Member Article

Does this Newcastle fashion startup have the answer to our online buying woes?

When Bdaily explored Newcastle’s Quayside Entrepreneurial Spark hub earlier this summer, it became quickly evident that the vast majority of its startups had ambitions which extended beyond the North East. An appetite for success on a global scale reigned supreme.

One such budding entrepreneur, hoping to introduce better methods to improve age-old processes at international level, is Nathan Rose - the upcoming fashion retailer behind PEEK.

This newly-launched business allows customers to try before they buy - emulating a process similar to the one introduced by Amazon to its Prime members earlier this summer.

An online women’s clothing store, PEEK allows members to choose items, try them on at home for free and only pay once they decide if they want to keep them or not.

Users provide their credit card details at the time they make their orders, and the card is charged within two weeks of the order being delivered, with delivery also being free both ways.

Explaining the concept further, Nathan said: “So often you buy something online and it doesn’t quite fit right or isn’t what you expected, and you have to go through a lengthy process to return it and get a refund.

“PEEK makes this process so much easier as you aren’t paying for items in advance and can return what you don’t want.

“Customer experience, transparency and innovation are at the heart of everything we do, and we are working with a select number of brands and designers.”

To support his business, Nathan joined the Entrepreneurial Spark Powered by NatWest accelerator hub located on Newcastle’s Quayside.

Run alongside partners KPMG Enterprise, Dell EMC and Pinsent Masons, Entrepreneurial Spark is the world’s largest free business accelerator for start-up and scale up businesses and has provided free support, mentoring, networking and office accommodation for hundreds of businesses in hubs across the UK.

Nathan continued: “The programme has really helped me develop the business and get it to a place that makes it more robust and able to grow.

“It has also been great to work around a mixture of both like minded people and potential PEEK customers so I can test ideas and see what works and what doesn’t.”

Carl Haagensen, Entrepreneur Development Manager at NatWest, added: “It’s an exciting time for PEEK as the site looks to attract more users and develop further.

“The concept is one that will resonate with a range of consumers, and we wish Nathan every success for the future.”

What do you think? Could PEEK answer your shopping woes? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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