{"data":{"type":"company_profile","id":145347,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:145347","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross","generated_at":"2026-06-19T21:01:08Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T05:01:11Z","entity_ids":{"company":"wefunder:company:145347","slug":"wefunder:company_slug:royal.albartross"},"profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-19T21:01:08Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-19T05:01:11Z","as_of":"2026-06-19T21:01:08Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-19T05:01:11Z","as_of":"2026-06-19T21:01:08Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-19T21:01:08Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-19T21:01:08Z","confidence":"medium"}}},"company":{"id":145347,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:145347","slug":"royal.albartross","name":"Royal Albartross","tagline":"THE PURSUIT TO MAKE THE WORLDS FINEST GOLF SHOE","story":"Royal Albartross was founded when we set out to create the world's finest golf shoe, where design incorporated the best of traditional craftsmanship and technical advances.Several years later, our journey has resulted in a beautiful collection of footwear and accessories that marry both golf and a luxury lifestyleOur products are sold in the most sought-after golf courses in the world which include Los Angeles Country Club, Trump Doral, Medinah and Pinehurst.This extraordinary chance to own a piece of one of the most dynamic and exciting golf brands out there. Join us on this thrilling journey and be a part of our story as we celebrate every success together!The golf market is thriving and all indicators suggest this is not going to slow down soon!The number of golfers in the United States increased from 48% up from 24 million in 2019 to an estimated 40 million golfers today!Female golfers are leading the surge with an impressive 24% of on-course golfers now female.2023 was a strong year for us with positive growth in most key business metrics.With a view to our future and our planet, we invest in great quality - in our leathers, our components, our workmanship, and our designs.Royal Albartross is not defined by quick trends or mass consumerism. Our styles are founded in the classic aesthetics of the finest game in the world, they're slower to change, built to last and hold their value.We source the most skilled artisans, choosing to work with talented Italian craftsmen who use manufacturing techniques passed down from generation to generation.We choose to work with honest, reliable family-run businesses, using only the most superior leathers and components to create our luxury golf shoes and travel accessories.One of key aspects that separates us from our competitors is our ability to offer customization with very low minimum quantities and a quick turn-around time. This truly sets us apart from our competition and has enabled us to do bespoke products for prestigious retailers such as Pinehurst and Desert Mountain.Sustainable fashion is not a trend, it's a responsibility.Future product development will be heavily focussed on producing truly sustainable products that are lovingly crafted using sustainable and ethical practices.We plan on integrating the following materials to our production:Continued product development drives Royal Albartross. By incorporating AI and cutting-edge techniques, we innovate and refine every detail, ensuring precision, quality, and luxury craftsmanship.Royal Albartross is positioned on the higher end of the market. This is a growing and lucrative market with much less competition than the mid and lower-end markets.*The above graph is a subjective view based on personal experience Despite a challenging year for retail we saw solid growth in website performance in 2023. Revenue reached over $1 million with 75% gross margin and a 41% return customer rateWe are not into name dropping but to show a few of the luxury Golf \u0026amp; Country clubs that we work and partner with in the US \u0026amp; UK:Sold in over 300 of the most exclusive golf stores and pro shops in the US.*Forward-looking projections are not guaranteed.Our Founders’ passion led to collaborations with among others, the Mia’s Miracles \u0026amp; the OG Molefe Foundations, supporting children and underprivileged youth.In honor of Mia, we created a vibrant, limited-edition golf shoe, with each purchase aiding these vital causes.Based on our 4-year forecast of $13mn revenue and an EBITDA of $3MN. One potential exit could be 10X EBITDA, valuing the business at $30MN and give an investor a 300% ROI.With a strong omnichannel sales mix in place and targeted growth through product and sales channel expansion, we believe our projections to get to $13 million, which is 4% of the premium golf shoe market, are entirely realistic.*Forward-looking projections are not guaranteed.","location":"Tallahassee, FL","website":"https://us.albartross.com","total_amount_raised":587916,"total_investors":87,"is_funded":true,"is_active":true,"quality_score":3,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross","https://us.albartross.com"]},"media":{"share_image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/145347/xxl_blob.jpg","logo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/logo/145347/large_blob.png","header_media_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/145347/standard_blob.jpg","cover_photo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/145347/standard_blob.jpg"},"links":{"company_url":"https://us.albartross.com","linkedin_url":"https://linkedin.com/company/royal-albartross/","facebook_url":"https://facebook.com/royalalbartross","instagram_url":"https://instagram.com/royalalbartross","youtube_url":"https://youtube.com/@royalalbartross"},"highlights":[{"id":62736,"name":"notable_angel","url":"notableangel","presentable_name":"Notable Angel","description":"Raised $25k or more from a notable angel investor","image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/2021/profile-highlights-check.svg"},{"id":75585,"name":"1m_plus_revenue","url":"1mplusrevenue","presentable_name":"$1M+ Revenue","description":"Earned over the last 12 months","image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/2021/profile-highlights-up-arrow.svg"}],"quick_facts":[{"index":1,"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"Proven Traction: $3M revenue in 2023"},{"index":2,"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"$12M in lifetime revenue, more than 100,000 shoes already sold"},{"index":3,"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"Sold in over 300 of the most exclusive golf courses: Trump Doral, Pinehurst, Medinah and LACC..."},{"index":4,"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"Sold in major national retailers: PGA Tour Superstore, Scheels and Worldwide Golf"},{"index":5,"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"40% Return Customer Rate"},{"index":6,"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"Featured in: Golf.com, Golf Digest, Forbes, GQ, Esquire \u0026amp; Sports Illustrated"},{"index":7,"claim_id":"claim-fact-7","value":"Active Charity Initiatives"},{"index":8,"claim_id":"claim-fact-8","value":"$850M addressable golf shoe market"}],"team":[{"id":3965231,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:3965231","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:4156779","role":"founder","name":"Ross Hocknell","title":"Co-Founder and CEO","bio":"Ross is the Co-Founder of Royal Albartross and a seasoned entrepreneur and finance specialist with a broad background in leading positions within renowned corporations. Having served as Chairman at Royal Albartross he has recently taken over as CEO.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/3965231/square_blob.jpg?1728465643","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/ross.hocknell","linkedin_url":"https://linkedin.com/in/ross-hocknell-9029b413b/","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/ross.hocknell"]},{"id":4235332,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:4235332","role":"founder","name":"Alex Bartholomew","title":"Co-Founder and Head of Design ","bio":"Having studied at Brighton University Alex then gained experience working for Burberry. Alex stands out as a true innovator within the golf industry. Fuelled by a relentless pursuit of perfection which has resulted in the world's finest golf shoes!","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/4235332/square_blob.jpg?1723623242","linkedin_url":"https://linkedin.com/in/alex-bartholomew-albartross/","related_urls":[]},{"id":5170891,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:5170891","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:4465484","role":"employee","name":"Rakshita Somaiya","title":"Head of Operations ","bio":"Rak has over 30 years of experience in logistics, purchasing, operations and merchandising. Rak has worked at global companies including Jimmy Choo and Marks and Spencer's. Rak specializes in sourcing, negotiation, stock management, and budget oversight.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/5170891/square_blob.jpg?1724237606","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/rakshita.somaiya","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/rakshita.somaiya"]}],"featured_investors":[{"id":9912,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:9912","investor_profile_id":3979592,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:3979592","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:user:4488390","name":"Stuart Maddison","role_title":"","bio":"Chartered Accountant, former PwC partner with over 30 years’ experience of significant achievements in driving financial and operational growth. Extensive experience in wholesaling, retail, sport \u0026amp; leisure.","avatar_url":"https://wefunder.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MjI2MDcxLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--9242718c0be7a198abd7e52fa1a69f0354f87a1b/filename","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/stuart.maddison","endorsement_quote":"Our investment philosophy revolves around three key pillars: product, people, and potential. Royal Albartross excels in each of these areas. Their offering stands unmatched in the market, combining superior quality and distinctive style. By strategically positioning themselves in a market with limited competition, Royal Albartross is primed to become a leader in this space. Ross and Alex form a dynamic leadership duo with complementary strengths, supported by an exceptional team. Their dedication and passion have been instrumental in driving the company's success and their vision of where this company is going is inspiring The golf market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with no signs of slowing down. Royal Albartross has achieved remarkable traction. Royal