Member Article

Leeds graduate retail entrepreneur’s gift venture gets boost from E4’s Made in Chelsea star

Leeds Beckett University graduate entrepreneur Chris Threlfall’s new online gift company has received a boost from a reality star from the E4 TV show Made in Chelsea.

Retail Management alumnus Chris launched his business Keep it Unique, with girlfriend Katie Palmer in October last year.

After graduating in 2012, Chris undertook a graduate training scheme with supermarket chain Morrisons, but has since left to focus on Keep it Unique. In addition he hosts regular guest lectures at Leeds Beckett for Retail Management students.

Keep It Unique sells a range of personalised gifts including cushions and framed prints, and sent a selection of products to Made in Chelsea’s Binky Felstead who endorsed their products on social media.

Speaking about the business, Chris commented: “We came up with the idea for Keep it Unique after Katie struggled to find a unique and personal present for a friend.

“We had top of the range printers at our disposal at Katie’s family’s business, Palmer Publicity Services in Preston, and decided to play around with our own ideas and designs. The results were great and the idea for our business www.keepitunique.co.uk was born.

“We’ve focused on five or six key products, and put them out on social media to see what demand was like. We’ve had a lot of interest, particularly over Christmas when people were really on the lookout for something special for friends and family.

“Also, getting Twitter and Instagram endorsements from celebrities such as Binky Felstead is fantastic for us, as it confirms to us and shows our customers that the products we are offering are unique, high quality, must-have items.”

Course leader of retail management at Leeds Beckett University, Alistair Macauley, who taught Chris when he was a student, added: “Chris is another successful graduate from our Retail Management course who has not only worked for one of the country’s largest grocery retailers but created an extremely innovative new business.

“It is great to see one of our graduates being entrepreneurial and doing so well. Our Retail Management course is designed to encourage this as well as give our students the skills needed to secure graduate positions in the retail industry.

“Chris is a true inspiration to our current students and I have no doubt that his business will be a success.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .