Ever wonder what it’s like to work at one of the world’s most premium cycling apparel brands? While visiting London, we popped in for a quick look and lucked out when founder and CEO Simon Mottram offered to give us a tour. Here’s a walk through of their office, offering a glance at how they manage a global cycling kit brand 100% in house. From sales to design to marketing to management, it’s all here. Manufacturing is spread across several European and Asian factories, and they’re considering expanding that to include the U.S. now that North American has overtaken the UK as their largest market. Let’s have a look at how they do it…
Located near the very cool Coal Drop redevelopment in the Kings Cross district, Rapha’s HQ is tucked into an old industrial building on a side street. It’s easy to miss if you’re riding by quickly, save for the near constant stream of cyclists rolling in and out. And on Wednesdays, no one needs report to work until 1pm…the morning is for riding.
RCC may as well stand for Rapha Coffee Club, because they employ a barista to keep the entire office well caffeinated. For free. It’s amazing.
All employees are encouraged to ride to work. They provide a parking space and “race number” for everyone, plus showers and changing rooms, a full kitchen, and did we mention a full time barista!
Simon’s #1.
The tech and customer service department sits on the mid level of this split level office. The customer service team sits behind the glass walls to keep the noise of their phone calls from disturbing the web and e-commerce development team. They design, build and manage their entire web operation in house.
The merchandising and marketing teams sit upstairs.
Did you know Rapha makes custom kits? They do, and this is the team that helps you get your designs on their clothes.
A full time atelier and support team designs, patterns and sews samples to test for fit, materials, and more before anything is sent to manufacturing. This helps them prototype ideas quickly, and reduces the amount of errors found when things are sent to the factory. They’re working on up to three seasons ahead at any given time.
Huge thanks to Simon and his team for showing us around (and for the cappuccinos!).
You guys need to make a proper baseball cap. That EF Education Bucket Hat needs to go.
obviously has absolutely no understanding of UK culture and music, where bucket hats have an amazing standing. There is a proper cap and there is a bucket hat and if the bucket hat is worn, its because its liked, because there is a choice. Also, please dont be one of those tattoed flatjack port belly cap lover… Dont question style, espcially rapha style.
The bucket hat can easily be argued to be one of the lamest, no style hats ever made; which is a style albeit a bad one. However Rapha is of course very cool indeed w barista café @ no charge.
their design went down hill lately, with large RAPHA letters slapped all over the place
But the entire point of rapha is so that other people know you wear rapha. Why wouldn’t you want enormous branding on it?
No that’s not the point at all. The logos are supposed to be small and subtle so people have to come over and ask you if your jacket’s a Rapha. There’s no point wearing Rapha if you can’t smile smugly and say that yes, it IS a Rapha jacket… and jersey… and bibs.
Yup! Just stick to the single coloured arm band! Everyone knows that’s Rapha the moment you see a jersey with a single colored arm band on the left arm.
And I really dig their EF design, sans the sponsor logos. Pity they don’t create any similar Pro Aero jersey like that.
You mean since Walmart bought Ralpha?
Heirs to Walmart, not Walmart directly, and for an apparent £200 million, why not.
I know, it was Tom and Stuart Walton who are avid cyclist ,who bought Ralpha.
More power to the original owners of Ralpha for getting that kind of money from the sale.
Its hard to believe that Ralpha was valued that high.
I auctionned my incredible PS Rapha jersey a few years back. I’ve been told its sitting in Simons office because the Jersey was sold at such a premium price that there were no more left. Any chance to see new Raeburn special ed.?
I’d happily work there. It seems like they take care of their employees.