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Published
Apr 7, 2020
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Pink Boutique founder steps down following CEO appointment

Published
Apr 7, 2020

The co-founder of online fashion retailer Pink Boutique has left the business to pursue a new opportunity.


Pink Boutique


Alice Hall, who was named on Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 Europe list for 2017, founded the brand from her living room in 2012.

Since then, Newburn-based Pink Boutique has grown to generate annual sales of £14.1 million with a staff of 70. 

According to Business Live, Hall is departing to focus on Rowen Homes, a home interiors business she launched with her husband three years ago. 

She said: “The journey from a £90 investment through to selling thousands of dresses a day with a workforce of 70 people has been an absolutely fantastic experience. I’ve learnt every skill there is to run a medium-sized online fashion business. I’ve worked with some incredible people, both in-house and externally, and many of those people are credit to PB’s exponential success.

“I’m sure the company will continue to be a strong business and the staff team will continue to make it a wonderful place to work.”

Co-founder Julie Blackie will remain as managing director and owner of the business following a company share buy-back arrangement that concluded last month. 

Hall’s departure follows the appointment of David Quinn as CEO in January. He is described as a seasoned retail expert, with 20 years of experience working at luxury retailer Fenwick and various consultant roles with large retail chains in Dubai.

Pink Boutique, which sells party dresses, femenine tops and figure-hugging denim, is now focused on managing the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the business.

Julie Blackie said:  “Those effects have been swift and impactful, sales plummeted on the day the lockdown was announced. Pink Boutique customers primarily buy glamorous dresses to go out to pubs, clubs and restaurants and suddenly the bottom had dropped out of the market. We are gradually recovering sales as we have switched our focus to selling clothes you can lounge about in.”

The majority of the workforce has been put on furlough, but the company continues to operate with a small team of essential staff.

“David and the senior management team have great plans to get us through the next few months,” Blackie added. His recruitment is expected to take the business “to the next level”, helping the brand face this period of uncertainty.

“The company is in safe hands and we will continue to deliver Alice’s vision for the brand,” she concluded.

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