Albartross has the ability to easily expand into complimentary sports and ultimately the premium lifestyle market. We believe this positions them for a highly attractive exit opportunity in the future.","endorsement_name":"","investment_total":890000,"investment_info":"Invested $40,000 this round \u0026 $850,000 previously","is_lead_investor":true,"memo_paid_for_by_company":false,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/stuart.maddison"]}],"investor_memos":[],"tab_counts":{"posts":7,"ask_questions":10,"featured_investors":1,"faq_entries":5},"active_fundraises":[{"id":100639,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:100639","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":1235000.0,"minimum_target":"50000.0","maximum_target":"1235000.0","funding_started_at":"2024-09-26T21:27:50Z"},{"id":100638,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:100638","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"equity","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":1235000.0,"minimum_target":"50000.0","maximum_target":"1235000.0","funding_started_at":"2024-09-26T21:27:48Z","funding_closed_at":"2025-05-01T04:00:48Z","auto_close_at":"2025-05-01T03:59:59Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":100639,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:100639","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"ttw","testing_the_waters":true,"can_invest_now":false,"funding_started_at":"2024-09-26T21:27:50Z","funding_closed_at":null,"terms":{"eb":"$10.8M","nb":"$12M","txt":"pre-money valuation"}},"recent_posts":[{"id":182020,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:182020","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO INVEST","preview":"After months of late nights, webinars and endless conversations with potential investors we find ourselves with less than 24 hours until the campaign closesIf you’ve been considering investing, now is the moment to take action. This is your final opportunity to own a stake in a company revolutionising golf style and fashion. The time is Now!Golf is BoomingOur products set us apartWe’re incredibly grateful for the support so far, for all the likes, comments and of course investmentsMuch LoveTh...","published_at":"2025-04-30T11:08:29Z","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","url":"/feed/182020","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/182020"},{"id":181965,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:181965","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"2 DAYS TO GO - 5 REASONS TO INVEST","preview":"P.S. Already invested? You can\u0026nbsp;increase your stake\u0026nbsp;while the round is still open.","published_at":"2025-04-29T11:07:25Z","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","url":"/feed/181965","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/181965"},{"id":181672,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:181672","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"3 DAYS TO GO - OVER $600K RAISED","preview":"12M in lifetime revenue, more than 100,000 shoes already soldSold in over 300 of the most exclusive golf courses: Trump Doral, Pinehurst, Medinah and LACCSold in major national retailers: PGA Tour Superstore, Scheels and Worldwide Golf40% Return Customer RateFeatured in: Golf.com, Golf Digest, Forbes, GQ, Esquire \u0026 Sports IllustratedActive Charity Initiatives$850M addressable golf shoe marketONLY 3 DAYS LEFT TO INVESTP.S. Already invested? You can increase your stake while the round is still ...","published_at":"2025-04-28T10:01:49Z","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","url":"/feed/181672","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/181672"},{"id":181668,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:181668","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"7 Days to Close","preview":"Hi All, I hope you had a fabulous easter weekend. We are nearing the closing of our campaign with only 7 days left to invest. We have been incredibly busy since our last update.Some of the highlights include the Launch of our new Tailor's As well as the restock of our ultimate fan favourite - The Queen of HeartsWe have a load more exciting launches happening in the next coming weeksPlease don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Have a great week!Ross","published_at":"2025-04-22T10:34:32Z","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","url":"/feed/181668","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/181668"},{"id":176819,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:176819","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"GOLF IS BOOMING","preview":"The golf market has never been stronger, statistics from all sectors of the golf market are simply quite staggering. $45 Million A record setting 45 million people in the USA played golf in 2023. This is made of up of 26.6 million who played on a golf course and 18.4 million who participated exclusively in off-course activities. (Top Golf, simulators or driving ranges)$3.4 MillionThe number of people in 2023 in the USA that played on a golf course for the first time. The previous record was 2...","published_at":"2024-11-21T10:01:23Z","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","url":"/feed/176819","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/176819"},{"id":177247,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:177247","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Amazing Start - Answering a couple of Investor Questions","preview":"Hello Everyone!We are off to an amazing start, having only just announced the fundraise to our customer base we are almost halfway to our goal!We have had a couple of great questions and I wanted to get them answered and shared with everyone who may have similar questionsQuestionI see the vague plan for growth presented here. Do you have any specific pathways to drive revenue growth that can be shared with the group?AnswerGreat question, I\u0026nbsp;have expanded on our growth plans below.