“I remember saying to the investors when the last lot came in, do you think we should discuss the F word before you arrive? And they went, what's that? I went, founder.”
James Reed: all about business · October 2026
Kidston describes the point at which she left the company that carries her name, after several rounds of private equity. She had started passing people on the stairs who didn't know her, and decided she would only be a nuisance fighting for product.
Transcript
…Japanese. Yeah, it was amazing because the CK business, I don't know how it is now, but it used to be bigger in Asia than here. And so Thailand, South Korea, Japan, it was a huge business. And they love the quality and the English character. And they love things with a story and with memories.
They seem to be thriving. Yes.
…third floor and I'd always walk up the stairs in the morning and say hello to whoever was going up and down. And two people passed me who I didn't know and they didn't know me and they didn't say good morning and whatever. It's a different atmosphere. And I thought, this isn't where I belong anymore. And I'm just going to be fighting for product the whole time and I'm going to be a nuisance. And I remember saying to the investors when the last lot came in, do you think we should discuss the F word before you arrive? And they went, what's that? I went, founder. You know, we're really awkward as founders. The F-word. Okay. I was wondering what that was. The founder. The founder word, which is usually tricky when investors come in. And so I said, look, I'm going to, I'm going out. I'm off. It's time for me to go. And I stayed a little while on the board, but that was like, wasn't, it's no fun being on a board if you're used to being part of the decision.…
have this situation now where there's a company that bears your name.
Yes.
But it's not related directly to you.
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