38 Thoughtful curation Sparkinity is sparking a new era for independent retail – Founders Swati Sharma and Rohit Kumar tell us more Tell us a bit about the Sparkinity concept and how you came to open the business. Sparkinity was born out of a shared passion for creativity, community, and the independent spirit. Swati trained as a designer at a top UK institution and went on to create products stocked by Liberty, Selfridges, and Swarovski. However, she was always drawn to the smaller, designled retailers, the ones whose individuality lit up local high streets. Helping smaller retailers launch unique, design-led products made her realise the powerful impact that exclusive, affordable pieces can have on a small business, Rohit, on the other hand, grew up in a small northwest town filled with independent shops. When he moved to London, he missed the sense of discovery and surprise that only independents bring. Having worked with independent retailers and marketing for small businesses, he shared Swati’s passion for supporting them. The two often talked about how the high street was changing. Over the years, they noticed a clear shift toward people wanting to shop local and support independent businesses. Their shared belief in supporting small businesses inspired them to build something new: Sparkinity, a platform designed to make it easier for independent retailers and brands to run efficiently, grow confidently, and shine brightly. Sparkinity is built on three pillars - ease of use, quality over quantity, and a focus on enabling business growth. Everything we do has to help our community succeed. What challenges were overcome when you launched? Launching Sparkinity meant finding a way to stand out in a space with some already well-known names, while staying true to our mission. We wanted to create a platform that is the go-to source for great products, a carefully curated mix of the familiar and the undiscovered. A space that celebrates creativity, where every product and brand has room to shine, not one that drowns it out. We spoke with more than 500 retailers and brands, attended trade shows across the UK and Europe, and consistently heard the same needs: easy discovery, thoughtful curation, and products that help retailers stand out. The challenge was building a platform that delivered all three, and we did that through a carefully balanced approach that combines AIdriven discovery with human curation and affordable world exclusives helping retailers stand out, connect with their customers, and tell their story. Another big challenge was fairness. We wanted to support makers in a way that felt equitable and rewarding. That’s why we created our collaboration and profitsharing model – partnering with brands to develop world-exclusive products and sharing in the success. To us, supporting creativity means sharing success. That’s what Sparkinity is all about. A space where discovery is enjoyable, differentiation is achievable, and collaboration is truly rewarding. Who are you aiming the service at, and how can it help their business? At Sparkinity, we’re passionate about helping independent retailers build thriving businesses and bring their unique vision of retail to life. We help them choose products that tell their story, reflect their values, and make their stores stand out. Every independent retailer has its own identity. Together, they shape the character of communities everywhere. Our goal is to make success possible for every retail entrepreneur by giving them the tools to pursue their vision with confidence. For both emerging and established brands, we help them launch and grow by increasing visibility, connecting them with like-minded retailers, and driving sales through our profit-sharing model and free sampling programme. By removing time-consuming admin and expensive marketing, we let retailers and brands focus on what they love most. Building and growing inspiring businesses. What’s your USP? Sparkinity’s uniqueness lies in how we combine creativity with intuitive technology to support every retail entrepreneur’s journey. Building a vision in a competitive market is never easy – and giving that vision the best chance to succeed is where our USP lies. We don’t onboard every brand – we choose quality over quantity, ensuring every brand stands out rather than getting lost in a sea of sameness. To make discovery effortless, we’re launching our Buyer Companion, a transformative tool that turns sourcing into an enjoyable, intuitive experience.
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