\u0026nbsp;Ra...","published_at":"2024-11-05T08:50:24Z","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","url":"/feed/177247","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/177247"},{"id":176807,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:176807","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Equity for Golf Lovers is Live!","preview":"Royal Albartross was born from a passionate vision: to craft the world’s finest golf shoes, to elevate the choice of footwear available for such an esteemed and loved sport. What started as a humble collection of just 25 pairs has blossomed into a remarkable journey—one that continues to push the style boundaries and inspire players from course to clubhouse, across the world.None of this would have been possible without you, our incredible supporters. In 2019, we reached out to our community,...","published_at":"2024-10-22T08:20:14Z","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","url":"/feed/176807","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/176807"}],"q_and_a":[{"id":295614,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:295614","question":"I’m trying to assess current ownership. I see the past raises. I see that Alex and Ross hold 28% each of the outstanding 1,200,000 shares. Additionally, in terms of past raises, I see what is listed. I can also see that the lead for this syndicate, Stuart, has invested $890,000. So you are raising a total of $1,285,000 for the 1,200,000 units? Raising an additional $395,000 after Stuart’s investment? No warrants with this investment, correct? I see that Wefunder gets 6% for hosting, but otherwise no carry for an individual investor? Thanks, I just want to be sure that my assumptions are correct given that I have not used this platform in the past.","author_name":"Josh Gershtenson","votes":1,"created_at":"2024-11-02T18:25:32Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-295614","answers":[{"id":295756,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:295756","answer":"Hi Josh, Apologies for the delay, we have had an overwhelming response to our launch which has kept us very busy. Great Question, I have posted the answers to your questions in the update section as i am sure a lot of potential investors would be interested in the answers. The link for the update is https://wefunder.com/updates/177247 or you can click on the update tab Any other questions please don't hesitate Have a Great Week Ross","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-05T08:58:02Z"}]},{"id":322106,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:322106","question":"Hey! Is there an update on how the company did this year? I would love to hear how we did.","author_name":"Brandon Millsaps","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-12-31T01:54:36Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-322106","answers":[]},{"id":303510,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:303510","question":"You reference sustainability several times as a goal. What specific areas are you targeting? (Materials (e.g., non-leather), transportation, packaging, etc.)","author_name":"William  R","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-03-05T19:17:52Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-303510","answers":[{"id":303583,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:303583","answer":"Hi William, thanks for the great question. The answer is in all possible areas but we will be doing it in a phased approach. Our strategy is to use open source technology/components due to the costs in developing our own. We already have the following: 1. All our shoes are produced using Solar power. 2. Production techniques used in manufacturing minimise use of water and maximise the use of recycled materials. 3. Our factory is a third generation family run factory with free and fair working conditions 4. We are currently offsetting our carbon footprint created from shipping the product. 5. Use of recycled materials in the sole units - this is a balance between performance and sustainability. Our focus for this next year is 1. Change all packaging to sustainable materials. 