The founders of Not on the High Street have enjoyed a successful first two years of trading, in which they have found themselves winners of numerous start-up awards. These accolades have included: Grazia O2 X regional winner 2007, Startups Women in Business; Young Guns 2008; HSBC Start-up Stars; Marie Claire 23 Women; Startups 100; The 50 Best E-Boutiques and MSN Best Shopping Website.

Holly Tucker and Sophie Cornish have truly been unstoppable. Since launching in 2006, the site has grown from 100 businesses to over 750, selling everything from fashion to home ware, fragrances and jewellery. Funding has come first from Spark Ventures in 2007, and in August 2008, another 1 million pounds was raised from Venrex. At that time, the team was enforced with business development experts Giovanna Latimer and Serena Coulson, formerly of Advent. Founders and majority shareholders Tucker and Cornish built the site, driven by both a passion and a frustration. Their passion was for small unique businesses and up and coming designers, producing bespoke and fabulous items. Their frustration was that these items could not be found on the high street where only chain retailers - who didn’t have the desire to stock such delights - could afford the rent. Instead of an only chance of being found by passers-by in their side street stores or urban markets, all these business have an online distribution channel for a larger audience.

Their vision to provide a platform for small creative businesses to sell their products, with one pain free transaction from any number of outlets, has indeed proven a hit. The site is a virtual Pandora’s box for every shop-aholic eternally looking for that unique purchase.

What will 2009 bring for them?