People’s Champion finalist 2016: The Idle Man

Start-up name: The Idle Man
Founders: Alex Outlaw and Oliver Tezcan
Started in: 2014
Based in: London
Business description: E-commerce menswear retailer

Shortlisted category:

Crowdfunded Business of the Year

The Idle Man story:

 Pitching itself somewhere between high fashion and the high street, The Idle Man – founded by Alex Outlaw and Oliver Tezcan – is the e-commerce retailer for mid-market men’s fashion and it’s on a mission to make shopping straightforward and stress-free for the average fashion-conscious male.

Recognising that it can be a “confusing world for most men”, The Idle Man offers customers a personal stylist service that enables them to try before they buy.

Users simply answer some style preference questions to receive a personalised outfit, which they have six days to return free of charge. The platform also offers a street style section that provides inspiration and tailored suggestions for what to match with every product on the site.

The start-up’s team of buyers, writers and designers don’t just market clothes though, The Idle Man also offers news, reviews and interviews about music, fitness, food travel and fashion.

Since launch in April 2014, traffic has grown from zero to an impressive 650,000 visits, while revenues are up 114%.

Investors also want a piece of the pie. In August 2015, the site landed £1.25m funding – which included £258,000 Crowdcube investment – and one year later it closed a £1.4m funding round led by the Foresight Group.

Selling clothes from the likes of Levi’s, Timberland, and Made in Chelsea star Oliver Proudlock, the brand has also branched out in to its own fashion line.

Why The Idle Man made our shortlist:

With over 100,000 fans across social media, The Idle Man is a lifestyle brand that knows its audience and what they want – an approach that should see it achieve multi-million turnover.

Where to find out more about The Idle Man:

Website: www.theidleman.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/idle