Hand Dyed Shoe Company claims Klarna Smoooth Stores crown
PayTech venture Klarna has announced the winner of its Smoooth Stores competition – Simon Bourne, founder of the Hand Dyed Shoe Co. He’ll receive £10,000 alongside mentoring from senior Klarna executives and free use of the company’s Pay later service for 12 months.
Special commendations have also been given to Britannical, a luxury children’s outerwear brand who came in second place, and Charlotte Jade in third place, who offer hand drawn plant, floral and animal themed designs for wallpaper, upholstery and tiles. The pair have been awarded a £5,000 cash prize.
Bourne comments: “I come from quite from humble beginnings – a council estate in Scunthorpe actually, and I never dreamed I’d be here in front of everyone to accept such a generous award. This opportunity will really drive my business into the future - we’ll invest it wisely and I hope you’ll see much more from The Hand Dyed Shoe Co. in the future.”
Luke Griffiths, General Manager at Klarna UK, says: “The unique experience which The Hand Dyed Shoe Co. creates is above and beyond what many retailers offer, and yet, it’s an intrinsic part of what makes Simon’s business so great. Every business we’ve had the chance to work with in this project has shown us that the UK’s retail scene is thriving and evolving. The Hand Dyed Shoe Co. will only continue to succeed, and I hope our prize and ongoing support will help accelerate that success for them.”
