Quadrip: Welsh online fashion platform revolutionising personal styling by connecting stylists and clients globally.

"Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme has been invaluable in guiding our growth journey."

E-commerce and digital innovation continue to revolutionise various sectors across the globe. From fashion to finance, digital platforms have broken barriers and created opportunities for freelancers, entrepreneurs and consumers. Quadrip, a personal styling online platform based in Wales, is an excellent example of this revolution.

Launched in May 2023 by Gabriele Sidekerskyte, a Lithuanian economics student at Aberystwyth University, Quadrip connects freelance stylists with clients seeking personal fashion advice and style support.  The platform allows stylists to offer one-to-one consultations, guide individuals on style, curate complete looks and closet revision.

Despite being in its early stages, Quadrip has already garnered significant interest from stylists and customers.

The Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP) has played a vital role in Quadrip's development. AGP offers targeted support for fast-growing, ambitious firms, partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
 

In this blog, Gabriele, the driving force behind Quadrip, shares her business journey and offers advice to aspiring young entrepreneurs.

Gabriele Sidekerskyte

Tell us about Quadrip?
At Quadrip, we believe that everyone deserves to feel confident and empowered in their skin. We know that fashion significantly affects how we feel about ourselves. Still, we also understand that not everyone has the time, knowledge, or confidence to put together a great outfit.

Quadrip is more than just an online platform; it is a bridge that connects style experts to those needing fashion advice. The inspiration for Quadrip came from observing the struggle of friends and family, who spent a lot of time shopping, contemplating what to wear, and accumulating untouched clothing. I realised that fashion could play a significant role in boosting people's confidence, but that people often struggle with how to spend money on fashion and put an outfit together.

That's why we've created a platform that connects you with top-rated personal stylists who are experts in their field. Our stylists work with you to understand your unique style, preferences, and lifestyle. They then help you better understand your body type and colour palette and create personalised outfits that make you feel confident and beautiful.

With our platform, you can browse a diverse range of personal stylists, their services and choose the one that best fits your needs and budget. You can communicate with your stylist through our secure messaging system to help them better understand your needs and get recommendations with links for the items you should purchase.

We aim to make fashion accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of budget, body type, or style preferences. Whether you're looking for a complete wardrobe overhaul or just a few new pieces to refresh your look, our personal stylists are here to help you achieve your fashion goals.

Once I'd refined my idea, I undertook market research, which showed a real appetite for expert styling advice at the click of a button. From there, my biggest initial challenge was developing the platform and onboarding stylists. Connected with a skilled web developer was a turning point for the development of Quadrip. Today, we continuously learn and grow with our early adopters and stylists.

What is your proudest moment in business?
While Quadrip is still in its early stages, my proudest moment is tied to my personal growth. I took the risk of moving alone to a new country, which was daunting, but I love living in Wales. I have built new networks and learn something new every day. Today, I am proud of the business and my connections.

What challenges have you faced in business?
The road to launching Quadrip was riddled with challenges. One such challenge was the desire to iron out every possible issue before launch, which in hindsight, held back the platform's development. In retrospect, launching the platform sooner could have helped us uncover and address issues quicker, facilitating a faster market fit.

How has support from Business Wales helped your business?
Support from the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme has been invaluable in our journey. They provided direct business support and assistance with branding and marketing, which played a critical role in helping us identify our audience and refine our offering.

What advice would you give other businesses starting out?
Move quickly: Don't hesitate to launch before you feel entirely ready. Gathering early feedback is often the most efficient way to achieve a market-ready product.

Embrace failure: Failures are part of the learning process, and the ability to pivot after failure ensures sustainability.

Overcome imposter syndrome: Feeling inexperienced or out of place is common, but don't let it hinder your growth. Stay grounded but keep pushing boundaries.

To learn more about Quadrip, visit here.

Further information on the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP) is available here.

AGP Carbon reduction pilot case study. Client: TB Davies

"As a small business, we wanted to reduce carbon emissions but needed support to develop a realistic and detailed plan. This programme was hugely helpful and designed to help businesses like ours meet the challenge ahead."

