29 Comments
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Anna Almeida's avatar

Love this level of honesty. More founder substacks 👏🏼

Rjstimeoff's avatar

It’s a path for the wicked. Much respect, Emily.

Sophie Blowfield's avatar

Whatever you’re doing is amazing because Sporty & Rich has consistently been one of my favourite and most worn brands since launch.

Nicole Determan's avatar

Love the honesty! It really does take a special kind of mindset to push through these types of tough decisions that might not make sense to anyone else but yourself.

Kyra Naylor's avatar

This hit me. I’m a 3rd-gen owner, and my first 2 years were almost entirely the struggle of deciding — of admitting the company I’d inherited wasn’t the one I wanted to run. Loved your brand since it was Tumblr and rooting for the rebuild.

Chantel Van Steinburg's avatar

I swear each article I read of yours I gain so much more respect for you as a founder. You’re real, you’re raw and incredible authentic!

Dream. Plan. Do.'s avatar

As a business owner, I felt your internal turmoil in my own soul. Proud of you for making the tough decisions and having the brutally hard conversations. They make us better leaders

Sam Aldenton's avatar

I really appreciate the transparency, vulnerability and honesty you operate with, thanks for taking us a little behind the scenes on the tough decisions when it's far easier to only talk about the wins and the highlight reel. Thanks Em.

Juliette Dallas-Feeney's avatar

you’ve executed with such thoughtfulness since day 1. your honesty is so valuable in this conversation. congrats on melrose, can’t wait to visit 👏👏

Jakub's avatar

Been following since the days of IG moodboard profile. What a journey and inspiration you are to all future founders. Please keep sharing. Possibly even some best practices and struggles because that’s where insights lies.

Viszolay Studio's avatar

Thank you for continuing to be vulnerable with us and sharing what it feels and is like to make it in America. Everyone loves a rags to riches story, but I think we forget just how big of an accomplishment it is. Thanks for continuing to motivate and inspire 🤙🏽✨

Data Frank's avatar

There’s a rare kind of honesty in choosing to dismantle something that’s “working” but no longer feels true. It takes clarity to recognize misalignment, and even more courage to act on it without guarantees. This feels less like destruction and more like making space for something more intentional, more aligned, and ultimately more sustainable.

Vivian Fong's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing, Emily. We rarely see behind the scenes of business in general and its so lovely that you had the courage to put this out. Especially helpful for us struggling in the depths of business feeling so alone with the weight of it all. Excited for you, the brand, and the new pivot!

Cassidy Sullivan's avatar

Takes so much courage and perspective to make difficult choices like this but I’m sure will pay off tenfold xx

Would love to hear why you decided to HQ in Paris initially and if that provided any benefit in the early days

Dorine Hélène's avatar

Loved reading you Emily. Always cheering for you and will always buy Sporty and Rich!! Keep going 💕❤️

Alexandra Rabbitte's avatar

It’s insanely comforting to hear that even you- who in my eyes is the ultimate success story in a modern age retail environment feels and goes through these massive changes. On a much smaller scale with my businesses I feel this so deeply. "What got you here won’t get you there" is something I try to always remember when it’s time to level up or make hard changes