When they reached out to us, they were in the middle of a rapid scale-up phase. After our initial discussions, we realised that their growth trajectory was going to demand seasoned professionals who could navigate a fast-paced game development environment, whilst genuinely understanding the commercial realities of digital fashion.
The Challenge
As we spent time talking with the Drest team to understand their needs, it became clear that this wasn't going to be a standard search. They needed two pivotal hires to support their expanding teams, and we noted early on that the requirements for both roles were incredibly nuanced.
The Senior Data Analyst: We realised quite quickly that Drest didn't just need a standard games analyst. They needed someone with solid, proven experience in online commerce and fashion. They were looking for a specialist who could look beyond standard player-retention metrics and pull actionable, cross-industry data to help grow multiple facets of the business.
The Senior Producer: Alongside the analyst role, the studio urgently required a leader to oversee a multi-skilled pod. The main challenge here was finding someone who could understand Drest’s bespoke workflows immediately and step seamlessly into the existing studio culture, without a lengthy or disruptive onboarding process.
The StrideQuest Solution
We sat down as a team, reviewed the brief, and made a plan. We knew that relying on traditional recruitment methods simply wouldn't work for these highly specific, hybrid roles, so we decided to take a much more tailored approach.
Looking Beyond Standard Talent Pools
For the Senior Data Analyst, we knew we had to look beyond the usual gaming circles. We mapped out candidates who straddled two very distinct sectors: video game development and e-commerce. Rather than limiting our search to pure-play game studios, we targeted people with dual-industry exposure. After a focused search, we found an excellent candidate who had not only worked on a studio's core game but had also managed the data for their integrated e-commerce store. It was a perfect match for Drest’s unique commercial needs, and importantly, they fit the studio's culture brilliantly.
Leveraging Real Relationships
When it came to the Senior Producer, we knew the priority was finding someone who could step straight into the role. We tapped into our long-standing network within the UK games industry and identified a highly experienced Producer who was immediately available. Crucially, during our conversations, we noted that this candidate had actually worked alongside Drest’s current leadership team many years prior. We knew right then that we had found someone with a foundation of pre-existing trust.
The Results
Looking back on the project, our bespoke approach gave Drest exactly what they needed during a crucial period of growth:
Seamless Integration: Because of the pre-existing working relationship we uncovered, the Senior Producer was able to join the team and immediately take the reins of their multi-skilled pod. It completely bypassed the usual friction of an executive onboarding process.
Elevated Analytics: The Senior Data Analyst proved to be exactly what they were looking for, bringing the precise blend of gaming insight and e-commerce experience required to fuel Drest's unique business model.
Ultimately, by taking the time to really discuss and understand the granular, commercial needs of the studio rather than just scanning a job description, we were able to deliver two highly specialised candidates. It was incredibly rewarding to help Drest continue scaling their innovative platform smoothly.