RUCK ROVER PERTH W.A
Ruck Rover is an independent store run by two sisters, Claire and Isabelle. They focus on independent designers and labels from all over the world and have a great selection of fair trade and ethical fashion.
Tell us about you…
We are Claire and Isabelle - two sisters - and our shop is called Ruck Rover. You can find us in Northbridge in central Perth (or Boorloo in the local Noongar language), amongst other independent businesses.
How long have you been in business, and how did you get started?
We opened the shop back in 2006, which means we’re turning 15 this year! We love what we do, so it feels like yesterday that we opened our doors.
Tell us about your customers…
It’s really important to us that we create an inclusive shopping space: our customers are very diverse, united by their love for beautiful, quality items that are hard to find. Like us, they love independent and ethical brands.
During lockdown last year we made a lot of local, doorstep deliveries - we particularly loved dropping off surprise gifts to people!
How has the last year of going in and out of lockdown been for you?
We’ve been really lucky in Perth in that we were able to return to something like normal in the second half of last year after just three months of lockdown, but there have been a couple of short lockdowns again this year as well. As for most people, it has been an interesting experience juggling work and home schooling and sourdough starter. We’ve really missed our family who live abroad, of course, but we feel really fortunate to live where we do!
And how has it been for your business?
Whilst we miss chatting to international visitors, we’ve welcomed a lot of travelers from the rest of Australia over the last few months who might not otherwise have come to Perth. That has been cool!
It has been a struggle but we’ve found a lot of people have prioritised looking local during this time, it has brought the community together.
What do you love most about being in retail?
It’s 100% the relationships - with our customers and the labels we work with.
Tell us about your plans for the future?
We’ve recently launched an in-house label called Shipshape Studio that’s all about simple pieces. A mix of basics that are easy to team with bold patterns from the other labels (think a classic black t-shirt to wear under an Emily & Fin sundress like the Imogen or Salma) and some fun textile collaborations with local artists.
We’ve also just signed a new lease this year - in a time when other businesses are moving online we decided we’re really committed to the brick and mortar store and we love our location. That personal connection with our customers is really important, and creating an inclusive shopping space is too. Community is what it’s all about!
Is there an Emily and Fin silhouette that’s always been a firm favourite with your customers?
I think the best selling item ever has to be the old Rosie top - what a winner! Any fit-n-flare dress is always a hit, and the Abigail, Jasmine, Scarlett and Margot are always hits.
What’s your favourite piece from the Emily and Fin SS21 collection, and why do you love it?
I’m in love with the Salma dress in heatwave check! That orange and red plaid is just amazing, and I love how you can re-tie the front panels for a perfect fit. It looks cute over a tee shirt, as it is, or with a cardigan over the top. Plus it’s that perfect mix of retro and modern that encapsulates Emily & Fin (and Ruck Rover!)
Follow Ruck Rover on Insa @RuckRoverGeneralStore
GREEN BUTIK
Green Butik is a range of e-commerce stores, with a brick and mortar store in Prague.
Tell us about you...
My name is Zuzana and together with my husband Radim we are the owners of Green Butik. We run Czech, Slovakian and German e-commerce sites with a focus on sustainable fashion and we also have a brick and mortar store in our capital, Prague.
How long have you been in business, and how did you get started?
We started in 2015 when I was pregnant with our daughter. I was looking for sustainable clothing made of natural fibres for myself and didn’t find anything that I liked in the Czech Republic. However, I did find some great sustainable brands in the UK and decided (quite on a whim) to start a business selling these in the Czech Republic!
We started as an online business first but later opened a store in our hometown Zlin and last year we have opened a store in our capital, Prague.
Tell us about your customers...
We have lovely customers who care about how they look, how they feel in their clothing and the circumstances under which their clothing is made. Our typical customer is a woman in her 30's to 50's living in a bigger city, having young kids, educated and professional.
They want to look pretty and appreciate high-quality materials and sophisticated shapes and looks. We have a very strong online presence in the Czech Republic, and our customers are used to buying online from us.
How has the last year of going in and out of lockdown been for you?
