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History
In 1986 Republic started life as a men’s denim only retailer, trading from a single store in Leeds. Today the brand is a true success story, considered as one of the pre-eminent British multi-branded retailers, with an impressive 97 UK stores and a highly successful e-commerce site.
Customers
Showcasing an eclectic mix of the hottest brands, Republic typically appeals to the youthful 16-25 year old market but caters to a much wider customer base – it’s about a state of mind that is not age exclusive. The typical Republic customer is single, living at home and shopping / socialising are major pastimes with clothes a high priority for disposable income. Frequent shoppers, 30% shop once a week or more and are heavily influenced by celebrities and current trends.
Brands
The stores attract a wide range of different fashion tribes from: surfer/skater types and twenty something casuals, to brand junkies and fashion fillies. Comprehensive collections don’t stop there, as Republic stands as the largest worldwide account of prestigious brands such as: G-Star, Bench, Henleys and Fenchurch, whilst also being the largest multi-branded retailer of denim on the UK high street. Uniquely, Republic also offers three exclusive brands: Miso, SoulCal and Crafted. Catwalk inspired, Miso is always on-trend, a firm favourite with female fashionistas nationwide. Fabulous and affordable wardrobe basics cleverly combine with the latest in celebrity ‘get the looks’. Alternatively, choose comfortably cool, SoulCal. A laid back men’s and women’s wear lifestyle brand reflecting pure California style. Urban cool takes shape in Crafted – a directional street brand with a firm focus on denim for him and her.
A broad pricing architecture ensures a wide customer appeal and reinforces both accessibility and exclusivity of brands. The offer presents exceptional value that is epitomized in Republic’s unrivalled promotional stance. As a trusted house of brands Republic carefully edits the best of each season to ensure only the hottest looks are always available. Not only is the product offering important to.
Stores
Republic store design is paramount to the brand’s success. New store concepts see Republic’s ‘utilitarian meets kitsch’ inimitable style, the stores feature a striking fascia framed with iron girders, exposed brick and pipe work and natural materials, offset by candy coloured chandeliers, metallic and flocked wallpapers and music fly posters. The colourful store environment is enhanced by dedicated expert staff who bring to life the collections through exceptional customer service.
The Team
Republic’s management team is led by Tim Whitworth, Chief Executive, and Carl Brewins, Buying Director, both of whom are significant shareholders and founders of the business. Senior management has broad experience from a range of renowned fashion retailers. Total staffing currently stands at 2,177 with 1,000 full time employees (94 at head office).
Store retail teams are engaged in thorough and structured training schemes covering wide ranging aspects of operational and commercial skills / tasks. Customer satisfaction at stores is constantly assessed by third party independent reviews, providing real customer experiences and feedback as well as action plans for improvement. Training and assessment, coupled with a store sales target bonus scheme, results in a highly motivated retail team delivering market leading customer service. HQ teams are also trained and developed and are targeted on gross margin performance as well as appropriate individual objectives.
Ecommerce
E-commerce is a successful extension to the brand not only as a retailing tool but as an extension to the marketing mix, reaching a wider audience of existing and new customers. To date www.republic.co.uk is the number one store in the business. The site has been designed to deliver a unique, relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience and is constantly evolving to ensure it remains a great place to visit. The site acts as a community, further highlighting Republic’s ethos. Customers can be kept abreast of top tips by fashion newsletters, style tips by email, competitions and offers, Republic radio and a daily blog.
Company registration number: 2025406
VAT registration number: 789518660
