Jamie Laing, the affable star of Made in Chelsea, has peeled back the glossy wrapper on his entrepreneurial journey, revealing a surprisingly bitter start for his sweet venture, Candy Kittens.
In a candid revelation, the TV personality confessed that his initial attempts to launch the now-thriving gourmet sweets brand were met with a wall of rejection from the very people he expected to support him the most: his own family and friends.
'They Just Said No': The Brutal Honesty of Loved Ones
"When I first started Candy Kittens, I went to all my family and friends and said, 'Please can you invest?" Laing shared. The response was a resounding and unanimous refusal. "Every single one of them said no. Every single one."
This harsh initial reception taught the reality star one of his first and most crucial business lessons. He realised that those closest to you often view a venture through a personal lens, not a commercial one. Their rejection, he now understands, wasn't a judgement on him but a reflection of their own risk aversion.
The Sweet Taste of Success Against the Odds
Undeterred by the knockbacks, Laing's perseverance paid off spectacularly. Candy Kittens has blossomed into a phenomenal success story, stocked on the shelves of major UK supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose.
The brand, famed for its vegan and natural flavours, has become a staple in the competitive confectionery market, proving that initial scepticism is no match for a solid product and determined vision.
A Valuable Lesson for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Laing's experience serves as a powerful parable for any aspiring business owner. It highlights a difficult truth: sometimes, your biggest cheerleaders in life can be your toughest critics in business.
His story underscores the importance of self-belief and resilience. By not allowing personal rejection to define his venture's potential, Laing navigated Candy Kittens to become the multi-million pound success it is today, all without the initial backing of his inner circle.
