After 13 fabulous years of working side by side the person who many think the Business has been named after, it’s time to say Goodbye to “Meg”.
I still remember the day, over 13 years ago when I sat down with the then owner of Meg + Me, we’d just finished negotiating my purchase of the business, when she said to me, “I need to introduce you to Megan (Meg), you’d do well to keep her”.
And I did. I did do well to keep her, right up until this week when she confided in me that she was ready to embark on a new personal challenge.
I get it. Retail is extremely rewarding, but it can also take a lot from you too. When you are as good at it and care as much about your interactions with customers as much as Meg and I do, it can take a toll. And while I’m not saying it has for us, I’m simply acknowledging that I understand when Meg says it’s time for a new direction.
When speaking to others about the working relationship I have with Megs, I often use a few metaphors to help people understand how close we have become over the years. I recently described us as “puzzle pieces” fitting together “just so”. Then there’s been the hand in glove analogy and the “old married couple” has come up once or twice too. You get the picture, I’m sure.
You spend a lot of time at work, so you do your best to surround yourself with people that you want to spend that much time with. You share and experience many of life’s big moments with the people you work with, and that can become both a privilege and a responsibility. That kind of closeness creates a unique bond - one built on mutual trust, respect, and shared purpose. It’s more than just a job; it’s almost like a second family, and sometimes even a sanctuary from life in the “real world”.
Over the years, Meg has become so much more than just a salesperson at Meg + Me. As I’ve committed to growing the business more and more behind the scenes, she’s become the in-store Face of Meg + Me, the person who warmly welcomes you into our space and makes you feel part of what we have created.
For me personally though, she’s been a sounding board through some pretty challenging times in business, right from the very start (some of you may remember those stories!) through to GFCs, COVID and everything in between. To date, we’ve always been there for each other.
One of Meg’s outstanding qualities is her ability to connect with people whether that be customers, suppliers, or workmates. Her genuine warmth and openness have ensured that people always feel welcome in our space and I commit to continuing that legacy moving forward.
As the owner, I’m grateful beyond words for the loyalty, grace and care Meg has brought to her role at Meg + Me. We’ve laughed until we’ve cried (more than once, often on buying trips), tackled challenges head-on, and celebrated every little win along the way. It’s been the kind of working relationship you don’t just find - but rather one that you build, over time, with mutual respect and trust.
While it’s hard to imagine the shop without Meg in it, I’m also incredibly proud of her for following her heart. Change can be bittersweet, but it also makes room for growth - for her and for all of us.
To our wonderful Customers: thank you for being part of Meg’s journey. By the time this article goes to print, Meg will have officially spent her last day with us in store. And while her departure marks the end of an era, it’s also the beginning of a new chapter—for Meg and also for Ant and I and the Business.
We invite you to join us as we embark on the newest chapter of Meg + Me… who knows what amazing things we can create?
Whatever happens, it will always be with you in mind. x
