Local business leader meets the King at Windsor Castle
Barry Tong, co-founder and CEO of Northampton-based online retailer Sol Retail, enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime moment this month as he attended a royal reception at Windsor Castle, hosted by His Majesty The King.
Barry was invited to the prestigious event after Sol Retail was announced as a recipient of The King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, one of the UK’s highest business honours. The reception, held in the magnificent St George’s Hall, brought together award winners from across the UK and was attended by senior members of the Royal Family, including HRH The Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Founded in 2012 by Barry and his wife Katy, Sol Retail began life selling on eBay from a Northamptonshire flat with just £10. Today, the company is a global e-commerce success story, turning over almost £20 million a year and supporting more than 100 health, beauty and wellness brands across major platforms including Amazon, Walmart, eBay, TikTok, Tesco Marketplace, Temu and Superdrug Marketplace.
Barry said: “When we started with a handful of listings, we never imagined that one day we’d be invited to Windsor Castle to talk to The King about our journey. It was an incredibly proud moment, not just for me, but for our whole team who have helped build Sol Retail into what it is today.”
The recognition means a great deal to the wider Sol Retail team, many of whom have been part of the business through its most transformative years.
Barry added: “This award is for all of us. It’s proof that with passion, perseverance and teamwork, even the smallest ideas can go on to achieve something extraordinary.”