PropTech startup Sook announces appointment of Lysa Campbell as Chief Operating Officer
Sook has appointed Lysa Campbell to the position of Chief Operating Officer as it looks to increase its footprint in the UK and internationally.
The firm turns empty shops into adaptive, pop-up spaces, with nine locations in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Southampton and Edinburgh.
These are used for short-term retail, brand activations and pop-ups and living adverts deploying on its shopfront digital screens. Its client base includes Uber, Jägermeister, Vodafone and TikTok.
Campbell’s CV includes founding and selling an agency in the field marketing space, and leading Retail Marketing Group as CEO, pivoting the original proposition from a UK physical in-store focus to global digital capability.
Alongside this, she launched the sister agency, Retail Storey, to maximise this opportunity, having invested and designed an in-house social commerce tech capability.
She has since founded a new agency, She Makes a Difference, to support other SME founders and senior executives.
Campbell says: “Sook’s got an incredibly compelling proposition that breathes new life into a struggling retail sector. Its model is established and big brand clients are having great success connecting with their customers in new way.”
“I’ll be focusing on supercharging growth – telling our story to more brands and bringing more and more Sook spaces to key shopping areas in the UK and internationally.”
John Hoyle, CEO and Founder, Sook, comments: “Lysa brings a huge amount of experience and we’re excited to see her apply this to executing on Sook’s strategy.”
“Shopping areas are still struggling in many areas and the need for new innovations like Sook is clear. With Lysa’s leadership and innovative growth strategies, we’ll be able to accelerate our activities and continue on the trajectory of success we’ve achieved thus far.”
2022 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS
Sook emerged victorious at the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards in December, picking up the Bricks and Mortar Innovation gong.
Our 2022 winners were revealed at a sold out event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.
Our judging panel said of Sook: “There aren’t many things more depressing than empty shops on a high street, especially when it’s at odds with the number of innovative SMEs desperate for a bricks and mortar base to interact with customers.”
“Sook realised this demand for physical space hadn’t gone away, it just needed to solve the disconnect between brands and landlords while making it quick, easy and cost-effective for those brands to create a bespoke space.”
“As well as enhancing local communities and economies with these immersive pop-ups, it gathers analytics for its occupiers, allowing them to best understand how to use physical space as efficiently and effectively as possible.”
“Sook also claims to have placed great importance on sustainability with its offsite modular construction typically producing 30% less CO2 compared to a traditional shop fit and powering all its units using 100% renewable energy providers.”
“Finally, it’s not just SMEs working with the company – Uber, Mastercard, Facebook, SumUp, Hard Rock, TikTok, Jagermeister, Depop and Raspberry Pi all have also sought it out as a solution for enabling physical spaces to thrive via innovative technology.”
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, said: “Innovation and technology play a critical role in the success of the retail sector, so it is great to recognise standout examples through our awards.”
“Thanks to all those who entered the 2022 event. We received a record number of submissions and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.”
“Congratulations to our 2022 retail technology hall of fame entrants.”
The 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards are now open for entries. Click here for further information.
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