In this episode of Abandoned Cart, Adam hosts Chloe Mead, Founder of Fling Fashion Rental, to explore what it takes to build a physical, in-person retail model in a digital-first e-commerce world.

Chloe shares how a frustrating wedding guest dress experience sparked the idea for Fling, why fashion rental needs a rethink, and how community, experience, and sustainability sit at the heart of her brand.

From bootstrapping marketing with low-budget influencer events to learning hard lessons early on, this conversation is packed with insights for founders, retailers, and anyone building a brand today.

Key Topics Covered

1. “Sometimes you’ve got to leap without looking.”
2. The wedding guest dress that inspired Fling - the why behind the business
3. Why online fashion rental doesn’t work for everyone
4. Experience vs convenience in modern retail
5. Building community through local creators
6. How a £250 influencer event paid off
7. A tough early lesson every founder can relate to

Connect with Chloé Mead:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chlo%C3%A9-mead-9441001ba

Website: https://www.flingfashionrental.com

Connect with &Allies:

To discuss how we can help your brand grow, visit www.andallies.co.uk

In this episode of Abandoned Cart, Adam sits down with Neil Sumner, retail consultant and founder of Sumner For Hire, to explore why content is still king and why many brands are getting it wrong.

With a career spanning publishing, luxury media, global retail, and high-growth brands like BrewDog, Neil shares powerful lessons on storytelling, humility, and the importance of theater in commerce. From driving 10x DTC growth during lockdown to challenging the “sea of sameness” in modern e-commerce, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to build connection, loyalty, and differentiation in today’s crowded market.

If you’re a founder, marketer, or e-commerce leader tired of playing it safe, this one’s for you.

Key Topics Covered

1. Neil’s professional journey and the brands that shaped it, including BrewDog and Hunter & Gather.
2. The BrewDog story - how bold thinking fueled growth and loyal communities.
3. Why storytelling sits at the heart of customer connection in retail.
4. The real challenges of digital transformation and lessons from projects that didn’t go to plan.

Connect with Neil Sumner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilsumner/

Website: neil@sumnerforhire.com.

Connect with &Allies:

To discuss how we can help your brand grow, visit www.andallies.co.uk

In this episode of Abandoned Cart, Laura sits down with Jago, co-founder of Angry Pablo, the sustainable cycling and running apparel brand challenging how performance sports look, feel, and sound.

Jago shares how Angry Pablo was born not from a market gap analysis but from lived experience as athletes who felt modern performance culture had become intimidating and joyless. Together, they unpack how brand, honesty, and creativity can cut through even the most crowded categories.

This episode is a must-listen for founders building brands in “samey” spaces and anyone curious about how community, tone, and restraint can outperform hype.

Key Topics Covered

1. Why less money can actually drive better decisions
2. Building a brand without formal brand guidelines (yet staying consistent)
3. Standing out in a crowded performance apparel market
4. Why humour and humanity don’t dilute performance, they strengthen it
5. The importance of organic growth before paid acquisition
6. Creating emotional connection beyond transactional sales
7. Balancing friendship and business as co-founders
8. The challenges of funding a product-led brand
9. Transitioning from limited drops to a core, year-round collection

Connect with Jago Leckie:

Angry Pablo

Website: https://angrypablo.cc

Instagram / TikTok: @angrypablo

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Connect with &Allies:

To discuss how we can help your brand grow, visit www.andallies.co.uk