Retales: E-Commerce Growth Stories

Online hair supplies brand CoolBlades saw a huge sales spike as Brits rushed online to buy supplies for at-home haircuts during the various stages of lockdown, at the height of the pandemic.

Today, Rupert Hughes, Ecommerce Director, joins the podcast to talk through the shrewd moves the team made before the pandemic hit which allowed them to manage a near 200% spike in online sales while other competitors faltered. 

Established back in the 1970s as a popular High Street  electronics brand, Maplin has seen incredible growth over the past few years after switching its focus to ecommerce. 

Today, Ollie Marshall the firm’s MD, joins Caroline on the podcast to discuss the key drivers behind a whopping 495% YOY growth, which saw the brand rank 7th on the Lighting 50 list of Britain's fastest growing online retailers.

Wiltshire-based online furniture retailer, Furniturebox, saw a phenomenal 267% increase in revenue over the last year, becoming one of Britain's fastest-growing online homeware brands. But how did they do it?

James Ewens, Head of E-Commerce at Furniturebox, joins the Podcast to talk through the key decisions that have played a huge role in the firm's success over the past twelve months, including the systems and sales channels they've implemented for epic growth.

Mark Tweed is Brand Director, at nightwear brand Cyberjammies and recently appeared on the UK’s Apprentice and one of Lord Sugar’s expert advisers. Today, he joins Caroline on the podcast to discuss the ‘dream technology’ which has fuelled the firm’s 372% YOY Growth.

Online nightwear brand CyberJammies, is a long-time Brightpearl customer which primarily reaches customers directly via its successful webstore but also via leading retailers including John Lewis, Next and Very. In the past year the company has seen its revenues triple and it was crowned ‘the fastest growing fashion brand in Britain’.

Moynul Islam, DTC lead at adult sweet brand Candy Kittens, is today’s guest on the Lightning 50 podcast and shares the journey the company has been on over the past year, including its 608% YOY growth and being named the ‘fastest growing online company in London’. 

Since the start in 2012, Candy Kittens - the brainchild of Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing - has been on an incredible growth journey. Candy Kittens makes sweets for grown-ups – with big flavour, honest ingredients and beautiful packaging – and the brand’s products are  now stocked in major high street stores across the world, including Walmart and Waitrose, alongside its booming online presence. 

Lauren Juster, Sales and Marketing Director at Biscuiteer Baking Company, joins Caroline to share some of the secrets behind the brand’s astonishing 197% year-on-year growth.

A proud Brightpearl customer, the online handmade biscuit company has seen fantastic growth over the past few years. Founded in 2007, Biscuiteers’ handmade products are currently stocked in John Lewis, Selfridges, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and The Conran Shop. 

Jade Holland Cooper, CEO of Holland Cooper, joins Caroline on today’s podcast episode to discuss how the popular luxury lifestyle brand has achieved outstanding growth over the past year 

A long-time customer of Brightpearl, Holland Cooper is a luxury lifestyle brand that has positioned itself as quintessentially British. Best known for its British-made tweed, Holland Cooper sells products ranging from pet accessories to long-line puffer jackets. Founder Jade Holland Cooper launched the brand in 2008 and is the managing director, as well as overseeing the design team.

Jordan Major, Head of Ecommerce at Au Vodka, joins the inaugural Lightning 50 podcast to reveal the tactics behind this Welsh premium Vodka brand’s stonking 10,000% YOY growth!

Endorsed by some of the world’s biggest celebs, multi-million pound growth, hundreds of thousands of loyal fans on social media…

For luxury drinks brand, Au Vodka, those are  just a handful of high points in an incredible commerce journey that’s recently culminated in the brand being crowned the UK’s fastest growing retail brand for 2021.

THINGS ARE CHANGING!

A new era of commerce built on speed, optionality and adaptability is here. But is your retail business ready to soar in the age of hyper-scalability?

If you’re not sure, watch our on-demand expert panel where we uncover:

• How the world of commerce is rapidly changing as we enter the ‘Hyper-Scalable Era’ – and what that means for modern brands
• Why speed, flexibility and optionality will be king in 2022
• The practical steps you should take now to keep pace with ever-changing consumer expectations
• Loads more tips, advice and actionable insights from our panel of top retail experts