Alex Willcock

Alex Willcock is the Founder and CEO of Imagini. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/aug/09/guardianweeklytechnologysection.comment Victor Keegan: Looking at a new way to make friends | Technology | The Guardian ] ] , [ [http://the-accelerator.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html The Accelerator Group (TAG): January 2007 ] ] , [ [http://www.internetretailer.com/internet/marketing-conference/05893-picture-this-customer-feedback-without-word-being-said.html Picture this: Customer feedback without a word being said ] ] , [ [http://www.extendance.com/blog/archives/588-Visual-Online-Surveys-the-Next-Big-Thing-in-Online-Marketing.html Extendance: High-Tech Business Experts Blog ] ]

He has creatively developed some of the world's best brands and has designed products across sectors including home, fashion, hospitality, health and beauty. [ [http://www.dld-conference.com/2008/05/alex-willcock-1.php Alex Willcock | DLD - Digital, Life, Design Conference in Munich ] ]

He sold his award winning design agency, The Nest, to embark on an idea to develop a universal language of communication and understanding. This led to the creation of Visual DNA, a means of unlocking the adaptive unconscious through the use of imagery.

Launched in March 2007 as Imagini.net, over 7 million people have so far discovered their Visual DNA. Using the insights that this extraordinary information has provided, Alex’s team developed [http://www.youniverse.com Youniverse.com] . Youniverse was unveiled in March 2008, this new social networking brand will demonstrate his belief that feelings are the purest form of communication. [ [http://www.thetechbrief.com/2008/06/09/imagine-a-youniverse-of-pictures/ Imagine A Youniverse of Pictures | The Tech Brief ] ] , [ [http://promointeractive.net/2008/04/01/pepsi%E2%80%99s-youniverse-makes-pictures-worth-a-thousand-friends/ PromoInteractive » Blog Archive » Pepsi’s Youniverse Makes Pictures Worth a Thousand Friends ] ] , [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS150873+17-Mar-2008+MW20080317 Youniverse and Pepsi Celebrate the Visual Generation | Reuters ] ] . BBC has nominated Youniverse one of the best sites on the web. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/7500346.stm BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click | Webscape ] ]

Previous positions

Prior to his venture into the social networking site, Willcock has always been involved in design and retail.

Alex Willcock Associates 1984-1989

Between 1984-1989, he ran his own furniture, interior design and manufacturing businesses, which enabled him to live and work in Australia for nearly two years. He had both corporate and private clients including Sir Terence Conran, the Storehouse Group and the actor John Cleese.

Country Road 1990-1995

In 1990, a highly successful Australian fashion retailer, Country Road, approached him to help set up and develop a range of home stores called Country Road Homeware. Within two months of joining, he became General Manager of the Home division with vertical responsibility from concept to customer.

During his five years at Country Road, Willcock headed the development of the entire product range, launching over 1,000 new SKU’s each year, sourced from over 20 countries. He was instrumental in opening over 20 homeware stores for the group and was well recognised as having changed the face of home retailing in Australia.

Conran Group 1995-1999

In 1995, Sir Terence Conran asked Willcock to return to the UK to take up the dual role as Buying and Marketing Director for the shop group and to head a new initiative to be called Conran Collection [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960106/ai_n9633721 The man from Liberty, he say Yes! | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET ] ] . He later went on to become Creative Director for The Conran Group.

As Buying and Marketing Director, Willcock oversaw the buying and marketing teams who, with Sir Terence Conran himself, were jointly responsible for the development of over 2,000 new lines every year. In total his teams managed over 15,000 lines from over 2,000 suppliers in more than 40 countries.

Willcock was also responsible for developing Conran Collection, a project involving over 1200 exclusive Conran products for sale in the Conran Shops worldwide across a vast variety of products from watches and pens, cutlery and glass, blankets and sheets, vases and office accessories through to furniture and rugs. For it’s time, it was perhaps the biggest ever development of an exclusive range of home products and was completed from start to finish in 18 months.

When he later became Creative Director for the group, he and his a creative team, Conran Studio not only produced design and branding work for the group but undertook significant brand development projects for clients such as the re-invention of the Lancôme brand across over 10,000 outlets, the extension of the Michelin brand, and for British Airways the design of the new interior for Concorde.

Ethical sourcing at Conran

Willcock’s role as a buyer had taken him to many different countries, most of which were in the developing world. It was these experiences that encouraged him to commence an ethical sourcing programme for the Conran Group in 1996. This programme, supported by the main board, commenced with extensive research, which, in turn, unearthed a number of issues for the group regarding the potential of in-direct employment of children within a region of India.On the basis of this, Willcock instigated an initiative in India with a local NGO called ASK to commence the foundation of a sustainable education programme for working children and a health and safety initiative for their parents. It was through this exposure, Willcock felt compelled to leave conventional corporate life and start a business that was committed to bringing about positive change

Willcock left the Conran Group, of which he was one of only 7 shareholders, and founded The Nest with Rachel Marshall and Russell Pinch in 1999.

The Nest 1999-2004

The Nest was founded as a one-stop-shop creative communication agency, with the aim of bringing together three conventionally incongruous elements; excellence in creativity, strong commercial understanding and a commitment to positive change and ethical business.

From 1999-2004, The Nest successfully pioneered many new initiatives in the creative arena, especially in its ethical approach to business which included the creation with Roo Rogers of a concept called ChangeMakers, which was further developed by the TV production company, Drive Thru Pictures and made into a series for the BBC.

After the first two years of growth the business attracted some of the industry’s most talented individuals and as a result, the management team at The Nest succeeded in creating one of the UK’s most dynamic creative agencies. Within five years of its launch the business had a fee income of around £3million with over 40 employees.

Working with a diverse range of major clients including Selfridges, British Airways, MFI Retail, Sainsbury’s, Cadbury plc, W H Smith and Currys as well smaller companies such as The Eden Project, Neal’s Yard Remedies and Miller Harris, The Nest has become recognised as one of the leader’s in its field. [ [http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Disciplines/Design/Articles/ba1beb0495ed41cf9dd7f6a07a3c68f4/Fashion-makes-way-for-function.html Fashion makes way for function ] ] In November 2004, the shareholders, Alex Willcock, Russell Pinch, Rachel Marshall and Charlie Kinsman, decided to sell 100% of their shares to the advertising agency, St. Luke’s.

References