Renée FraserShepherd - Founder and CEO of Sloobie Skiwear
What were your career ambitions growing up?
Strangely enough, I always wanted to go into nutrition, I had never studied business until university. I had had a turning point doing my A-Levels when I decided to take part in young enterprise. It was doing this that I found that I loved running a business.
Tell us about your current role?
I founded Sloobie in December 2022 after working on the products for two years. I had always struggled to find stylish skiwear, I found that most options were dull or unflattering and so I decided to do it myself. We are now five months into launch and we have already been featured by Glamour and Cosmopolitan. As it’s just me running the business my role involves pretty much everything, but I absolutely love it.
What is your proudest business achievement?
It has to be launching in Fenwick only two months into launch, it was such an incredible feeling to be recognised by such a well-established brand.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently planning ahead for next season, getting together a strategy for re-launch into the next ski season, with some exciting things in the pipeline that we’ll be releasing on our Instagram @sloobieskiwear closer to the time!
Tell us about the team you work with?
I am currently running the business myself but I have an amazing team of mentors around me, from Julie Blackie, owner of Pink Boutique, Steve Underwood, founder and managing director of Bonded agency.
What is the best piece of business advice you have been given?
Listen to your gut!
What has been your biggest challenge?
Finding a manufacturer that could make the products to the standard I was looking for.
Who are your heroes inside and outside of business?
My grandma, she is the most driven, kind hearted woman.
How do you unwind outside of work?
Honestly, I love to either go on a walk, go for a cheeky drink with friends or just spend the night in chilling.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
We have had so much traction in the past five months, I really have high ambitions for Sloobie. I would like to see us being stocked on Net-aporter and Selfridges in the next five years.
Favourite Book and Boxset?
My favourite book is the Chimp Paradox and boxset wise I’m a big fan of ‘The Bodygaurd’ that was on the BBC