Gwen shares her remarkable journey of founding The Laundress, a luxury laundry brand.
 
From securing a government-backed loan to self-financing with credit cards, Gwen details her determination and innovative spirit. She discusses the challenges and successes of building her business, the experience of negotiating a sale with Unilever, and her emotional turmoil post-acquisition.
 
Gwen reflects on the aftermath of the sale, the impact of a major product recall, and her eventual decision to launch her next venture, 'The Fill'. 
 
 
2:13 How She Funded the Business With an SBA Loan  
4:24 The Early Struggles of Getting Market Acceptance  
7:13 Winning Customers Through Product Education  
8:45 Building Confidence and Learning to Believe in Herself  
10:30 Taking Bold Risks by Self-Financing the Company  
13:37 Why She Preferred Control Over Raising Outside Capital  
16:10 Hitting 30% Year-Over-Year Growth  
18:22 Her Vision for Scaling a Truly Impactful Brand  
21:20 Getting the Call to Meet at Unilever Headquarters  
24:00 The Tough Realities of Negotiating an Exit  
27:35 Feeling Completely Unprepared for the Acquisition Process  
30:36 How Disorganization Created Post-Sale Challenges  
33:00 The Consequences of Weak Leadership and Poor Accountability  
34:58 The Personal Horror of Being Tied to a Damaged Brand  
37:10 The Heartbreak of Feeling Like She Let Her Team Down  
39:00 The Painful Silence During a Difficult Transition  
40:41 Why Meaningful Exit Conversations Never Happened  
43:40 Navigating the Hardest Parts of an Uncomfortable Transition  
46:07 Launching a New Community-Driven Brand    


 

 

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