Working his way up from the shopfloor, the Republic boss has created a team around him that has helped the young fashion retailer soar.

Some of the best retail operators started their jobs on the shopfloor and Republic chief executive and co-founder Tim Whitworth is no exception.

The low-profile boss joined what was then a very small retail business called Best Jeanswear - which had a handful of shops in 1989 - as a Saturday boy. Best Jeanswear became Republic and today he is the boss of a £200m turnover business with 103 stores.

Last week private equity owners Change Capital hired Rothschild to advise it on whether to sell, float or refinance the business. Change Capital bought a majority stake in the business in 2005.

Market sources estimate the business to be now worth triple the 2005 valuation of £105m and this is largely down to the hard work and tenacity of the management team, led by Whitworth.

When he first joined the business, Whitworth was able to work across many areas of the business due to its small size. He was involved with many initiatives that led to the growth of the business such as own label and new store openings under the name Republic and finally - along with co-founder Carl Brewins - was involved in a management buyout of the then 30-store chain in 2002 when he became chief executive.

Brewins is the product part of the team, working with suppliers and brands, while Whitworth holds overall responsibility and has gradually built up a solid team around him.

One of the key concepts Whitworth has worked on that has been material to Republic’s success is its opening of larger format stores. The concept has allowed it to add more depth to its offer and relocate, extend and really make the most of its portfolio.

One source close to Whitworth said: “He is relentlessly ambitious for what the business can be and wants to take it to the top tier of retail businesses.”

A private man, Whitworth prefers to let the business speak for itself, than promote himself. He has grown up alongside Republic.

The source said: “He is very straight and very principled,” adding that he has continued to innovate both in terms of bought in and own brands.

The source also says that one of Whitworth’s key strengths is that he has changed with the business, been demanding with himself and those around him, all the while living and breathing the brand. “Some entrepreneurs do well at one point in time but are not always open to change,” says the source.

But with the business continuing to grow, expanding into under-represented areas particularly in the South and possibly into overseas markets, Whitworth may find it more challenging to run the business than he does now.

He is adamant about visiting every shop before Christmas and is meticulous on the details of how the business is run. He is described as managing the business “line by line”.

However, managing the challenges of growth is a nice problem to have. Young fashion has continued to be resilient and with Republic’s key customer aged 15 to 25 it is well placed to continue to benefit from this buoyant sector.

Republic’s multi-brand proposition is also thought to have struck a chord with its audience, offering a range of different price points. Its customers’ priorities still lie in looking good and on trend and although it seemed growing youth unemployment could be a danger, there is no sign of the sector stalling anytime soon.

Although not all the fashion players have managed to ride the wave of success with, for example, Envy and USC falling into administration in the past 18 months, the success of the SuperGroup float has shown the appetite of investors for well run young fashion retailers with appealing growth stories.

Whitworth is said to be very conscious of protecting the culture of the business as it grows but may get to a point where visiting every store in the run-up the Christmas as he does now is not physically possible, even if he “starts earlier” as he joked once.

But the future for the business looks good and with the success of SuperGroup’s float, its owners will be confident of a good outcome to the current process.

Whitworth and Republic

2005 Change Capital buys majority stake in deal that values the chain at £105m

2002 Became chief executive after a management buyout

1989 Joined Best Jeanswear, which became Republic

In Numbers

Stores 103

Net sales £173 m

EBITDA £33.5 m