| Established in 2004
Unify BP is an active, outdoor and lifestyle fashion agency and distributor with a diverse portfolio of leading global brands. It has successfully established itself as one of the leading multi-category brand specialists in the UK and works with a broad spectrum of leading well-respected retailers, buyers, and influencers that range from independent boutiques to global fashion houses and e-commerce platforms.
118% GROWTH BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021
Origins
Damian Cooper decided to start the business after retiring from rugby. Having previously worked in the sports industry for brands like Fila and Canterbury, he built up a network of contacts and initially started the business as a self-employed sales agent. One of the major challenges he faced during the early stages was funding the business and this came from selling my house to fund the first year without earning anything. It was a huge gamble having two small children at the time. Working 70 hours per week in the first few years paid off as he began to represent brands such as Samurai Rugby, Nike Swim and Hilly clothing. The first breakthrough was a partnership with Under Armour in 2005 and from there the business went from strength to strength. By switching the business model to distribution partnerships in 2013, there was a massive acceleration in the turnover of the business.
Success Factor
The aim was to be the go-to company for existing and new brands that are looking for regional and national coverage in the active, outdoor and lifestyle fashion in the UK. Early on, Unify BP established a strong reputation for identifying great brands, building great relationships with them, and working on strategic plans to deliver significant growth and success for these brands. They have fed off that reputation and continued to take on more brands and grow the business, continuously searching the globe for exciting new brands to introduce to the UK. They have a passionate team in place that have a huge work ethic and bring a wealth of experience to the industry and strive to deliver excellent customer service.
The Future
Over the next five years, Unify BP will continue to deliver growth for its brands in the UK and take on new brands. It will work with brands to deliver to retailers in the UK and deliver product diversification and clear segmentation to leverage growth in their marketplace. It will continue to engage, educate and convert its existing portfolio through multi-channels with the aim to take the £11m revenue business to £20m by 2025 with continued growth planned at £30m by 2027. Its reputation of delivering great results has led to multiple interests from other brands giving Unify BP the opportunity to be selective in who they work with. They have also been looking at retail opportunities on the high street and the possibility of creating their own brand.
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