Cardiff-based TB Davies is a fourth-generation family business founded in the 1940s and is today a leading supplier of access equipment in the UK.

The company manufactures and distributes a wide range of climbing products, including steps, ladders, towers, and podiums for the professional, trade and domestic user. It has taken pride in staying one step ahead through innovation ever since it became one of the first companies to introduce a range of revolutionary new aluminium ladders into its product range in the 1960s.

Today its product range still has innovation at its core, offering light, compact ladders that are easy to set up and operate safely when working at height.

With a reputation for well-designed, well-engineered products, its customers include Screwfix, Arco and Amazon. It also sells direct to consumers, a market which saw a boom during COVID when householders finally got around to tackling those long-planned DIY projects.

TB Davies employs 21 people at its site in Lewis Road, Splott, and achieved a turnover of £8 million in 2022.

As a family business proudly rooted in the Cardiff community, the company has always felt a strong sense of social responsibility, including a commitment to sustainability. In 2019, it took the first step in developing an action plan to reduce its environmental impact. That project involved considering areas within its direct control, such as harnessing solar energy for its operations, reducing plastic packaging and introducing hybrid vehicles.

However, the firm struggled to measure its scope two and three emissions and needed support and dedicated resources to further its work. When the company's Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme Relationship Manager, Howard Jones, mentioned the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme Carbon Emission Reduction Pilot, they jumped at the opportunity to participate.

Here, Director Mat Gray explains how the business has benefited from the pilot programme and shares the lessons learned.
 

Tell us how you went about developing your carbon emission reduction plan?
We started by identifying what data we already had and where we could make improvements. For example, we use solar panels to supply most of our electricity, and we don't use gas on site, so we knew we were very "clean" regarding pollution.

Previously, we struggled to measure Scope Three emissions, which we do not create. Instead, they are the emissions from those we are indirectly responsible for, up and down our supply chain.

The production of aluminium ladders is relatively energy and carbon-intensive. And a lot depends on where the raw materials come from.

Once our data was in order, we asked for more data from our supply chain, including shipping companies. We then drew it together and produced a pie chart, which we further analysed to show where we could make the most significant carbon savings in the shortest timeframe.

The Pilot placed an intern with us - a Master's student - who was instrumental in helping us gather and analyse the data. We made significant progress quickly, thanks to his expertise and guidance.
 

The first phase of the journey has culminated in a Decarbonisation Plan, with a commitment to become Net Zero by 2050. The plan identifies multiple goals to create company-wide transformation and shift all of our stakeholders, including suppliers, distributors and end-users, from a 'use-and-dispose' mindset towards one of 'repair and reuse', investing in a circular economy based on founding principles of quality, durability and recyclability.

How did you get the data you needed to calculate your baseline emissions?
Fortunately, some of the data was already within reach. We had some of it through our system's invoices and reporting from various sources. But, first, we had to research industry standards for elements such as metals and raw material production because that data wasn't readily available. Then we had to talk to people in our supply chain. So, for example, one of the first things we did was speak to our contract carrier because we're shipping out huge volumes of ladders daily to customers across the UK.

It was encouraging to learn that our primary contract carrier is already in the process of looking at their own emissions. Because they do a lot of work for the public sector, they have a PPN 06/21 document. This is a relatively new Government procurement requirement requiring suppliers to detail their commitment to achieving Net Zero by publishing a detailed Carbon Reduction Plan. As part of our carrier's plan, they are transitioning to an entirely electric fleet to make deliveries cleaner and greener.

Working with partners to get the data we needed was sometimes simple and sometimes more challenging. But it was worth the effort.

What were your biggest challenges or barriers while developing your plan?
Some of the challenges involved getting to grips with new data formats! We're all used to working in miles per gallon - but kilograms of carbon per mile, less so! So that took a bit of head-scratching before we could input our data into the web portal provided to us as part of the Pilot.

