British activewear retailer Sweaty Betty was founded by husband and wife Simon and Tamara Hill-Norton in 1998, opening its first boutique store in Notting Hill, London. The brand now has over 50 stores in the UK and more in the US and Hong Kong, as well as concessions in department stores Harrods and Bloomingdales. Sweaty Betty’s flagship Carnaby Street store features a café, blow-dry bar, and exercise studio. Its ambition to be a community hub translates into its online strategy that combines high-quality content with a strong social element, including making Instagram content shoppable. Its website acts a fitness hub of social and editorial content, as well as its bookable classes. Like Canadian counterpart Lululemon, Sweaty Betty has a focus on personalisation, data management and stock visibility, but has yet to invest in RFID technologies due to the costs involved.
Recipe box subscription business Mindful Chef, which focuses on healthy eating, has emerged as the top retailer to work for in the UK, according to employee reviews.
The 17th annual Retail 100 is a celebration of the individuals transforming the sector, disrupting traditional retail models and being a voice for the industry. Retail Week explores some common trends shared by the leaders featured
Twenty-seven female and non-binary leaders have been recognised in Retail Week’s Retail 100 index of the most inspiring individuals driving change across the sector.
Retail Week ranks the top-performing and most improved retailers for gender pay equality this year.
While they may be an unlikely trio with very different strategies, Inkpact chief executive Charlotte Pearce reflects on what these UK retailers have in common – and what can be learned from their approaches.
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