Chupi Sweetman, founder of Chupi, began her entrepreneurial journey at a young age, starting a food business with her brother around age 12. By 15, she sold her first piece of clothing and opened a market stall. Sweetman highlights the challenges of entrepreneurship, acknowledging both highs and lows throughout her career. Reflecting on her childhood hardships, she reveals that financial struggles did not dampen her family's spirit. Sweetman also candidly discusses her experiences with fertility treatment, revealing the significant financial costs associated with IVF procedures.
"I started my womenswear label, properly, [when] I was about 14 or 15. I sold my first piece in Temple Bar when I was 15 and then opened my first stall when I was 16 - paid my way through school and college on that market."
"You've got to be pragmatic and understand that you can't win every day. We've had some of the most incredible highs - we've also had some of the most incredible lows."
"When Dad left, there was no money. And I genuinely mean no money. I look back at the photographs really underestimating how poor we were, but we didn't feel it."
"I just thought you did IVF and had a baby. I was so naive. I thought you'd go do a cycle and then you'd get your baby... But each cycle in theory is about €5,500. Realistically, it's more like 10 [cycles]. So we were, it was about €45,000 having our first baby."
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