What was your Eureka Moment?

When I started cycling to work, the only pannier bags on the market were really ugly, PVC sacks. I hunted for one worthy of carrying into work but all searches were fruitless and after a couple of years, I decided to design my own. I got four samples made up and cycled them around London to test them out. When numerous cyclists stopped me at the lights to ask where the bags were from, I knew I was onto something.

How did you finance the business?

I decided to bootstrap the business and used personal savings for start-up capital. I then worked full time to get enough money to re-inject into the business. External investment hasn't appealed so far as I haven't wanted to give up ownership and become a company built solely around profit at the detriment of the products. 

Do you have any regrets along the way?

I've learnt a lot since launching but I don't regret anything as every stage has taught me lessons. Sometimes I do wish that I launched with someone else, to share the highs and lows with and to spur each other on, but for every successful joint-owner story I hear another disaster story where the two haven't had the same vision. And I do wish I'd taken Instagram more seriously at the beginning!

What would you have changed?

If I were to start again, knowing what I know now, I would have saved significantly more money to invest in marketing right from the beginning.

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