As for everyone it hasn’t been easy, both from the business point of view and from the personal one as well. We opened our Prague store just four weeks before the first lockdown last year, we had new employees we had to take care of and the government was very unclear about any way of supporting the business for a very long time. That was very frustrating and stressful at that time.
Fortunately, our online business is very strong and we managed to even grow the business steadily last year once we had managed to adapt to the new situation. We have been able to open our Prague store again after five long months of closure and our customers came rushing back to support us.
And how has it been for your business?
We have always been primarily concentrated on our online business so it was not too big a change. We even managed to expand to a German market and a Slovakian one too!
What do you love most about being in retail?
I personally love serving the customers and making sure they are happy with our services and with the products we sell. We are a very customer oriented company and it always pays off - we have a lot of customers coming back on a regular basis, both online and offline.
I love hearing from them about how our clothing makes them feel confident and happy, or how they started wearing dresses because of us. I love helping women to feel beautiful and confident and clothing is one of the ways they can do that. I also love that my job is very diverse and every day is very different.
Tell us about your plans for the future?
We always have too many plans actually. We always see new opportunities and new ways to make the business better. However, our plan for this year is to slow down a little bit, set some firm foundations for the company, learn how to delegate more to our employees and enjoy life a bit more.
But we are planning to start our new clothing line soon so as not to get too bored... :)
Is there an Emily and Fin silhouette that's always been a firm favourite with your customers?
What I really think our customers enjoy most is the slight retro shape of the dresses. They are different then most of the typical dresses sold nowadays and the shape is so flattering and even forgiving. They also love the bright colours and bold patterns. We do sell mostly dresses and dresses from Emily and Fin are always popular.
What's your favourite piece from the Emily and Fin SS21 collection, and why do you love it?
My personal favourite is the Jemima skirt in Sunshine Yellow and the Salma Sunshine Yellow dress. I’m actually not usually a fan of yellow, but I love this shade! The bold bows make these pieces so fresh and interesting. The cotton linen combination is also great for the summer.
I personally would love to see these again in the next SS season in a different colour. I think berry red would be a huge hit with our customers - and me too!
Follow Green Butic on Insta @GreenButikCZ
VEGAS Antwerp
VEGAS is a Belgian store focusing on retro and retro-inspired fashion.
Tell us about you…
My name is Nancy Lenssen. Our shop is called VEGAS and is based in the european fashion centre of Antwerp in Belgium
How long have you been in business, and how did you get started?
We have been in business for more than 20 years now. In a previous shop we sold ethnic art and fashion. Since I have always been a great fan of 40s, 50s and 60s fashion and the movie icons of these years, we decided to introduce retro fashion in Antwerp in 1998. Ever since then, we have welcomed a lot of copycats in our niche :-) but we’ve always been known as the specialists in knowledge regarding these eras.
Tell us about your customers…
Our customers are from all ages (14 to ...). Most of them are open minded, not afraid of colour and strong enough to show their femininity. They especially like our styling advice, understanding of different body shapes and knowledge of material and dress patterns. Although it's quite a job for us (because we are so bloody oldschool!) we do have a daily instagram and facebook post.
How has the last year of going in and out of lockdown been for you? And how has it been for your business?
For us personally, dreadful! But thanks to government aid and loyal customers who like personal contact and approach to fashion, we were able to survive. We do have a webshop but our customers love to feel our clothes and fabrics, and fit in person.
What do you love most about being in retail?
The personal contact. To be able to create an environment that I like and that hopefully attracts kindred spirits.
Tell us about your plans for the future?
I’d love to be a fashion advisor and brand scout for shops and manufacturers. No country in Europe is the same and since I am living in the centre and have been working practically all my professional life in fashion, I could be of great value. With my knowledge I can help brands understand the European market. I also can advise shops which brands can fit their customers' profile.
Is there an Emily and Fin silhouette that’s always been a firm favourite with your customers?
It all depends on the shape of the customer. Sometimes a shape is “too British” - high necklines are an example. Too closed up for us mainlanders :-)
What’s your favourite piece from the Emily and Fin SS21 collection, and why do you love it?
This year we are big fans of the prints. We also love the material a lot. Keep up the high standard with your unique dresses and prints!
Follow VEGAS on Insta @VegasAntwerp