The companies second funding round also attracted further investment from Index Ventures, Playfair Capital and leading Angel investors. The investment will be used to support the launch and promotion of their new brand and website Trouva, as well as to build out the StreetHub platform.
Trouva brings together a selection of the most inspired boutiques from within StreetHub’s network of 350 independent retailers, who have come together to use e-commerce to fight back against larger chains and online-only retailers.
Their collections provide the antidote to chain-dominated, identikit high streets and busy, hard to navigate websites. Everything on the site is available for world-wide shipping, as well as click and collect and 1 hour Shutl delivery (to selected postcodes), opening up the world of independent shopping to everyone, wherever they might be.
Trouva has a team of curators who handpick unique gift, fashion and homeware items only found in independent shops – putting a sense of wonder and discovery back into shopping whilst taking away the inconvenience of back-street boutique browsing.
Mandeep Singh, co-founder of StreetHub, said: “We’ve seen huge success with our iPhone app launch last year, with over 40,000 customers using the app to discover and purchase from independent shops in their local vicinity. This is how we identified the compelling opportunity to also serve people who are keen to discover shops which are a little further afield too, and offer worldwide shipping. Trouva is the logical next step for us in our mission to help our amazing independent retailers to reach an even wider audience and help more customers to discover these inspiring, individual collections of products.”
Lawrence at lifestyle boutique Roullier White says “Independent shops are the best places to find great products. At Roullier White we put a lot of thought into our curation and aesthetic, handpicking everything you see in store. Being part of the Trouva community is great, because it brings together a selection of retailers that stand out and offer a really inspirational mix of products, enabling shoppers to find something a bit different wherever they are based.”
Dan Rigby, owner of home and gift shop Rigby & Mac adds “Trouva is already having a significant impact on our sales. Over the last month, our sales are up 10 per cent thanks to Trouva.”