Topshop Challenge finalists revealed

Topshop’s start-up competition in partnership with Decoded Fashion to address changing consumer shopping tastes and expectations has revealed the five finalists who have been chosen to pitch their ideas to the judging panel.

Three of the finalists are from the UK, including GoJo, an app that provides businesses and individuals with a same-day courier service and offers them an on-demand transport/delivery method.

In addition, a mobile app that allows you to pay on-the-go and avoid queues at your favourite stores, SkipQ has been shortlisted, as has Parcelforme, which connects retailers, carriers and consumers to improve the delivery experience for everyone.

There is one finalist from the US, Oak Labs, which aims to bridge the worlds of tech and retail by designing elegant, intuitive customer experiences that transform the way we think about shopping forever, and rounding up the five finalists is a Finnish-based start-up, Stylewhile, which turns online stores into an interactive next generation shopping experience.

Decoded Fashion and Topshop reveal competition finalists

Decoded Fashion brand and content director, Fay Cowan, said: “Most of the daring ideas changing fashion today are born in start-ups, and Decoded Fashion is thrilled to be at the heart of this and to see such a diverse range of technologies in the five finalists.

“Topshop is a brand that has a unique ability to evoke a passion with consumers and the challenge they set really looks at how they can use tech to give their customers the best experience.”

This is the first time Decoded Fashion and Topshop have partnered together and the aim of the competition is to find a start-up who can pitch a solution on “how to deliver ‘fast fashion’ in the age of immediacy?”, with a focus on keeping pace with consumers’ changing expectations in a world of instant gratification, as well as what tools are needed to execute a fully forward thinking consumer experience.

Each of the finalists will pitch their solutions to a panel of judges including: Sheena Sauvaire, Topshop’s global marketing and communications director; Alistair Allan, Topshop’s head of digital marketing; Lou Ashton, Topshop’s head of digital; and Sophie Trinder, Topshop’s digital engagement and partnerships manager, at the Decoded Fashion London Summit on May 18.

The winner will meet with the Topshop team and work together on the new digital concept, including a lunch with the judges and other creative leadership.

Decoded London will take place at King’s Place in London from May 17-18. It’s ‘Waves of the Future’ agenda will look at returning in-store experiences to the forefront, the rise of personalisation, as well as how influencers and content lead the commerce scene.

Images: SkipQ and Parcelforme