MorphCostumes is an online fancy dress costume retailer founded in 2009 by brothers Ali and Fraser Smeaton and their flatmate Gregor Lawson. The company started as a small online business selling full-body skintight costumes – commonly referred to as Morphsuits, after the founders noticed their popularity at a stag do. In 2014, the Edinburgh-based company rebranded to MorphCostumes and expanded its product line to include traditional fancy dress costumes for men, women, and children. Throughout its journey, the company has secured a total of £4.2m in equity investment and it acquired fancy dress manufacturer Fun Shack in 2019.
We made millions from Spandex costumes…then we nearly lost it all
Fraser Smeaton
Co-founder, Morphsuits
More Founder Stories
7 lessons from the founder of Wattbike
For Ian Wilson and the Wattbike team, there was only ever one goal – to build the world’s most accurate indoor training bike. They were well-equipped for the challenge. “Competing in elite sport makes you single-minded,” says Ian, a former rowing world champion. “It’s a vital attribute in business, too…”
IAN WILSON
FOUNDER - WATTBIKE
From £0 to £4 in 3 years: Our secret to success…obsession!
D.Louise was founded in 2021 by Olivia Jenkins, who named the direct-to-consumer jewellery brand after her late mother, Deborah Louise. Olivia co-founded the business with serial entrepreneur Jack Zambakides and former professional cricket player Oliver Smithson. The South London company has gained attention for its high-quality, waterproof jewellery made from stainless steel, designed to withstand […]
OLIVIA JENKINS & JACK ZAMBAKIDES
CO-FOUNDERS - D. LOUISE
FROM BRITISH KICKBOXING CHAMPION TO A £23M COMPANY IN FEBE’S G100
How Andrew Wright harnessed the self-discipline learned from championship fight training to unleash a multimillion-pound retail business. What do elite pugilism and entrepreneurship have in common? A great deal if you ask 36-year-old former British kickboxing champion turned company founder Andrew Wright. Don’t worry, we’re not about to duck and dive into a series of […]
ANDREW WRIGHT
Founder - THE WRIGHT BUY
From Dragons’ Den to a £12m business
Startup Logistics provides services including shipping, bulk storage, and website support to e-commerce brands. The company was founded by Udhi Silva and Nick Coleman, who previously founded online healthcare supplier Medical Supermarket in 2011 and snack company Snaffling Pig in 2013. As a result of their experience building Snaffling Pig, they understood what consumer brands […]
Udhi Silva
Co-founder - Snaffling Pig
8 Explosive Lessons from a £200m Journey
Entrepreneurial journeys don’t come much wilder. In March 2021, Juliet Barratt watched through tear-filled eyes as Cadbury owner Mondelez International bought the business she’d co-launched in her spare bedroom 11 years ago. The deal was reportedly worth £200m. So why the tears? Quite simply because Grenade was her baby…
JULIET BARRATT
CO-FOUNDER - GRENADE
Why businesses with ‘soul’ are magnetic
The story of Green & Black’s shows that the courage to be different, together with a compelling adventure story, are key ingredients for commercial success. Josephine Fairley knows how to build a killer brand, and here she shares her pearls of wisdom with you including effectiveness of complementary partnerships, the power of enthusiasm and the potency of targeted marketing…
Josephine Fairley
Co-founder - Green & Black’s