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
