Simon Bell, co-founder of Immaculate Vegan, has built a global marketplace for premium vegan fashion. From footwear to bags, clothing, and homeware, Simon and his co-founder Annick prove that ethical and stylish can go hand in hand.
🎯 The Growth Driver: Audience First
Immaculate Vegan scaled by:
Starting with a strong Instagram presence to validate demand
Launching a Shopify site quickly to test and iterate
Expanding internationally from the start, despite logistical challenges
"If you feel you've got a good idea, get out there, learn, iterate, and pivot to what works—whether that's a category or a geography," says Simon.
🔁 From Side Hustle to Global Marketplace
To grow a side project into a thriving business, Simon recommends:
Lean, efficient operations—spend only where you’re confident of a return
Focus on organic traffic through SEO; it remains their biggest source of customers
Build critical mass in one category before expanding to others (e.g., footwear first, then bags, then clothing)
🚨 Simon’s Advice for Early-Stage Founders
✔Don’t wait for perfection—be first to market and iterate quickly
✔Learn from the market, not just assumptions
✔Stay lean and cost-conscious; efficiency is a competitive advantage
✔Focus on customer acquisition channels that actually deliver value
“Obviously, the best validation is in market. And after a quiet and slow start, it's kind of grown and grown ever since.”
🎧 Hear Simon’s full growth strategy
👉Watch on YouTube
👉Spotify
👉Amazon
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