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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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