Tim: Audrey, whatever happened to Red Lightning? That T-shirt company you started a few years back?
Audrey: Yeah… Red Lightning. I poured everything into it for a while. Designs, prints, the whole thing. But it just never took off the way I hoped. Shipping costs, finding good suppliers, trying to get the word out—it all wore me down. Eventually I just… gave up on the T-shirt business. Packed it away.
Joe: Damn. That sucks. You had some solid designs though. What made you finally walk away?
Audrey: Mostly burnout, and the numbers never added up. I kept telling myself “one more run,” but it wasn’t sustainable. Looking back, I don’t regret trying, but I’m glad I stopped forcing it.
Tim: So what’s next then? You still got that entrepreneurial itch?
Audrey: Actually… yeah. Something completely different. I’ve been thinking about opening a barber shop that specifically caters to First Nations people. Culturally aware, welcoming space, maybe some traditional designs mixed in, staff who understand the community. That’s the real dream now.
Joe: That’s cool. A proper community spot. You already looking at locations or still just dreaming it out?
Audrey: Still mostly dreaming it out, but it’s the first idea in a long time that actually feels right. Red Lightning taught me a lot about what not to do. This one feels more like something I could stick with.