Square and Clearpay partner BFC to help emerging designers launch online

E-commerce solutions specialist Square Online, and payments provider and shopping service Clearpay, have announced a bespoke programme in partnership with the British Fashion Council (BFC) to support emerging British designers in launching their e-commerce channels.

The programme will provide designers with technical support, mentorship and an ecommerce platform to create an online retail presence for their brands.

Square Online helps sellers run and grow their business with its integrated e-commerce solutions. Clearpay allows customers to pay for items in four instalments over six weeks, and is free for customers who pay on time.

Together, Square and Clearpay are building innovations to evolve businesses into the future, “following the integration of Clearpay across Square’s ecosystem” earlier this year.

As part of the BFC’s business development programme, designers supported by the BFC Foundation for the year 2022/2023 can participate in Square and Clearpay’s ecommerce mentoring package and receive access to Square Online free of charge, for one year. The exclusive offer is available to the first 10 designers that register their interest.

Further benefits include:

• E-commerce processing fees waived for up to £10,000 in sales processed, and thereafter processing is charged at Square’s standard rates.
• Free one-year access to the Square Online Performance Plan - a sophisticated ecommerce platform designed to drive online growth for small businesses with fulfilment options, abandoned basket tracking, product reviews and advanced reporting worth more than £200.
• Upfront consultation, mentoring and training to guide designers through the creation of their retail website.

Paula Corcoran, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Square Online, said: “We’re delighted to offer such a robust ecommerce opportunity to a group of truly innovative designers. We know how important it is for any business to build their own unique online presence and be able to accept payments in multiple ways.

“We can’t wait to see what comes of merging Square and Clearpay’s tools and expertise with the BFC Foundation’s designers, a network known for their innovation and talent.”

Rich Bayer, UK Country Manager at Clearpay, commented: “By offering the British Fashion Council's emerging designers complimentary access to the Square e-commerce platform, we are delivering one of the core objectives of our London Fashion Week principal partnership, which is to support British retail and new designer talent.

“Through the Clearpay integration within the Square platform, designers will automatically be able to offer Clearpay and tap into our audience of young and engaged shoppers to build business success.”

Caroline Rush, CEO of the BFC, added: “We greatly appreciate the commitment that Clearpay has demonstrated to designers throughout its principal partnership of London Fashion Week, through financially supporting all of the programmes that we run in aid of our emerging designers.

“By offering our current cohort of designers free access to ecommerce integration, we are supporting them to take another key step in becoming an established brand, driving their business forward.”

Image: KNWLS by Shuan James Cox, London Fashion Week