Helping Imperial College London Students’ Union transform retail operations
A partnership built for growth
Imperial College London Students’ Union (ICLSU) had ambitious goals for its retail operations—expanding its offering, increasing revenue, and creating a seamless shopping experience for students. However achieving this required a partner with expertise in university retail, supply chain efficiency, and digital innovation.
Since 2019, we’ve worked closely with ICLSU to transform their retail strategy, combining in-depth audits, innovative stockholding methods, and cutting-edge e-commerce solutions to improve operations and drive growth. The result? A partnership that’s reshaped the way ICLSU serves its student community.
Laying the foundations for success
Our collaboration began with a comprehensive shop audit, identifying opportunities for product innovation within existing ranges. This initial groundwork paved the way for a deeper strategic partnership, culminating in a transformative period throughout 2023 and 2024.
Together, we focused on key initiatives:
Stockholding system overhaul – Introducing a just-in-time stock method to streamline operations and reduce waste.
E-commerce development – Creating a fully functional, on-brand online store in just four weeks.
Retail growth strategy – Aligning product ranges with student demand and revenue objectives.
A rebrand that delivered
In February 2024, Imperial College London underwent a significant rebrand—an opportunity to evolve ICLSU’s product range and align it with the university’s new identity.
Our team collaborated with global factories to produce Pantone-matched products, ensuring consistency across all merchandise. The new range featured bold, contemporary designs that resonated with students, strengthening their connection to the brand.
Digital transformation: The e-commerce revolution
As part of the rebrand, ICLSU needed a modern, user-friendly e-commerce platform to complement its physical store. Streamline’s digital strategy and design teams stepped in to create a seamless online shopping experience.
The result? A fully functional e-commerce site built in just four weeks, launching in sync with the rebranded physical store. This gave students greater accessibility to branded merchandise, enhancing engagement and boosting sales.
The key objectives
Our strategy focused on:
- Increasing revenue and gross profit volume
- Reducing the average basket cost per student to support affordability
- Streamlining store operations with just-in-time stockholding
- Developing and maintaining a high-performing e-commerce site
- Establishing a continuous pipeline of product innovation
The results
The impact was immediate. Within just three months:
- Revenue increased by 20%
- The number of transactions grew by 28%
- Units sold rose by 15%
A partnership for the future
The collaboration between ICLSU and Streamline is built on trust, accountability, and a shared drive for innovation. By combining expertise in branded merchandise, retail strategy, and digital solutions, we’ve helped Imperial College London Students’ Union build a retail experience that truly meets the needs of its students.
And this is just the beginning.
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