Client Overview
White Rose Fashion is a charitable organisation established as a social enterprise in 2009. With retail locations in Nottingham, Beeston, West Bridgford, Sheffield, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester and Derby, they raise funds by collecting, sorting and selling pre-loved clothing. Inspired by the work of Aegis Trust, the business reinvests profits back into the charity, rather than distributing them to shareholders. Website: https://whiterosefashion.com/.
The Challenge
White Rose Fashion approached Halo Corporate Finance during a period of seasonal financial pressure. Like many second-hand clothing retailers, the business experiences cash flow challenges during the winter months.
Trading slows significantly in the run-up to Christmas, as consumers typically prioritise new items for festive gifting rather than pre-loved clothing. This results in reduced revenue during December. In contrast, January brings a sharp increase in donated stock from unwanted gifts, creating operational pressure at a time when cash flow has not yet recovered. The business must hire temporary staff to process donations and manage inventory while income remains below average.
Furthermore, as a Community Interest Company (CIC), the business had found it extremely difficult to secure funding. Approximately 99% of unsecured lenders do not lend to CICs, and previous approaches to card terminal lenders had been unsuccessful due to their CIC status.
White Rose Fashion needed specialist advice and access to lenders who understood its structure and seasonal funding requirements, which is when they started talking to Alex Silins, Senior Commercial Finance Broker at Halo Corporate Finance.
Our Solution
Alex worked closely with White Rose Fashion to secure short-term funding tailored to support the business's needs through its winter trading cycle. The objective was to allow the business to manage donation volumes effectively and stabilise cash flow until normal trading levels resumed.
The Process
After the initial enquiry, Alex began with a 20-minute phone consultation to gain a clear understanding of the business model and the reasons for seeking funding support.
Within 24 hours of the initial conversation, he secured indicative terms from two lenders willing and able to support a CIC. To ensure full transparency and alignment, a Zoom meeting was arranged the following day with all five shareholders. During this call, the available funding options were explained in detail, and their suitability for the business’s needs was carefully assessed.
Within 48 hours of the shareholder meeting, formal approvals were in place and funds were successfully deposited into the business’s account.
Alex Silins commented, “It was my pleasure to help White Rose Trading CIC through a challenging period for their charity. The work came through on the back of a referral from a third-party introduction, which I have known for three years, so it’s great to see my clients and connections helping each other.”
Client Quote
"Thorough, persistent, patient & flexible. Brilliant customer service that provided everything we needed. The best broker ever!”
Outcome
By securing timely short-term funding, White Rose Fashion navigated its most challenging trading period of the year without disruption. The funding enabled the business to hire temporary staff, manage the January influx of donations efficiently, and maintain operational stability until revenues returned to normal levels.
This case highlights Halo Corporate Finance’s ability to support organisations with complex structures, such as CICs, by leveraging specialist lender relationships and delivering fast, tailored funding solutions when traditional finance routes are unavailable.
Get in touch with Halo Corporate Finance today to explore bespoke funding solutions that work for your business.
