It’s been 10 years. Holy moly. Are you kidding me?
Squeak started off as simply a New Years resolution to have my own products up on Etsy. To think that it would still be chugging away ten years later is ridiculous.
Have I loved it? Absolutely. Has it been difficult? Absolutely. If anyone wants to know the trials but also the tremendous times of Squeak over the past decade (Gah! Decade!), I suggest you read my Five Years Down Memory Lane Post, followed by my Nine Years Strong post, or listen to my podcast interview on Product Founders Podcast. But since it’s the big 1-0, I’ve decided to look back over the years through glossy, rose-coloured glasses and forget about all the downs, only remembering the ups. It’s good for my soul.
Now despite the 2012 New Years resolution I spoke of, it took me until the 23rd of February, 2013, to get my products officially online and for sale—and not just on Etsy. I decided if I was going to do this, then I’d do it right. I learnt how to build a website and released my range of silk scarves into the world. Then a month later, I threw myself a little launch party at my parent’s house. My good friend, Jason (now extraordinaire of The Plant Society (https://theplantsociety.com.au/)) made brownies for the event, and I set up an embarrassing (in hindsight) display of my scarves and hoped I could con some of my mum’s friends into buying some. I also gave a speech. I have no idea what I said, but I seem to be enjoying myself in this photo.
Jason making brownies | Displaying genius | Speech of the year…I think
The journey from here on is well documented in those previous two posts I mentioned before, so I won’t delve into it, but what I will say is that it should have been obvious to me from this launch night, that I would receive incredible support. Not one of my friends or family quietly smirked at the idea of me trying to give my own thing a go. My partner at the time didn’t say to me, ‘I’m just humouring you with this, but eventually you’ll need to get a job.’ My parents didn’t say a word when I started filling their house up with stock. I never saw myself here, ten years later. It honestly did not occur to me. But from all those people that came to my launch party and supported me from the start, it seems they never believed it wasn’t a possibility.
For anyone who has ever considered to give your own thing a try, please, please do it. It is one of the hardest things you will ever do, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. I grew up a shy girl. I watched my friends all become doctors and lawyers, freedom fighters and diplomats. I never believed I fit in amongst them, never quite on their level of beauty or intelligence, my skills more in the creative space, and even there I didn’t believe I was that extraordinary. But I can now safely look back on the last decade, and feel incredibly proud of what I have achieved. That pride is a gift I hope I will take with me everywhere I go, and a talisman against all the future hard times ahead. Something no one will ever take from me, something I can show my daughter and watch the light in her eyes when she realises it’s something she can have too.
Endless stock arriving on my parent's doorstep | Squeak growing up at its first big trade show
I have so many people to thank, and for those that can be bothered listening to me waffle, you can see me thank them in the video here. But I’ll also thank them in writing.
My parents. Thank you for believing in me and letting me take over your house. My brother and sister. You both have skills and insights in completely different areas, and you have both been nice enough to share them with me to help push Squeak along. Jason, you helped me from the very beginning, your brownies are unrivalled and your furniture making and design skills unparalleled. Jeremy, thank you for supporting me in the early days. Alex, Emma and Sarah, thank you for being my first models! Sarah Johnston, you will always be the business guru in my mind, and I miss you. B Griffiths, thanks for putting up with all my long-winded calls, usually only talking about myself, but always offering me pearls of wisdom. Max Hertan, thank you for sharing the gift of confidence with me. Jack, you’re the reason my products are beautiful. Thank you for giving me a chance. Martina and Chessy, your photography skills make my products come to life, and Georgia, you look effortlessly beautiful in whatever I put on you. Caroline and Jesse, you’ve both put up with me time and time again, helping me get my products out to my customers, and never once complaining when I call… at least not to my face, I’m sure there’s a lot of eye-rolling when you see my number come up on your phones. Tom and Celeste, you have become my life-jacket when I need one, and I hope I have been yours at times. This business owning gig is seriously tough, and I’m so glad we have created our little support group. To my husband, Chris, you have watched Squeak grow and you have helped throughout the way. There are times you probably don’t realise that you are helping, but you are. From looking after our girl while I take off for events days on end, to telling me you’re proud of me, to being my sounding board. Thank you. I know you want your own business one day, but rest assure, you’ve been big part of mine. To my baby girl, Evie. Be whoever you want to be as long as you can hold that chin up high and know deep down that you are proud of yourself.
To all my customers, thank you. You have no idea, how important you are, without you I would not have succeeded.
Squeak, all grown up | Thank you for the last ten years