Let’s just start with this.
It is not easy creating anything. But then if you (like us) have big dreams, whatever you’re creating, it becomes 10 times harder. We really care about these shorts.
Like, really care.
Our tech packs are 17 pages long, filled with minuscule details about how wide the stitching should be, exact proportions of the button, how many mm should the logo sit above the bottom of the shorts. I even had to remember how to do pythagorus to get the measurements of the pockets exactly as we desired.
When we first got samples, now almost two years ago, we were stoked. They had the vibe, they were wearable, acceptable even, but not quite what we wanted. But then as we continued sampling, changing factories, spending hours grinding on the most minuscule things, frustration creeps in as we continue on this hunt to create the perfect pair of shorts.
Largely, it is driven by two things.
The first being that for us, the number one priority is the customer experience of the shorts. It doesn’t matter how good your branding, marketing or communication is, if when the customer receives the product it doesn’t live up to expectations. Maybe you’re able to have a successful beginning but eventually your business, your passion, your dream will fall apart because at the foundational levels, the important things, they were never right to begin with.
The second being is that we are somewhat perfectionists, potentially to a counterproductive degree. We sample so much, like you wouldn’t believe. The amount of ‘almosts’ that we now have sitting around each of our houses is honestly a bit ridiculous. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.
And it is all worth it when that perfect pair arrives. We then get to share it with you, hear some amazing feedback praising how genuinely fantastic they are. And for us, that is what this is all about.
We started Bertie’s because there was nothing that ticked all the boxes for us when it comes to boardshorts, and we believed that we were not alone in this perspective. And importantly, we also believed that, with enough hard work, we could create not only that perfect pair, but a brand and a community that is something really special.
And belief is an important thing. I tell ya what.
We have had so many moments along this journey where things just aren’t going our way. Two years is a long time with no real customer interaction, no reward for effect, no instant satisfaction or anything. Imagine having to swap factories, start from scratch, have a full bulk order come back faulty. It is enough to cause some seriously sleepless nights to say the least.
So, in these moments, we rely on each other to keep us going. On the joint belief that we can bring this dream to life. And it is all worth it, we feel that we are closer than ever, that cumulative hours of calls each week, work behind the scenes, trials and errors, and a lot of trials and errors are ultimately resulting in us gaining confidence and belief in what we are doing.
And we cannot wait for you guys to see the results.
Right now, we sit on 9 completed, perfect boardshort designs that all meet our standard of perfection with lots more exciting designs coming through. Our brand voice feels like it is starting to take shape, and our content is flowing easier and easier. God, even Ben is looking comfortable in front of a camera. Can you imagine that?!
So thanks for bearing with us, thanks for reading, thanks for being here and being part of our journey. We can’t wait to build this into something real, something tangible, something loved. Something that you tell your friends about. Actually, something that your friends can’t get you to shut up about.
Here is to a big summer, a Bertie's summer.
Thanks, Will
The Hunt for Perfection - A note from the founders
Let’s just start with this.
It is not easy creating anything. But then if you (like us) have big dreams, whatever you’re creating, it becomes 10 times harder. We really care about these shorts.
Like, really care.
Our tech packs are 17 pages long, filled with minuscule details about how wide the stitching should be, exact proportions of the button, how many mm should the logo sit above the bottom of the shorts. I even had to remember how to do pythagorus to get the measurements of the pockets exactly as we desired.
When we first got samples, now almost two years ago, we were stoked. They had the vibe, they were wearable, acceptable even, but not quite what we wanted. But then as we continued sampling, changing factories, spending hours grinding on the most minuscule things, frustration creeps in as we continue on this hunt to create the perfect pair of shorts.
Largely, it is driven by two things.
The first being that for us, the number one priority is the customer experience of the shorts. It doesn’t matter how good your branding, marketing or communication is, if when the customer receives the product it doesn’t live up to expectations. Maybe you’re able to have a successful beginning but eventually your business, your passion, your dream will fall apart because at the foundational levels, the important things, they were never right to begin with.
The second being is that we are somewhat perfectionists, potentially to a counterproductive degree. We sample so much, like you wouldn’t believe. The amount of ‘almosts’ that we now have sitting around each of our houses is honestly a bit ridiculous. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.
And it is all worth it when that perfect pair arrives. We then get to share it with you, hear some amazing feedback praising how genuinely fantastic they are. And for us, that is what this is all about.
We started Bertie’s because there was nothing that ticked all the boxes for us when it comes to boardshorts, and we believed that we were not alone in this perspective. And importantly, we also believed that, with enough hard work, we could create not only that perfect pair, but a brand and a community that is something really special.
And belief is an important thing. I tell ya what.
We have had so many moments along this journey where things just aren’t going our way. Two years is a long time with no real customer interaction, no reward for effect, no instant satisfaction or anything. Imagine having to swap factories, start from scratch, have a full bulk order come back faulty. It is enough to cause some seriously sleepless nights to say the least.
So, in these moments, we rely on each other to keep us going. On the joint belief that we can bring this dream to life. And it is all worth it, we feel that we are closer than ever, that cumulative hours of calls each week, work behind the scenes, trials and errors, and a lot of trials and errors are ultimately resulting in us gaining confidence and belief in what we are doing.
And we cannot wait for you guys to see the results.
Right now, we sit on 9 completed, perfect boardshort designs that all meet our standard of perfection with lots more exciting designs coming through. Our brand voice feels like it is starting to take shape, and our content is flowing easier and easier. God, even Ben is looking comfortable in front of a camera. Can you imagine that?!
So thanks for bearing with us, thanks for reading, thanks for being here and being part of our journey. We can’t wait to build this into something real, something tangible, something loved. Something that you tell your friends about. Actually, something that your friends can’t get you to shut up about.
Here is to a big summer, a Bertie's summer.
Thanks, Will