People’s Champion finalist 2017: London Sock Company

Start-up name: London Sock Company
Founders: Ryan Palmer & Dave Pickard
Started in: December 2013 (Launched 2014)
Based in: London
Business description: Luxury sock retailer

Shortlisted category:

The Start Up Loans Inspiring Entrepreneur of the Year

The London Sock Company story:

On a September evening in 2013, friends Ryan Palmer and Dave Pickard stepped out of a familiar revolving glass door to leave their London corporate office for the very last time.

They were on a mission: to help modern men add style, personality, and be noticed for the right reasons, simply by wearing quality, stylish socks – and so the London Sock Company was born.

The two travelled throughout Britain and Western Europe to source the highest quality materials, skills and knitting methods to ensure the best standard, comfort and fit of the socks.

Four years later and the London Sock co. has benefitted from various inspiring and successful investors including Venrex (early backers of Orlebar Brown, Notonthehighstreet.com, Thread.com, and JustEat), fifth generation luxury retail magnate William Asprey, and counts Britain’s most successful male model and style icon, David Gandy, as an ambassador.

Customers can subscribe to the brand’s monthly sock club, where members can receive up to three pairs of socks delivered straight to their letter box.

This successful subscription-based model works alongside one off e-commerce transactions, as well as a presence in luxury retailers including Mr. Porter, where the brand had a 60% sell-through rate in just 10 days, and Fortnum and Mason – recently becoming their top selling sock brand since launch.

Already, the start-up’s products have been featured in GQ, Esquire and The Rake, as well as many more publications, and have been worn by various celebrities including Daniel Craig for his James Bond: Spectre press and premiers.

The brand has a keen social and charitable interest too – its  ‘Pull Your Socks Up’ campaign has raised thousands of pounds for charities including Style For Soldiers, GOSH, NSPCC and others, as well as donating thousands of socks to London’s homeless via the charity CRISIS.

Why the London Sock Company made our shortlist:

The London Sock Co. has managed to capture an assured sense of style, sophistication and British heritage – and make it relevant for today’s modern gentleman with a fashionable, luxury sock brand.

Importantly, though, the start-up has achieved this as a data lead, creative agency that focuses on providing exceptional customer service as a scalable business, all with a clear social and charitable focus, making a genuine difference to those less fortunate.

Where to find out more about the London Sock Company:

Website: www.londonsockcompany.com
Twitter: @LondonSockCo