run commands, browse websites, send emails, and control APIs. It runs locally and connects to large language models including Claude, DeepSeek, and OpenAI’s GPT models.

Gartner predicts 40% of enterprise applications will integrate task-specific AI agents by the end of 2026, up from less than 5% today. The agentic AI market is projected to grow from $7.8 billion to over $52 billion by 2030.

However, OpenClaw faces significant security challenges. Between March 18-21, 2026, nine vulnerabilities were disclosed, including one scoring 9.9 out of 10 on the severity scale. Microsoft Security warned that OpenClaw “should be treated as untrusted code execution” and is “not appropriate to run on a standard personal or enterprise workstation.”

Despite security concerns, Boll & Branch continues expanding Tess’s capabilities. The company, which doubled its retail footprint last year to 15 stores plus 100 Nordstrom locations, plans to use trend analysis as it grows its furniture business.