My London: Craig Smith - UK & Ireland Country Manager at SCAYLE

Craig Smith, is the UK & Ireland Country Manager at SCAYLE, the fastest-growing enterprise commerce platform in the world.

Smith comes from the retail family that built and sold Evans Cycles, and with 30 years industry experience has supported major UK retail and retail technology brands including M&S, Salesforce and Sainsbury’s.

As Country Manager at SCAYLE, Craig is focused on bringing the eCommerce platform to the UK market, which involves talking to UK retailers about their online businesses and identifying ways they can scale faster using SCAYLE’s advanced technology and retail know-how.

We caught up with Craig Smith for the latest edition of our ‘My London’ interview series.

Favourite neighbourhood:

I moved to Richmond borough 13 years ago to grow our family. It’s been home ever since and just a relaxing vibe with amazing green spaces, unlike any part of any other city in Europe. If I was single again, it would be Angel, where I used to live – amazing houses and a cool balance between relaxed and vibrant.

Favourite place for brunch:

Petersham Nurseries after a Sunday riverside stroll from Richmond to Petersham.

Best coffee in London:

I don’t drink coffee, but if I did, then it would probably be somewhere in Soho where I love the vibe.

Favourite gallery or museum:

Natural History Museum. Too iconic to ignore, and I enjoy it with or without my children. It’s just endless exhibits and so easy for us to get to as a family and I enjoy the Science Museum and V&A whilst in South Kensington.

Tell us a secret:

I’m the son of Gary Smith, who built Evans Cycles from 1 store to 35 stores in 40 years. It was the largest independent cycling retailer in Europe at one point.

Favourite place to shop:

Selfridges or Harrods, hands down. Two incredible stores with so many cool things to buy under one roof. The great thing is I can nip in on my cycle ride home to buy that last-minute present for Mrs Smith.

Favourite place to find inspiration:

Always while running around one of those amazing parks in London, or through the central London streets in the early morning.

Best London destination for a date:

Ronnie Scott’s in Soho. Still the most memorable date night with Mrs Smith. If it is local jazz or blues, then the Bulls Head in Barnes.

Favourite park:

This is a hard one because I love Hyde Park, Richmond Park, Regents Park and Hampstead Heath equally. But if I had to choose, then Richmond Park, because it is both a cycling and running destination for me and can get me to six great places in Wimbledon, Kingston, Ham, Petersham, Richmond & East Sheen all from one park.

Favourite food market:

Borough Market. That was an easy answer. The best food market in London by some distance I would suspect, though not tried them all.

Your sanctuary in the city:

The Mixed Pond in Hampstead Heath on an autumn morning. Only done it twice, but it is the best way to start a day.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by one of our company’s founders, Tarek, who, despite building a lb1.7bn business whilst still so young, presents himself as a very warm and humble person. I’m also inspired by the talented people he has recruited to run the SCAYLE business.