Figleaves

Figleaves.com is a UK-based online lingerie retailer established by Daniel Nabarro and former McKinsey & Co manager Michael Ross in 1998 and purchased by N Brown Group in 2010.[1]

Figleaves
IndustryClothing
Founded1998
FounderDaniel Navarro
Michael Ross
Headquarters
Stevenage (HQ)
,
United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom and Worldwide
ProductsUnderwear,
sleepwear,
swimwear
Number of employees
200+
ParentN Brown Group
Websitefigleaves.com

Company history

Figleaves was founded in 1998 by entrepreneur Daniel Navarro and former McKinsey & Co manager Michael Ross. At launch, it was the first internet retailer to specialise in lingerie, and one of the first to target a female-only market. In 2002 the company started selling in the US. In 2005 the private equity group Balderton Capital bought an almost 40% stake, and in 2010 the company was purchased by N Brown Group in 2010 for £11.5 million.[2][3] The company did not turn a profit in the UK until 2012, 14 years after it launched and two years after it was acquired by N Brown Group.[4]

Management

Julia Reynolds, a former Tesco executive who had previously started Tesco’s clothing brand F&F,[2] was the chief executive from 2008 until 2011 when she left to join Blacks. Initially, she was not replaced, but her responsibilities were divided between the commercial director, operations director, and product and brand director.[5] Since 2016 the company CEO has been Miriam Lahage, who had previously built and led a number of multi-channel businesses in the US and Europe.[3][6]

Operations

Lingerie makes up 50% of sales, swimwear 40% and nightwear 10%. Figleaves also sells its own-brand clothing through JD Williams, part of the N Brown Group, as well as on Amazon and Ebay. Figleaves' head office is in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. They also have a warehouse and customer service centre in Haverhill, Suffolk.[7]

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References
  1. Duncan, Hugo (15 June 2010). "Figleaves founder in the money after £11.5m sale". Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  2. Mills, Lauren (24 February 2008). How to pull a company up by its bra straps. The Independent.
  3. McGregor, Kirsty (16 February 2018). How digital pioneer Figleaves is reconnecting with customers. Drapers.
  4. McGregor, Kirsty (2018-02-16). "How digital pioneer Figleaves is reconnecting with customers". Drapers. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  5. Shields, Amy (17 June 2011). N Brown reshuffles Figleaves management to lead business. Drapers.
  6. Retail Week Live: Miriam Lahage. Retail Week.
  7. Case Studies: Figleaves. Focus on Haverhill.


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