Tell us a bit about you.

My name is Edouard, the co-founder of IGLOO. After leaving university (Bordeaux Business School) I founded a sports start-up that I sold three years later. I then managed a French subsidiary of a Belgian company for 2 years, before going back into entrepreneurship with 2 friends (Réda and Victor). I like creating and feeling that I can make things happen.

 

Describe how you met, came up with and developed the idea of IGLOO?

All three of us wanted to create a start-up. We were thinking about what problems affected us in daily life.

Men haven’t got the patience for shopping instore and online shopping is not for us; going back and forth to the post office, buying before having seen the product, delivery times etc. And despite masculine preconceptions, women don’t like shopping instore either and don’t have the time.

From this thought, we decided to create the world’s best shopping experience: “Les boutiques chez vous.” In other words, try clothes from Parisian shops where and when you want, for only €1.

 

How does this work exactly?

It’s very simple, you download our brilliant IGLOO app (AppStore  & GooglePlay). You choose the clothes you want to try from over 100 brands and designers. You indicate a precise time and address, and a delivery man will deliver the items. You try them on in your own time and we come back once you have finished with them. You only pay for the items you have decided to keep after trying them on. All clothing is at shop prices, even during sales and private sales!

When did you join LOOK FORWARD?

In August I received a call from Adèle (Director of the incubator) who offered us to join as a favorite project. We accepted straightaway in order to benefit from Showroomprivé’s experience (advertising, logistics, technical aspects, etc).

What are your best and worst memories?

My best memories are from the first orders we processed, and to have the fantastic experience of seeing customer reviews saying: “wow, this is amazing”.

The worst is the first ever order: it was raining and we still didn’t have the correct packaging so all the cardboard boxes collapsed right in the middle of Boulevard St Germain, whilst I was on my scooter. (A problem that we quickly resolved!)

 

What are you most proud of?

We are most proud of convincing the brands to be part of the project. We work with great and highly sought-after companies, who found our solution extremely targeted and innovative. From their point of view, the offer is all-inclusive as the whole process is now automated.

 

Why the name “IGLOO”?

We want to make fashion accessible with typical roles reversed. Do you know another company which sends men to the shops instead of women, with a smile?

 

What have been the biggest difficulties you have encountered?

There have been lots of difficulties, such as putting reliable logistics in place to satisfy customers within a day! On our app, customers can order up to 10 items, from any brand, and try them in the same evening!

 

What is a typical day?

A perfect day…

On a more serious level, up to now, it has been hard to think of a typical day; we work in the heat of the moment and every day is different. With our recent fundraising of 500,000 euros, we have been able to recruit key personnel to give structure to our start-up and offer a better experience to our customers, with lots of surprises to come.

 

Any anecdotes to tell?

Some customers have asked us if the delivery man stays whilst trying on the clothes…evidently not.

 

Any future developments?

We will be listing 100 extra brands and lots of Parisian designers in the following months. We are changing our packaging and mobile app so our customers will feel as though they are being treated like royalty.

 

Finally, any advice for any budding entrepreneurs dreaming of starting their own business?

Don’t just cross your fingers and hope for the best. It’s important to study the market but to not lose too much time either, even when innovating. Often the best thing is to test things quickly, several times, until you find a solution.

 

Resolutions for 2016?

Change our typography.

Conquer Paris before offering our service in new cities.