Alicia and George break down the wild true story behind Mackenzie-Childs — the beloved ceramics brand whose founders not only lost their company…but also the rights to their own name.
It’s a cautionary tale every founder needs to hear about scaling too fast, taking on debt, and trusting investors to have your best interest at heart.
What We Cover
- The origin story of Victoria & Richard Mackenzie-Childs
- How rapid expansion and heavy debt led to disaster
- What happens when private equity takes over
- How the founders lost their naming rights
- The emotional fallout of watching someone else run the brand you built
- Key founder lessons around scaling, contracts, and protecting your IP
Key Takeaways
- Scale slowly and strategically
- Negotiate from worst-case, not best-case
- Your name is an asset — guard it
- Private equity is a transaction, not a partnership
- Write your non-negotiables before you ever see an offer
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Follow George and Alicia!
https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother
https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/
www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother
https://www.aliciamckenzie.com/
https://liftlikeamother.com
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