Redefining Event Dressing: The Story Behind One Hit Wonders’ Innovative Rental Platform
In a world where fashion meets practicality, One Hit Wonders has emerged as a game-changer in the event dress rental industry. Founded by Sophie, a woman who turned her personal struggles with finding the perfect occasion dress into a thriving business, One Hit Wonders is more than just a rental service—it's a community-driven platform that prioritises customer experience and sustainability.
In this interview, we delve into the inspiration behind the brand, the unique features that set it apart, and the challenges and triumphs of creating a solution for women seeking hassle-free, stylish event wear.
Nicolle: What inspired you to start One Hit Wonders, and how did your personal experiences influence the concept? Can you tell us more about the challenges you faced when searching for event dresses, and how those frustrations led to the creation of your platform?
Sophie: Throughout the years my weight has fluctuated and my wardrobe was a sad display of beautiful, never worn dresses still with tags on. Whenever there was an event (and as I reached 30 it was more often than not) I found myself buying a new dress for that occasion. But the process was never enjoyable, the constant scrolling online and never quite finding the right thing at the right price - then always a mad dash to Oxford Street just to come home empty-handed. All in all, it was always stressful, disappointing and above all - a waste of money. So this is when I came up with the idea for OHW - a one-stop shop where you can rent your look, hassle-free and at an affordable price. The aim was to get rid of ‘dressappointment’ and put the fun back into getting ready.
Nicolle: How does One Hit Wonders differentiate itself from other dress rental services on the market?
Sophie: There are some fab peer-to-peer rental platforms that have really helped to shift consumer attitudes towards rental, however at One Hit Wonders we wanted to build a community of like-styled women where they could build a direct relationship with us similar to a boutique experience. That’s why we introduced ‘Try-On Tuesday’ and ‘Request a Dress’ which directly benefits the customers and improves the rental experience.
Nicolle: Could you explain the "Request A Dress" feature and how it benefits your customers?
Sophie: Our wardrobe is a selection of curated and hand-picked pieces that we think will be popular with renters. We aim to make this a community wardrobe by enabling our renters to help us build the ultimate occasion wardrobe. We know that one of the benefits of rental is that it saves renters money, so that’s why we introduced ‘Request A Dress’. Renters can submit a specific style or size that they’re looking for and we will endeavour to add it to our wardrobe. To date, we’ve fulfilled 100% of the requests. It’s a great benefit for our renters as we aren’t able to stock all styles in all sizes so it's a way that they can still find a specific style or size even if it's not on the website.
Nicolle: How did you come up with the idea for "Try On Tuesday," and what kind of response have you received from customers so far?
Sophie: The number one thing that we hear is that customers are worried about the size/fit of rental dresses so we introduced ‘Try-On Tuesday’, which enables customers to try on up to three styles in advance of their event and gives them peace of mind before they book.
Nicolle: With the upcoming boutique opening in Witney, Oxfordshire, what are your expectations for in-store appointments and customer interactions?
Sophie: As we know, the number one concern for customers is knowing the fit of a rental dress before the occasion. With the option to book try-on appointments, we hope this is an added benefit for renters. As Witney is on the edge of the Cotswolds, perfect location for those weddings or events taking place nearby.
Nicolle: What steps do you take to ensure the quality and timely delivery of your rental items?
Sophie: Every item is managed by us which means they are checked thoroughly in advance and any item that doesn’t meet our quality check is removed. We also ensure to post in advance so that the item arrives ahead of the rental start date for peace of mind.
Nicolle: Can you discuss the importance of transparency in pricing for your customers and how you've integrated this into your business model?
Sophie: One thing we found on other platforms was that the cost increased significantly by the time you reach check out with added service and dry cleaning costs. To add renters are then responsible for the cost of the return postage. Therefore, at One Hit Wonders we ensure that there are no hidden costs and that the price you see is the price you pay, this includes also the returns postage with the label on the package when you receive it.
Nicolle: How do you plan to keep expanding your wardrobe offerings and maintaining the quality of your items as your business grows?
Sophie: We have recently moved into bigger premises which means more space that will help grow the wardrobe and manage more effectively.
Nicolle: What are your long-term goals for One Hit Wonders, and where do you see the company heading in the next few years?
We want to make even more women feel amazing and confident in their outfits. The ultimate goal is to help women feel their best selves and with every rental, we know that we are helping to do this. Ultimately, we would love to grow the team and be able to share more information on the size and fit of dresses to help renters pick the best one for them.
Nicolle: What has been the biggest challenge you've faced since launching One Hit Wonders, and how have you overcome it?
Sophie: The biggest challenge so far was starting One Hit Wonders while working a full-time PR job (and a 3-hour commute each way!). Juggling a full-time career, friendships, and relationships while putting all my time into the platform was a challenge. With a recent career move to open a boutique in my local time, the aim is to free up time to continue to improve, expand and grow the platform.
Nicolle: How do you envision the role of sustainable fashion in the future, and how does One Hit Wonders contribute to this movement?
Sophie: There has been a big movement towards buying sustainably which is great to see and we believe that the most sustainable thing to wear is something that you already own. That’s why buying right in the first place is so important. I’ve recently opened a new boutique called Dotique, which is focused on curating a collection of quality day-to-day wear that is made to last and make women feel amazing every time they put on. One Hit Wonders therefore focuses on event and occasion wear for those pieces that we know customers are likely to only wear once or twice.
Follow One Hit Wonders on Instagram.
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Nicolle Knapova is a little bit of everything. She is a freelance translator, content creator and social media executive for The C Word Mag. She loves indie music and is always browsing through Spotify to find the next amazing artist to obsess over. Her love for storytelling means she’s always writing something and she’s not afraid of any genre. Her biggest dream is to be a published author. If she’s not writing her fan fiction, she’s writing her poetry and sharing it on her Instagram @elisecaverly.
