The Fresh Stuff

In October of 2018, I founded The Fresh Stuff hot off being rejected from 4/5 of my university choices (despite getting my predicted A-level results comfortably). I was heartbroken given that all the courses I'd applied to were for film/media and it was the sole thing I wanted to do in life. It really felt like that was it, the one thing I thought I was actually good at, maybe I wasn't.

I hate writing about myself in such a positive light but, looking back, I'm really proud that I took that rejection and turned it into something I'd never have dreamed would be possible. Throughout 2019 I developed TFS further before eventually, fully rejecting my remaining uni offer. I incorporated the company late that year and it seriously blew up during the following COVID years thanks to our core demographic being stuck inside with a lot of disposable income (booze and nights out no more) and retail therapy being one of the few things we could enjoy.

Whilst operations have slowed as per my own decisions, I still treasure the time I devoted to creating this company and taking it to a level of success I never quite would've imagined. We were rated in the top 15 stores on Depop worldwide for a few weeks running, supplied garments to a few famous faces and even featured in a Netflix show last year. Most importantly though, it taught me so much and helped me both develop my creative side, but also realise that yes, that is truly what I want to do (even if some universities tried telling me I couldn't).