This article was first published on the Business & Finance website.
Irish entrepreneur Tommy Kelly founded ESW (formerly eShopWorld) in 2010 when online shopping was still in its infancy. At the time, the company’s ambitious goal was to create a business that would respond to the needs of the biggest brands in the world and revolutionise how they approached their worldwide online presence. Now, over a decade later, the Dublin based company has a global footprint across 13 regions and works with some of the world’s biggest and most respected fashion brands such as NIKE and Victoria’s Secret among others, helping them localise their online shopper experience for 200+ markets.
As their global commercial footprint grew, ESW’s internal culture and outlook widened, and their sense of what was possible in all areas of their business was transformed. According to Tommy, this was particularly true in terms of ESW’s ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) commitments, responsibilities, and ambitions.
“As we continued to grow, we believed more and more that business success and social responsibility go hand in hand. We were active in an increasing number of markets, and we wanted to reflect this new reality by supporting local communities and becoming a truly global business in our approach to ESG. That is how we connected with UNICEF, who work in over 190 countries on all kinds of programmes related to children. We are still a young company, and our values are important to us. That is why we believe supporting children, whether it be through life-saving aid, or long-term development programmes, is so essential,” he said.
ESW has seen strong revenue and headcount growth in recent years, and it expects its employee base across the world to exceed 1,000 by the end of this year. For the company, UNICEF’s focus, its global presence and its strong record of advocacy made it a natural partner. “ESW is fortunate to have an exceptional global workforce, and one of the ways we have sought to keep them connected with our values as a business is through our support of UNICEF. Across the globe, our employees recognise the importance of UNICEF’s mission and that unites us as a company. From our global headquarters in Dublin, to our offices in New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, Madrid and beyond, we are all motivated by the amazing work for children that UNICEF staff do in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.”
The past twelve months have seen some significant developments at ESW, including being named as one of the world’s most innovative suppliers, and expanding its sustainable delivery service in the US. In common with the values of its founder, the company is resolutely focused on innovation, agility and meeting emerging trends and challenges head on. “UNICEF’s approach in responding to humanitarian emergencies, seeking to make the biggest impact possible with the resources available, aligns perfectly with our ‘can do’ ethos as a business.
“So far, we have supported UNICEF’s humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and in response to the devastating recent earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. To see the pace and scalability of UNICEF’s response in quickly ramping up their efforts, wherever disasters strike, is remarkable. UNICEF has the world’s largest humanitarian warehouse operating 24/7 – making it world class at logistics,” said Tommy. “Our reputation and brand are paramount to everything we do, and that is why we are delighted to support a true global leader in UNICEF, while also demonstrating our commitment to social responsibility.”
