Alpkit Raises £1M in Funding

alpkitAlpkit Limited, a Nottingham, UK-based outdoor clothing and equipment retailer, raised £1m in funding.

Foresight Group made the investment from the Foresight Nottingham Fund, alongside bank funding provided by HSBC.

Founded in 2004 by a group of friends who loved outdoor adventure, including the current Managing Director, Nick Smith, and led by David Hanney, who joined the business as CEO in 2014, Alpkit is a designer and retailer of outdoor clothing and equipment. Targeting the outdoor adventure enthusiast, the company provides over 500 lines across clothing, equipment and bikes. All products are designed at the company’s HQ in Newthorpe, Nottingham, with a focus on technical performance.

The company plans to use funds to invest in its website to both improve customer experience and to create international language sites to increase sales from its growing global online traffic and open new stores in selected locations throughout the UK.

Over the last two years, Alpkit has opened its first two stores, strategically located in the Lake District and Peak District, to increase brand awareness. As well as selling its products, the company’s expert staff in the stores provide advice, product repairs and run adventure courses. In the last four years, staff numbers have grown from 12 to 62 and over the next three years, Alpkit aims to create a further 40 jobs.

FinSMEs

19/10/2018

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