The White Company (retailer)

The White Company is a retailer of linens, home decor, dinnerware, and furniture based in England.[3][4] It has over 50 stores. It was founded by Chrissie Rucker in 1994. Mary Homer left Topshop in March 2017 to head the company.[5]

This article is about housewares retailer. For other uses, see White Company (disambiguation).

The White Company
Type Private
IndustryRetail
Founded1994
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Number of locations
59 stores (56 in UK, 1 in Ireland, 2 in US)[1]
Area served
Key people
Revenue
  • US$272.6 million (2017)
[2]
  • US$24 million (2017)
Number of employees
1,437+
Websitethewhitecompany.com

The retailer sells mostly neutral coloured products, such as home décor, linen, furniture and clothing.[6] The White Company started selling online in the U.S. in 2014 and in 2017 opened a store on 5th Avenue in New York City's Flatiron neighbourhood and one in Short Hills, New Jersey.[7][8][9]

History

The White Company was established in 1994 as a mail order business selling items through a 12-page catalogue which has grown into a multi-channel, international business. Started up with a small government grant and £6,000 inheritance, it originally had a 500 people mailing list. Chrissie Rucker managed to gather some editorial coverage and press releases which led to it making £80,000 in the first year, just breaking even.

Originally encompassing products including sheets, covers and pillows, it later expanded into home décor, dinnerware, fragrances, candles, furniture and clothing.[10] A children’s division called 'The Little White Company' was also added.[11]

Its first physical store opened in 2000 on Symons Street in London.

As of August 2018, The White Company has 59 stores. The company employs approximately 1,000 people, and in the period ending 25 March 2017 reported an operating profit of $24million (£17.5 million).

International sales witnessed a faster growth with sales rising 11.3 percent year-on-year to $14 million (£10.2 million) compared to a 7.2 percent growth reported in the UK at $258 million (£188 million).[2]

In 2017, the company's products were chosen to outfit the business and first class of British Airways' planes.[10]

References
  1. "White Company store list".
  2. "Fashion United news article".
  3. "A paler shade of retail: The White Company opens in Short Hills". North Jersey. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. Quinn, James (10 January 2015). "The White Company profits jump 40pc". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  5. "Topshop loses managing director to The White Company". BBC News. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  6. "The White Company (UK) Ltd: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  7. Hipwell, Deirdre (23 December 2017). "Big year for The White Company". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  8. Man, Pui-Guan (27 December 2017). "The White Company profits inch up". Drapers. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  9. Hojnicki, Carrie (13 June 2017). "The White Company Is Set to Debut in New York City | Architectural Digest". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  10. "The White Company (UK) Ltd: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  11. "A paler shade of retail: The White Company opens in Short Hills". North Jersey. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
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