We're back, Baby!

Awe Kids is back, and this time we're focused.

One of the biggest lessons I've had to learn as a founder is how to focus on one thing. Like a lot of small business owners, I've been guilty of stretching myself across several projects at once, giving each a bit of my energy and none of them all of it. So I've made a decision: Awe Kids gets my full attention.

Pausing, not ending

To make room for that, I'm pressing pause on two things:

Awe Creates, my sip and paint workshops, won't be something I'm actively growing as a business for now. I'll still run sessions as and when, but they won't be the main focus.

Awe Educates is also on hold until things have grown a bit more.

Neither of these is ending. This is about giving myself the focus to grow one thing properly, so that it can then go on to help the others.

Why Awe Kids?

On the surface, kidswear might look like the simplest of the three. It's anything but.

Running a kidswear brand means getting to grips with compliance, community engagement and marketing, plus everything that comes with being a product business. It means being really clear about who our audience is. And there's plenty of room to expand into other things.

That complexity is exactly why I chose it. Every one of those areas is a real learning experience for someone who'd like a placement or wants to try work experience. There's also a lot of regulation around what work experience should look like, as well as jobs and employer responsibilities.

So yes, it's the biggest learning curve for me as the founder. But once I've worked through it, I can scaffold what I've learned and share it with other small businesses, so more of them feel ready to hire young people and career changers. And for the people who join us, Awe Kids becomes a genuine space to learn by doing.

Sticking with my why

I recently read Start With Why by Simon Sinek, and so much learning has come out of it.

Yes, on paper Awe Kids is a kidswear business. But my why has always been bigger than that. Throughout my career, I've wanted to make sure people have the best options available to them and feel confident about the pathway they choose. Nobody should feel stuck.

With Awe Kids, I get to design and be creative, and at the same time I get to create those pathways for other people. If I want to grow, I have to focus on what aligns with the brand and be honest about what doesn't.

What you'll see from us

So here's the main takeaway: we're back, and we're focused.

We're building a kidswear brand that gives boys more options in what they wear. That means no dinosaurs, no tractors, and not just navy and grey. We're going to do all the colours, explore, have fun, and not be afraid to experiment and try things out.

Most importantly, all of this leads somewhere bigger: bringing people into the team and giving them a head start on their careers too.

Thanks for being here. I can't wait to show you what's next.

Ray
Founder, Awe Kids