One of the biggest milestones in building a business isn't your first sale.
Or your first award.
Or even your first stockist.
Sometimes, it's handing your business to somebody else for the very first time.
That was me this weekend.
For the first time since launching Nudie, I wasn't the only person behind the stand. Chelsea joined me for The Game Fair. And if I'm honest, I was nervous.
Building Something You Don't Want to Let Go Of
When you build a business from scratch, you become used to wearing every hat.
Designer.
Photographer.
Customer service.
Sales assistant.
Stock manager.
Van loader.
Tea maker.
The list goes on.
You also become incredibly protective.
Every customer conversation, every piece of jewellery wrapped, every little detail of the experience has always been mine. Not because I didn't trust anyone else, but because until now, there hadn't been anyone else.
So the thought of someone representing Nudie without me constantly looking over their shoulder felt like a much bigger step than I expected.
Then Chelsea Arrived
What quickly became obvious was that I hadn't just found an extra pair of hands.
I'd found someone who genuinely cared. She learnt the collections. She understood the story behind the brand. She chatted to customers as though she'd been part of Nudie from the beginning.
Instead of feeling like I was giving something away, it felt like someone was helping carry it.
That's a very different feeling.
The Best Kind of Surprise
My friends said something that made me laugh over the weekend.
"I can't believe you ever did this on your own."
The truth is, I couldn't either.
Having someone there meant I could actually step away from the stand when I needed to. Speak to neighbouring exhibitors. Capture content. Even just use the toilet.
For the first time, Nudie wasn't completely dependent on one person standing behind a counter.
That felt like a turning point.
A Milestone I Didn't Expect
People often ask about business milestones. But this one felt different.
Because it represented something much bigger than a busy weekend.
It represented growth.
Not just for the business, but for me as a founder.
Learning that trusting someone else doesn't dilute what you've built.
Sometimes it strengthens it.
Looking Ahead
Chelsea joined us for one event.
But the experience changed how I think about the future of Nudie.
As the brand grows, I hope more brilliant people will become part of the journey.
Not to replace the founder story.
But to help write the next chapters.
Final Thought
Launching Nudie taught me how to build a business.
The Game Fair taught me something else.
Sometimes the bravest thing a founder can do isn't saying yes to another opportunity.
It's trusting someone else with the thing they've spent so long protecting.
And I'm very glad I did.
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