When the High Street Is Dying, Why Is This Brand Opening a Showroom?

In this episode of Abandoned Cart, Adam hosts Chloe Mead, Founder of Fling Fashion Rental, to explore what it takes to build a physical, in-person retail model in a digital-first e-commerce world.

Chloe shares how a frustrating wedding guest dress experience sparked the idea for Fling, why fashion rental needs a rethink, and how community, experience, and sustainability sit at the heart of her brand.

From bootstrapping marketing with low-budget influencer events to learning hard lessons early on, this conversation is packed with insights for founders, retailers, and anyone building a brand today.

Key Topics Covered

1. “Sometimes you’ve got to leap without looking.”
2. The wedding guest dress that inspired Fling - the why behind the business
3. Why online fashion rental doesn’t work for everyone
4. Experience vs convenience in modern retail
5. Building community through local creators
6. How a £250 influencer event paid off
7. A tough early lesson every founder can relate to

Connect with Chloé Mead:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chlo%C3%A9-mead-9441001ba

Website: https://www.flingfashionrental.com

Connect with &Allies:

To discuss how we can help your brand grow, visit www.andallies.co.uk