2. Use of sustainable materials in footwear like cactus leather, apple core, upper materials made from recycled plastic bottles. And the last phase which is the ultimate is to be able to produce a 100% sustainable product, but as mentioned we unfortunately do not have the budget for R\u0026amp;D so we rely on open source solutions. We also pride ourselves in giving back to communities though our charity initiatives which we will continue to do","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-03-06T09:34:41Z"}]},{"id":303500,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:303500","question":"Congrats on the successful early days and the raise thus far. Can you share some insights on pricing power or discounting on the current inventory/portfolio of shoes? I do see your plans for a different/lower price-point shoe line. I'm curious about the margins and any insights you can share. Thanks.","author_name":"Peter Dignam","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-03-05T16:47:32Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-303500","answers":[{"id":306545,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:306545","answer":"Hi Peter, Firstly my sincere apologies, I replied to your question however my reply was not published. I am not sure if that was \"user error\" or an issue with Wefunder. Our margin on our website ranges between 65-70% depending on the product. This is calculated using the landed cost of goods which includes freight and duties. This allows us to discount when needed which is generally to get rid of old stock of which is unavoidable but we do our best to minimize. In terms of the lower priced shoes, we are able to do this as we are now going direct to the factory and not using a production agent. We will make slightly less margin on the lower priced shoes however it will still be around 60%. Once again apologies for the very delayed response. Regards Ross","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","votes":1,"created_at":"2025-04-22T13:27:19Z"}]},{"id":296570,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:296570","question":"Is there a reason the public launch keeps being push back? Think its been postponed 3/4 times now.","author_name":"Tom Johnson","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-20T14:34:48Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-296570","answers":[{"id":296590,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:296590","answer":"Hi Tom, thanks for the question. The private launch is all about giving our incredibly loyal customer base the opportunity to invest first. We have had a great response from our customers and we are waiting on two large deposits to clear before going public. Thanks Ross","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","votes":1,"created_at":"2024-11-20T20:41:41Z"}]},{"id":296308,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:296308","question":"Thanks Ross - Unfortunately I am unable to respond directly to your previous answer so asking another question here. Please correct my if I am wrong but if salary costs are 32% of total costs then I make that roughly $1m. You referenced in another answer that there are 3 senior members of the team and 3 other junior FTEs. There are also a few external freelance contractors. I am a little concerned this represents a very high FTE costs for a relatively small team particularly when 2/3 of the senior management team are founders. Plans are to increase the senior team by 2 additional FTEs increasing employment costs even further. I have invested in companies in the past where investment has been used to pay large salaries very early on in the business journey so it is a metric I always like to review before investing. Can you please confirm if my assumptions/figures are correct? Do you know what the expected FTE increase will be for 2025 considering the 2 new hires? Do you think FTE costs are reasonable considering team size and current \u0026amp; projected revenue?","author_name":"Mark Cohen","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-15T14:28:08Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-296308","answers":[{"id":296417,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:296417","answer":"Hi Mark, Apologies I should have been more specific with my terminology. Our staff and office costs are 32% of our total expenses, however this cost includes office costs, software fees, Wholesale sales agent’s commissions as well as contractor and consultancy fees. Our expected FTE cost for 2025 is just over $700K. Our head of sales will be incentivised on hitting targets so we can expect that $700K to increase to around $750K. I totally understand your concerns around fat salaries for founders and what I can say is that this is definitely not the case. In general I do not think the business salary cost is too high especially considering we are not expecting salaries to grow anywhere near in line with revenue Thanks Ross","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-18T08:15:46Z"}]},{"id":296080,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:296080","question":"Can you please give a headline breakdown of costs and how you anticipate this increasing. I am particularly interested to know current and future FTE \u0026amp; Marketing costs. I see you plan on entering new markets (Spain, South Africa ,etc) through ‘ecommerce expansion’. The current website seems to cater to these markets already so I am intrigued as to how you plan on expanding outside of just increased digital marketing spend. Also can you detail how distribution would work to these countries as I imagine shipping will be expensive and make these markets challenging without localised distribution.","author_name":"Mark Cohen","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-12T10:36:10Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-296080","answers":[{"id":296203,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:296203","answer":"Hi Mark, Thanks for the question and apologies for the slight delay in getting back to you. Things are a little manic with the ramp up to Black Friday. Our cost breakdown is as