Heidi Klein is the UK’s leading luxury swimwear and resortwear brand. Established in 2002 by Heidi Gosman and Penny Klein, the brand is well known for its chic and unmistakably luxe resortwear and accessories. Heidi and Penny were both consultants specialising in the retail sector when they met each other. After more than two decades Pamela Scott talks to Heidi about the highs and lows!
So why swimwear and resortwear?
Whilst working together in the city Penny and I were working on a project for a client and we were researching spend per square foot in airports and the mindset of people when they were going on holiday. Around the same time I was going away on a diving holiday in February. Then winter sun was relatively new – people mainly went on holiday in July/August. I wanted to get some new pieces to take with me for the holiday and there was nowhere in London who stocked swimwear in the winter – all the departments swapped the swim departments over to winter coats in September time. I was so frustrated I couldn’t find anything new for my holiday. Penny and I recognised a gap in the market with winter sun on the increase at the time – we were both ready to move on in our careers, we started to do more research/a lot of focus groups and started working on a business plan. We opened the first one stop/all year round holiday boutique in Notting Hill in April 2002. The rest is history … .
A typical week?
There isn’t one really; each week is different depending on the time of year. The last few weeks have been signing off next years collections – a lot of fit meetings!/final reviews with the team/feedback to factories. We then need to shoot the collections. I’ve just come back from Majorca where we were shooting RS/SS 25. So very early starts and long days but so great to see the final product.
What is the best thing about your job?
I love having Heidi Klein boutiques – it means at any point I can meet our customers face to face. I love to talk to them and hear their feedback about the brand /product, we learn so much from them. Which we can then feedback to the team.
What is different about working in this sector?
I think being founders we get to work in so many different areas – retail/design/manufacturing/merchandising etc. We have learnt so much since we started over 20 years ago.
Whom do you admire in the swimwear industry?
Heidi: Penny J
If you were not working in this industry, what do you think you would be doing instead?
Heidi: I have always loved interior design – my mother was an interior designer and I loved to go up to her studio and work on all the schemes she was putting together.
Any other ambitions?
I think I have enough on at the moment with the brand and family commitments!
Your greatest challenge?
Brexit was tough but everyone was in the same boat. We have a great network of female founders we can talk to which is great.
Proudest moment to date?
The first day of opening our first Notting Hill boutique. We were so busy, we couldn’t believe it. Plus the first time I saw someone in Heidi Klein when I was on holiday in Capri!
Worst move so far?
Trying to expand product categories too quickly. We have learnt that we would rather get a category absolute right – fabrics/fit/manufacturing partners etc. before we move onto the next one.
What do you think you will be doing in 10 years’ time?
Hopefully visiting all our international stores! – It’s so exciting opening stores in new markets.
The one product you can’t live without?
Hard one …. There are so many but there are some that just stay in my case for every trip – Nuxe oil the smell is divine/Saint Bart’s sun cream and my big brimmed hat. Also my Smythsons diary notebook, it comes everywhere with me – I still love to write things down on paper.
Time out?
Family/Early morning walks with my dog /Travelling.
Pet Hate?
Badly fitting swimwear!
