Pioneering E-Commerce
The co-founder and former CEO of Yuppiechef shares his recipe on how to master running a successful online retail store.
About
After developing websites and intranets for clients from 1999, Andrew Smith founded Yuppiechef in 2006 with Shane Dryden as a part-time venture while they continued to run a small web agency. Yuppiechef has grown into one of South Africa's leading omnichannel retailers, winning the country's E-commerce Awards six times. Yuppiechef continued to innovate by opening successful physical stores around the country in the face of a faltering retail sector. Yuppiechef is widely regarded as one of the best-loved brands in South Africa. Smith and co-founder Shane Dryden sold Yuppiechef to Mr Price Group for an estimated R500m in 2021, and have gone on to found the outdoor retailer Brave Hardy.
Key Insights
- Start small and scale strategically while staying committed to your vision.
- Innovate across channels to build a beloved and resilient brand.
- Leverage growth and success to explore new entrepreneurial opportunities.