In 2018, I walked away from the kind of life most people are told to want.

I had a successful career in retail buying in London. The job was well paid, the holidays were nice, and the restaurants were expensive. From the outside, it looked like I'd made it. But inside, I felt stuck. I’d been thinking about leaving for years, to travel, to start something of my own, but kept putting it off. Until one day, I didn’t.

I rented out my flat, packed a bag, and flew off to Southeast Asia, then Australia, then New Zealand. Somewhere along the way, I realised I didn’t want to go back. I wanted to start again; differently. Not in a high rise office in London, but on my own terms. I wanted to build a brand that felt more like me.

When I told people what I was planning, the warnings came thick and fast.

“You’re mad.”
“People your age don’t go travelling - that’s for gap years.”
“Why would you sell your flat? You’ll never get back on the property ladder in the city.”
“London’s the best city in the world. You’ll regret leaving.”
“What if you fail?”
“You could end up unemployed, broke, and back where you started.”
“E-commerce is impossible - you won’t make it.”

It was like a chorus of fear. And I heard it all but I left anyway.

I moved to Lytham, a quiet coastal town in the north of England. I got a dog (his name’s Orson and yes, he’s spoiled), swapped crowded Tube commutes for daily walks on the beach, and slowly started building Renley Hawthorn - a home, lifestyle, and pet store shaped by everything I’d always loved: great design, calm spaces, and pieces with personality.

This isn’t just a business. It’s a total change in direction, from safe and expected, to uncertain and mine.
A place for design led living that doesn’t shout, but still stands out.
A brand built on instinct, not approval.

And honestly? I wouldn’t go back for anything.