Swedish bank, Klarna has announced its eight finalists for its recently launched Smoooth Stores initiative. Klarna has found top retail SMEs, bringing them together for the final of its latest competition. Since the competition closed In January, a judging panel headed up by Hugo Taylor and Millie Mackintosh have whittled down the finalists. The businesses selected range from fashion boutiques to interior design, and are based all over the UK.

The winner will receive: 

• Mentoring from Klarna senior executives who are industry leaders in their fields, they will offer advice and guidance on how to grow the winning brand
• £10,000 cash prize, along with guidance on the best way to spend the money to ensure growth
• Free use of Klarna’s Pay later service for 12 months, giving customers access to Buy now, Pay later services in the UK
• The next step for the successful retailers will be meeting one of Klarna’s brand ambassadors and creating a short video about their business. These videos will launch in March on klarna.com/uk where voting will be open for the general public. 

The eight finalists are:

• Britannical: A luxury children's outerwear brand that handcrafts all of its pieces ethically in the heart of London, using the finest natural materials.
• Carloe: Carloe London creates quality leather bags in a range of colours, with colour combined purses and interchangeable straps allowing the customer to curate their own look.
• Charlotte Jade: A lifestyle brand that offers hand-drawn plant, floral and animal-themed designs available on luxury wallpaper, cushions, upholstery fabrics, ceramic tiles and many more.
• Dip & Doze: Dip & Doze delivers products that balances price with beauty, function and sustainability.
• Hand Dyed Shoe Co: Born from scrap leather in the furniture industry, the Hand Dyed Shoe Co is a sustainable service from start to finish.
• Mikaela Lyon: Sustainable jewellery brand that offers handmade pieces that are all hallmarked in the UK.
• Mustard Made: Founded by two sisters living on opposite sides of the world, Mustard Made creates powder coated steel storage lockers. 
• Valle + Vik: A fashion brand that offers printed and plain silk dresses which mix elements of traditional Scandinavian design with a contemporary urban vibe. 

For more information, visit klarna.com.

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