At 21 years old, Renée Fraser-Shepherd is a young entrepreneur with a rapidly successful skiwear business. While studying for a degree in Entrepreneurial Business Management, Renée set up Sloobie Skiwear and has seen rapid growth since launching her first range in November of 2022. Portfolio North sat down with Renée to find out more about her business goals, successes and strategies.

How did Sloobie Skiwear come to fruition?

I have always loved going skiing and go frequently, but the outfits were not very modern or flattering and I didn’t want to dress like it was the 80s. The options weren’t both fashionable and warm and so I started researching the best products and materials that I could use to create fashionable, comfortable base layers. I conducted market research and drew all of the designs myself. I then sent the designs to our manufacturer who helped me decide which ones would work best.

The shapewear technology is created with a technical fabric that uses compression at its core. We’ve done this by creating a hybrid fabric which is designed to complement the body whilst also allowing for a 360 degree stretch, and this means that our products can range from a size 6 to 16 all in a size S, M and L, whilst also shaping the wearer.

We now have three different sets of base layers and they are proving very popular. Since our launch in December, we have been selling rapidly, including now delivering internationally to countries with ski resorts.

You’re currently still at university. How has your course helped you to run your business?

My course is designed for people with businesses and was a programme that really appealed to me when I was applying to uni as I always knew I wanted to work for myself. The support from Northumbria has been fantastic. I’m part of the NEBS project and they give you an office space which you can use whenever you like, all the way up to five years post graduating, which has been so helpful in setting up and has been a great location to meet other young people running businesses.

All of the modules that we do help to develop a part of your business. I was also lucky enough to receive two grants from the university which I don’t have to pay back, and I am so grateful that these grants were there at the start of me setting up my business, as I would really have struggled to set up without that financial support. They allow you to meet and pitch to a group of investors and I have received £3500 from those pitches.

You have had mentoring support from businesswoman Julie Blackie of Pink Boutique, how important was that support?

Julie is so lovely and has been a great help, providing advice and support and sending me messages all the time. She has so much experience and is much further along in her career, so it is useful to have someone I can ask questions to. It’s also really nice just to have someone in your corner supporting you and being on your side as setting up a business can be quite overwhelming at times. It’s also lovely to have Julie as a female mentor as women in business is something I am passionate about and Julie has been so welcoming and insightful as I enter the business world.

Have you found there to be any challenges along the way?

Not too many challenges, but I think some people do see my age as a disadvantage. In my opinion, there’s a lot more to me besides my age. I am passionate and confident and I have put my all into my business, which is the most important thing. I have noticed that nobody knows your vision like you do, or will see it the way you do, so it’s important to believe in yourself and your product.

I have found that everything is a learning process and I am enjoying learning as I go. From the website design to the social media campaigns, I find it best to keep moving forward and learning all the time rather than waiting for things to go wrong.

You have always lived in Newcastle, do you have any plans for moving away?

No, I really love Newcastle and all my contacts and friends are here. I studied Textiles at Newcastle High School for Girls and learning about patterns and design really helped me when creating my products. I didn’t move away for university and have worked in Newcastle, at Fenwicks, for a number of years. Everything I need is up here and the people are so friendly. I couldn’t see myself moving away anytime soon. People in the North East are passionate and there is a great network of business people and new businesses popping up all the time.

What are your plans for the future for Sloobie?

I would like to create a few more ranges and expand my reach even further. I would also like to expand my global deliveries to even more countries. Many of my customers from other countries saw our social media content and then got in touch asking if we could deliver to them.

I am looking to expand our social media coverage and go viral on TikTok again as this really boosted our business the first time. We are now in Fenwicks but I would love to get into more stockists. We have also been featured in multiple fashion magazines, which has been fantastic for reaching more people, and I would love to be featured in a few more. Currently, it is just me on the team with some help from my friends, so hiring more people in the future would also be fantastic. As we continue to grow, I know I will need more hands on deck.