Earlier this month we were lucky enough to spend some time with Aidan Bartlett, friend of Barkers and CEO of Designer Wardrobe. Catching up at their office over on the sunny North Shore, we settled in to hear his take on being a CEO of a start-up, how he’s finding being back at work after a summer that never really showed up, and what exciting plans the team at DW have on the horizon.
Q&A With Aidan Bartlett - CEO of Designer Wardrobe
BMC: What does an average “day in the life – work week edition” look like for you?
AB: As a start-up CEO, you wear a lot of different hats and are involved in almost every aspect of the business - meaning my days can vary wildly! However, my average day typically involves overseeing the business's digital and physical operations, meeting with key stakeholders, and strategising the next stages of growth for the company. Additionally, I spend a considerable amount of time developing my team and helping to drive our culture.
BMC: That must be full on! What are three things you can’t get through your work day without?
AB: Three things I can't get through a workday without are Slack (99% of our communication), my Lenovo laptop (also I have to use a mouse), and multiple cups of great coffee - usually from our local here at DW, Albatross.
BMC: Coffee is an absolute must-have at the Barkers Head Office too. Now, you and your team have achieved a lot in the last decade, but what would you say would be your biggest career highlight so far?
AB: My career highlight so far has been the milestone of reaching $1 million a month in transaction volume on the DW Marketplace - a real testament to the demand for our platform and the trust our fantastic buyers and sellers place in us.
BMC: That’s epic – congratulations! Obviously to reach a milestone like you’ve probably learned some pretty major lessons along the way. What would you consider to be the biggest one?
AB: Flexibility and adaptability are critical to long-term success and business sustainability. You have to be willing to pivot and make changes when things aren't working and be willing to embrace new opportunities when they present themselves. Additionally, having a solid and clear vision, and staying as laser-focused as possible, are crucial to overcoming challenges and driving growth..
BMC: It goes without saying that you’re an incredibly hard worker, but there must be time where you hit pause and let yourself relax for a moment. How do you unwind when you’re away from the office?
AB: I am pleased to have recently got back into golf (before Designer Wardrobe, I was a little obsessed!). Aside from that, I also enjoy reading (I just finished “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold”) and honing my skills on my Weber BBQ.
BMC: Speaking of “before Designer Wardrobe”… once upon a time you were in a band called Midnight Youth. What is one of your favourite memories from that time?
AB: Seems like a different lifetime ago now! Growing up, playing “Big Day Out” on the main stage was always something we dreamed about, so achieving that (and playing in the coveted late afternoon slot) as a band felt like a real “we made it” moment.
BMC: What an awesome experience! I’m sure a lot of things have changed since then, but how would you say your sense of style has changed throughout the years?
AB: My team would likely tell me that over time I’ve adopted a bit of a uniform for myself - I tend to opt for sneakers, dark-blue trousers and a Thatcher shirt. If I’m feeling more casual though, I’ll go for a nice crisp white t-shirt instead.
BMC: We’re big fans of the Thatcher as well! You really can’t go wrong in it. Another fashion question, if you will… how has working for DW changed the way you view this industry?
AB: I’ve learnt so much about fashion, and it has given me a deeper appreciation for the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into it. Our ultimate vision is to continue building on being a great partner to the fashion industry, and we firmly believe that resale holds a pivotal role in shaping the future of fashion.
BMC: It definitely sounds like you have big partnership plans, with some of these happening just around the corner! You’ve been working with our sister-brand Max on something called “Sell Later”. Can you tell us a little bit about what this is?
AB: We are delighted to have partnered with Max as our launch partner! “Sell Later on DW” works as a toggle that is displayed on the product pages and checkout, and enables Max customers the option to save their purchase information (including images, descriptions, and retail prices) to Designer Wardrobe so they can “sell it later” on DW when they’re ready to part with it - in just a click. No more remembering descriptions and pricing, and we even suggest a reasonable resale price.
BMC: And last, but certainly not least… what’s next for Designer Wardrobe?
AB: We’re constantly exploring new ways of making the buying and selling experience the best it can be on Designer Wardrobe. We have a number of initiatives in the pipeline that will build on that, and we’re eager to launch them as soon as we can!