follows: Cost of goods 36% of total costs, Shipping, Freight, Duties and fulfilment 17%, Marketing Costs 13%. Product Development 3% Staff and Office (software etc) 32%. We will be increasing our marketing cost in relation to revenue, it is currently 8% and this will increase to 11%. With regards to the FTE cost, we are looking to employ a Head of Sales as well as a Head of Marketing. We will see a staff increase in 2025 based on these two additional FTE’s. In terms of the D2C expansion into new markets: The expansion will involve localised digital marketing campaigns, working with local influencers and European brand collaborations. With regards to shipping: we will service the European markets through a third party logistics centre in Portugal. This is the perfect location as it is right next to the factory and cost effective to service Europe. Markets such as South Africa, we will start by shipping the product from the European 3PL. The customer will be charged a shipping fee however this will not be exorbitant. Due to our e-commerce margins we are able to subsidise part of the shipping costs and still make a healthy return. If you have any further questions please shout Regards Ross PS sorry for the poorly formatted answer, for some reason Wefunder doesn't allow any formatting in the \"ask a question\" section","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-14T08:45:21Z"}]},{"id":295939,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:295939","question":"I have several questions regarding your organizational structure and operations: 1. Could you provide an overview of your team size and the key areas of expertise across the organization? 2. Please clarify your company's headquarters location and how operations are managed across different countries. 3. Given your product focus, I'd appreciate understanding how you manage the geographical separation between design and manufacturing teams, particularly regarding: o Product development efficiency o Quality assurance processes o Distribution logistics o Associated costs 4. I've noted some concerning employee feedback on Glassdoor regarding leadership and retention. Could you please address these points and outline any measures taken to improve organizational stability and culture?","author_name":"Tom Johnson","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-09T12:35:28Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-295939","answers":[{"id":296010,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:296010","answer":"Hi Tom, Thanks for your questions. Please see the answers below 1. Management Team : CEO, Head of Design, Head of Operations. The additional areas of expertise are Operations, Customer Service, Graphic Design/ Brand, Consultant Designer, Product Developer (Contractor), E-commerce Manager (Contractor), Finance Team (Outsourced), Head of Technical \u0026amp; Testing (Consultant) 2. Our Companies Operational Head Quarters are currently in the UK however we are in the process of migrating the HQ across to the US. The business is structured so that our Operations and Product Design team are based in the UK which is in close proximity to manufacturing (Portugal) and on the same time zone. This allows seamless interaction with the factory and freight forwarders as well as enabling multiple factory visits throughout the year. Our footwear designer is based in the US, this is important to have a designer that truly understands our biggest market. Since Covid, like many businesses, remote working has become pretty standard for us, and very efficient. 3. Constant interaction with the factories is possible when working remotely due to the comms systems we have in place, throughout both sampling and production our teams visit the factories to ensure quality standards are being met. At the point the product is ready to leave the factory we have an independent Quality Control team check the product. There is a further check by the 3PL in Miami before the goods are sent to customers. The most important factor to quality is to ensure our manufacturing partners are clear on our standards and expectations. With years of experience with this, and having worked with many suppliers, this is just one of the many things we have experience with 4. To be honest I had never looked at Glassdoor before your question and both Alex and I are surprised by the comments there. We take the happiness of our staff incredibly seriously and to attest for that we have staff members who have been with us for 10, 5 and 3 years respectively. We support our staff and try and give them exposure to all parts of the business to ensure they are able to grow their skillset. An example of this is each staff member gets a half day off every 2nd week for personal development (not related to Royal Albartross). Our team is small, everyone makes a big impact on the greater result and so they have a wide variety of experience. Of course we have had staff leave, or be asked to leave that did not benefit the company culture which I believe is unavoidable in any business. If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask Regards Ross","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-11T14:59:21Z"}]},{"id":295615,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:295615","question":"I see the vague plan for growth presented here. Do you have any specific pathways to drive revenue growth that can be shared with the group?","author_name":"Josh