Another challenge was getting the supply chain on board. Our big customers, such as Screwfix and Toolstation, were already on the ball with sustainability. They've asked us for variations of this data for the last 18 months. But trying to get our supply chain on board has been challenging because they have had less exposure to this requirement.

The further up the supply chain, the more novel it is to the people you work with. It is down to an "old school" approach where they don't understand why you need all this new data.

How did you go about involving your team in the process of developing your carbon emission reduction plan?
A lightbulb moment came early in the Pilot when we attended a webinar presented by comms expert Sara Robinson. She recommended we get our staff on board early, which struck a chord with me. So the next day, I gathered the team and explained what we were trying to do and why it mattered. That made a big difference because the team felt informed, and we were then all rowing in the same direction.

The more people were aware of what we were trying to achieve, the more they were thinking about what differences they could make with their everyday decisions. For example, we import some materials through shipping containers. So our team looked at our shipping container delivery and established that the shipping company could provide a report on emissions for our container's routes.

We also established that we could use "cleaner" shipping routes. Getting the team involved from the outset means we empowered them to suggest improvements, which was a big part of our success in this project. That's just one way the pilot programme supported us in making good strategic decisions. There were too many more to mention here!

Winning the 'Best Small Business Carbon Reduction Plan' award was a fantastic boost for the team because everybody worked hard to develop our plan. We're all incredibly proud of our achievement. It has motivated us all to continue working hard on reducing our environmental impact.

What are the next steps for your business on your carbon emission reduction journey?
We want to build our dataset and improve its accuracy. So we will ask more of our staff and supply chain and ensure we record as much as possible. We can't manage what we can't measure, after all!

We will continue working with our entire supply chain and customer base. We want to cascade our efforts downwards to our customers by showing what steps we take to make our offering more sustainable. Through more proactive marketing, we hope to educate our customers so they can demand more from their other suppliers. It's about having a ripple effect. The more the ecosystem works towards reducing emissions, the more impact we can have. So for our part, we want to shout about what we are doing. Winning an award from the pilot programme will help us raise awareness of our work and the importance of measuring and reducing emissions.

What advice would you give to other businesses embarking on a journey to reduce their carbon emissions?
It can be overwhelming when you don't know where to begin, but my advice is to start now and optimise later. Having said that, as soon as we started on the pilot programme, we realised that a lot of the data was more readily available than we'd assumed.

Another key to success is getting people on board. If you can win hearts and minds throughout your organisation and the supply chain, that is half the battle.

What were the biggest benefits of participating in the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme Carbon Emission Reduction pilot?
Participating in the Carbon Emission Reduction pilot allowed us to focus on this vital mission. Before joining, we had good intentions but were struggling to make progress. The opportunity to have a dedicated intern work with us was invaluable, as was the expertise of the sustainability coaches. The webinars were also fantastic for bite-sized, intensive learning. We learned so much so quickly, which helped us move ahead at pace.

I honestly don't think we could have made such swift progress without the support we received. The programme was designed for businesses like ours and gave us the expertise and resources to take the next steps.

We are now on the front foot and in an excellent position to maximise commercial opportunities from like-minded suppliers and customers.

To learn more about TB Davies, visit here.

Further information on the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme

 

The Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme is a pan-Wales programme part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

Innovative manufacturing brings jobs and a bright future to Port Talbot.

"Business Wales AGP has helped us in our efforts to build resilience."

Research and development are critical to creating a more prosperous, competitive Wales. These activities are often centred on the nation's world-leading higher education sector. Port Talbot-based Hexigone is just one example of the ability of higher education institutions to develop new technology and drive economic well-being.

Hexigone was established by its founder Dr Patrick Dodds, whose research at Swansea University saw him develop technology to inhibit metal corrosion. The company's coating solution promises to solve a problem that costs the global economy billions annually. The product fights corrosion when used in primers with full-system barrier topcoats. In addition, it is compatible with a broad spectrum of resin and coating types.

