This week’s willing victim (I mean entrepreneur!) is final year student Gregor Wilson who is also the CFO and Partner of VAN DER, a small startup that will launch next week! I posted an article about the company a couple of days ago. If you haven’t had enough of a fix of VAN DER news then you’re in the right place to consume a wee bit more!
Name: Gregor Wilson
Your role: CFO and Partner of VAN DER.
Give us your company culture in 3 words: Fashion-focussed, affordable, passionate
What’s the next big challenge that Van Der has to overcome? Expanding next season to include womenswear and a jeans line – (Startupcafe: I’m looking forward to the womenswear range!)
What’s the personal dream? To live a working lifestyle that I never want to give up, rather than having a ‘job’, and help others do the same –(StartupCafe: bit like us then!)
What’s the professional dream? To rival and surpass the major players on the highstreet and online.
What’s your opinion on the visibility of the Edin startup scene, and how helpful is the startup scene in Edin? I think Edinburgh is unique in its ability to allow companies to grow quickly with a lot of encouragement from other local businesses. I think, however, there has to be more emphasis on international presence as I feel many companies that would benefit from international exposure, focus solely on Edinburgh for a little too long.
How could Edin (the uni or the city) encourage entrepreneurship in its residents / student population? The city could really help by developing areas that are affordable for entrepreneurs to be based and work together. I know the uni provides lower cost office space already, which is great – it would be encouraging to see a dedicated flexible office space for entrepreneurs in Leith to develop the area as well as the businesses.
How do you celebrate milestones or awards? I’m a bit of a sucker for champagne and a good dinner with friends to follow.
What do you do for stress relief? Run as far as I can in the gym with the ipod plugged in.
Your favourite ‘skint’ meal? A Boots meal deal, I still don’t know how they manage it.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Too many, but one is watching re-runs of the OC. Ryan was such a great role model. (StartupCafe: Mate! Come on, you can do better than that! Whisper it, we won’t tell….)
And the coolest event (business / tech related) you’ve been to? Going to Shanghai to meet with other labels and manufacturers during a week-long event to promote international co-operation.
Name a quirky fact about yourself: If I was not in fashion I’d probably be a computer programmer, I’ve designed websites since I was 12 years old.
Give the choice, would you prefer …
i) Truth or Dare? Truth
ii) Carrot or Stick? Carrot
iii) Tea or Coffee? Double shot black.
You can follow VAN DER on twitter: @LOVE_VAN_DER or become a fan on facebook.
StartupCafe 
I’m looking forward to the womenswear range too 🙂 Such an impressive company.