Cheshire-based entrepreneur Sophie Mercer has turned a passion for horses into a galloping success with the launch of her equestrian fashion brand, Eqcouture.
The business, which now sells its range worldwide, was born out of frustration when lifelong equestrian and horse owner Sophie Mercer couldn’t find the equestrian clothing she wanted, so she decided to create her own.
Sophie started playing with designs and samples back in July 2019 alongside her full-time job working in her father’s furniture and stationery business and a bustling sideline of buying, producing and selling Irish horses. Although she admits at this point, she was struggling to find the time to concentrate on Eqcouture fully;
“I would buy horses from Ireland and produce and sell them on. One time I bought five young horses over from Ireland, all of whom had never really been handled properly, let alone ridden, so to say that was a bit of a mammoth task to complete alongside a full-time job and trying to focus on launching a new equestrian brand is a bit of an understatement! However, I managed it and sold them on for profit.”
“I taught myself a lot while working in my father’s business, from website building and photoshop, accountancy, email marketing and more, so I applied all these skills to Eqcouture. Alongside my new website, I ordered my first box of riding leggings and attempted to fit Eqcouture in between working full-time and producing and selling horses.”
“At first, I was selling just one or two pairs, but I knew from the feedback from those early customers that I was onto something, and I tried to stay positive and focused. Then the Pandemic hit, and with people unable to shop in physical stores, they soon turned to online shopping, and it was then that our online sales started to pick up. I soon designed more styles and ordered more stock to meet the growing demand.”
The lockdown proved to be a turning point for Sophie, and her love of equestrian style pulled her ever closer to Eqcouture with a fresh emphasis on doing something positive during this dark time;
“I think the Pandemic was a time for reflection for many of us. While I loved working for my father, producing horses, and selling, I loved designing equestrian clothing more. If I was going to make a change, the time was then, so I took the plunge and invested all my time, money and energy into Eqcouture.
Sophie’s business has grown from selling 200 pairs of riding tights to a 900% increase in sales since she launched. Sophie now works full-time on the brand and has a dynamic and dedicated team working alongside her. This year, she has taken Eqcouture on the road, featuring at many of the big shows and events across the country, a move which has had a substantial positive impact.
The company has over 50% returning customer rate and has racked up a considerable loyal fanbase and a flurry of five-star reviews.
For such fantastic growth, Sophie remains exceptionally modest about her designer talents;
“I think my customers find me relatable. After all, I’m a normal horse owner, just like them. I love my horses and ride as much as I can. The only difference is that I decided to design riding clothing that I would enjoy riding in that would be comfortable and stylish and be of fantastic quality without costing a fortune. Fortunately, what I love turned out to be what equestrians love too!”
Discover More: www.eqcouture.co.uk