Hexigone has been supported through Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP). The AGP provides targeted support for ambitious growing firms. The programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

Here, Dr Patrick Dodds explains how he developed his business and its product, looks at some of the hurdles he has encountered along the way and offers advice to other entrepreneurs looking to develop a business idea.

Tell us about Hexigone
We have developed and patented a coating solution that will reduce corrosion costs to the world economy in a way that also protects the environment. This corrosion inhibitor is heavy metal free and, I'm pleased and proud to say, is already a world market leader. I created and patented the product while doing an EU-funded doctorate at Swansea University. The long road to commercialisation started when I formed the company with investors in 2017. Investors included the Development Bank of Wales and the wonderfully-named Worshipful Company of Armourers & Brasiers (a medieval guild in the City of London founded in 1322, no less!). Soon after, I joined the Business Wales AGP, and the programme has provided continued advice and support ever since. We've gone on to attract other investments from angel investors. So there's been no shortage of interest in the company, which reinforces what we already know: that we have a great product.

The road to commercialisation and bringing a product like this to the market is long. We are not a technology company where you can get a product to market in months; it takes many years. Our market is conservative, there are vast amounts of money at stake, and even when we secure a client, the cycle is such that it could be four years before income starts to flow in.

Business Wales AGP has supported us in our efforts to build resilience. As a result, despite setbacks - especially Covid - we've managed to stay the course and gain market traction globally. We've also obtained two more patents in key markets. Now, we've scaled up to our next phase and anticipate substantial growth for the next ten years at least. We employ more than ten people now – and have a majority of female staff, most of whom work in high-level roles. The culture of the company is forward-thinking and inclusive.

What are your proudest moments in business so far?
We have a few, and our response to Covid is one which I'll talk about later. But I think in terms of our core business, securing our first export sale was a real landmark for us and something which made me enormously proud. But a thriving company is about more than the bottom line; it's about a team of people's skills, knowledge and endeavours. So I'm proud of the development of our team here at Hexigone; we've created an authentic culture of innovation and respect. It's been such a humbling experience.

What challenges have you faced in business?
We've had a few in our time! But as I mentioned above, when we started, the real challenge was the long sales cycle due to the complexity of the market and our products. It took us a while to realise this, but working with Business Wales AGP gave us clarity. That initial journey into business also made us realise just how important it is to get recruitment right.

Covid presented us with a whole new challenge. We had moved to a new factory the day before the lockdown was announced. Some staff opted to take furlough, but given the crisis and our material formulation skills, we switched to making hand sanitiser. We sourced the alcohol for free and sold our products at fair prices to local authorities and charities. We donated profits from this to Mental Health UK. It was an enormous challenge, but I'm so proud of what we did during that time.

If you were starting again, what would you do differently?
I think we'd have raised more money at the beginning. A start-up like ours needs finance to meet its growth ambitions, so that was something we needed to unlock earlier. Also, we'd have liked to have been commercial and independent earlier.

Another thing, which I think is shared by other businesses in the same sort of place in terms of their cycle, is to have taken more care and time in choosing the people we needed. That recruitment covers both employees but also board members too. When starting out, getting the right people into your company is central to success.

How has support from Business Wales AGP helped your business?
I mentioned earlier that the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme has been central to our resilience through some tricky times but is crucial to unlocking our growth potential.

We've worked with AGP across a range of areas of our business, and I think this reflects how helpful the programme is to us as a firm and how useful it could be to other business leaders in Wales. For example, the expertise from AGP has supported us with manufacturing processes, scaling up, sales, marketing and business leadership development.

More broadly, we've accessed finance from the Development Bank of Wales and have received support with trade shows and missions. This support means we've been able to get our brand and offering out there to a global market.

What advice and guidance would you give other businesses starting out?

• Raise a lot more money at the beginning to give you the lead in time you need.

• Trust your gut – trust yourself.

• Develop tough skin.

• Find the right trusted advisors and support.

• Keep going, and enjoy the journey.

To learn more about Hexigone, visit here.

Further information on the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme

 

The Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme is a pan-Wales programme part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.