Gershtenson","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-02T18:26:32Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-295615","answers":[{"id":295755,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:295755","answer":"Hi Josh, Apologies for the delay, we have had an overwhelming response to our launch which has kept us very busy. Great Question, I have posted the answers to your questions in the update section as i am sure a lot of potential investors would be interested in the answers. The link for the update is https://wefunder.com/updates/177247 or you can click on the update tab Any other questions please don't hesitate Have a Great Week Ross","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","votes":1,"created_at":"2024-11-05T08:57:55Z"}]},{"id":294420,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:294420","question":"What is your liquidation preference?","author_name":"Kellie Magnifico","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-10-17T21:57:44Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/royal.albartross#question-294420","answers":[{"id":294441,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:294441","answer":"Hi Kellie, Thanks for the question, we have intentionally set it up so that everyone has the same class of shares, It was important to Alex and I that all our stakeholders shared the same benefits that us as co-founders. We want this to be a vehicle that we ourselves would invest in. Therefore there are no specific liquidation preference on any shares, we will all benefit equally in the event of an acquisition. As you aware we are in the early stage of the company and this is an early stage in investment. We are looking for investors that see the long-term benefits of the company. Let me know if you have any other questions. We would love to have you onboard! Regards Ross","author_name":"Ross Hocknell","votes":2,"created_at":"2024-10-18T13:24:04Z"}]}],"faq":[{"question":"What is your liquidation preference?","answer":"Hi Kellie, Thanks for the question, we have intentionally set it up so that everyone has the same class of shares, It was important to Alex and I that all our stakeholders shared the same benefits that us as co-founders. We want this to be a vehicle that we ourselves would invest in. Therefore there are no specific liquidation preference on any shares, we will all benefit equally in the event of an acquisition. As you aware we are in the early stage of the company and this is an early stage i..."},{"question":"I’m trying to assess current ownership. I see the past raises. I see that Alex and Ross hold 28% each of the outstanding 1,200,000 shares. Additionally, in terms of past raises, I see what is listed. I can also see that the lead for this syndicate, Stuart, has invested $890,00...","answer":"Hi Josh, Apologies for the delay, we have had an overwhelming response to our launch which has kept us very busy. Great Question, I have posted the answers to your questions in the update section as i am sure a lot of potential investors would be interested in the answers. The link for the update is https://wefunder.com/updates/177247 or you can click on the update tab Any other questions please don't hesitate Have a Great Week Ross"},{"question":"I see the vague plan for growth presented here. Do you have any specific pathways to drive revenue growth that can be shared with the group?","answer":"Hi Josh, Apologies for the delay, we have had an overwhelming response to our launch which has kept us very busy. Great Question, I have posted the answers to your questions in the update section as i am sure a lot of potential investors would be interested in the answers. The link for the update is https://wefunder.com/updates/177247 or you can click on the update tab Any other questions please don't hesitate Have a Great Week Ross"},{"question":"I have several questions regarding your organizational structure and operations: 1. Could you provide an overview of your team size and the key areas of expertise across the organization? 2. Please clarify your company's headquarters location and how operations are managed acr...","answer":"Hi Tom, Thanks for your questions. Please see the answers below 1. Management Team : CEO, Head of Design, Head of Operations. The additional areas of expertise are Operations, Customer Service, Graphic Design/ Brand, Consultant Designer, Product Developer (Contractor), E-commerce Manager (Contractor), Finance Team (Outsourced), Head of Technical \u0026amp; Testing (Consultant) 2. Our Companies Operational Head Quarters are currently in the UK however we are in the process of migrating the HQ acros..."},{"question":"Can you please give a headline breakdown of costs and how you anticipate this increasing. I am particularly interested to know current and future FTE \u0026amp; Marketing costs. I see you plan on entering new markets (Spain, South Africa ,etc) through ‘ecommerce expansion’. The cur...","answer":"Hi Mark, Thanks for the question and apologies for the slight delay in getting back to you. Things are a little manic with the ramp up to Black Friday. Our cost breakdown is as follows: Cost of goods 36% of total costs, Shipping, Freight, Duties and fulfilment 17%, Marketing Costs 13%. Product Development 3% Staff and Office (software etc) 32%. We will be increasing our marketing cost in relation to revenue, it is currently 8% and this will increase to 11%. With regards to the FTE cost, we ar..."}]}}}