Do you remember your first customer?
We tend to remember our “firsts”, our first teacher, our first pet or our first job interview. For entrepreneurs, there’s another important milestone:…. your first customer.
The first person who said yes when all you had was an idea, limited experience, and the determination to try. That first ‘yes’ often becomes the quiet proof you needed to keep you going.
For me that person was Maxine…
Maxine is the founder of Hackney Young People’s University, an organisation dedicated to supporting young people through providing extra-curricular activities within the creative industry. She is one of those silent heroines. Just getting the job done, whilst pouring back into her community.
At the time, I was a student, studying for my degree. Like many others exploring careers in the creative sector, I became quickly aware of how important experience is to be building a career. So, I started volunteering with Hackney Young People university during my studies. What I thought would be a way to gain experience turned out to be a pivotal professional connection.
Maxine didn’t treat me like a volunteer ticking a box. She created space for me to learn, test, make mistakes and grow. She trusted me to try, which built my confidence.
After graduation, I worked in retail (as you do), specifically visual merchandising. It wasn’t part of my original plan, but it kept me connected to creativity. I continued volunteering on the side, unaware that these experiences were slowly forming the foundation of something bigger.
Years later, I found myself at a crossroads, after many unsuccessful attempts at securing a marketing role, unsure of my next steps and feeling unfulfilled. That’s when Maxine reached out and said, “Why don’t you develop a programme for us?” . I’d never designed a programme before, but I said yes.
I remembered the quote often attributed to Richard Branson: If someone offers you an opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say yes — then learn how to do it later.
The result was a one-week course called Passion-for-Fashion, designed to introduce young people to the creative side of retail, in particular visual merchandising. I had no pricing benchmark, no real programme delivery experience, no specific business support advice, just belief in the value of what I was offering.
The price? Modest, probably too modest. But this wasn’t about profit. It was about testing my idea and seizing the opportunity.
The first day was rough. engagement from the students was less than enthusiastic. The feedback? Brutally honest (as only young people can be). I realised quickly that If i wanted to survive that week, I had to swiftly adapt. So, I changed the content from theory into something which was more practical. The next day the energy shifted. The young people were more responsive. I adjusted and delivered the rest of the programme in a way that worked, for them and me.
That week taught me that design and delivery must remain flexible, especially when working with young people. That was a significant growth moment for me and I look back at that time, if i ever doubt myself, to remind myself of the fearless fun-trepreneur, who grasped every opportunity and relished the challenges that they brought.
Grabbing the opportunity with both hands.
Following on from the delivery and feedback from Maxine. Her support did not end there. She introduced me to her network across other London’s boroughs. Who I sent a simple leaflet out to. and then went on a break.
By the time I came back, I had several voicemails and emails from local authorities asking me to run the programme for them. That’s when things really took off.
I had proved a concept. What started as an idea delivered on instinct had shown it could work not just once, but repeatedly, in different contexts. That validation gave me the confidence to move forward with intent and purpose.. I refined the offer, raised the price, and delivered more workshops. Eventually, I had to step back from delivery to focus on growth. I recruited others, developed systems, and began building a business.
Lessons that shaped RedBorder Ltd
Looking back, I can clearly see how that first project helped shape the business I run today. We work with founders and organisations who care about building S.M.A.R.T, more meaningful and practical business support programmes.
Whether a business is starting from scratch or scaling up an idea, RedBorder offers consultancy, programme design, and mentoring to help shape practical, community-rooted solutions that make a real difference for businesses and their customers.
Maxine gave me a real-world education in how public sector commissioning works, how to build programmes with integrity, and how to adapt quickly. She also showed me the long term impact of mentorship and trust.
Why your first customer matters.
More founders who take a chance on others. More organisations willing to open their doors to people with potential.. Maxine and Hackney Young People’s University continue to do exactly that. I can never truly repay Maxine for the opportunity she gave me. She didn’t just offer a project she saw potential, opened a door, and trusted me to walk through it.
That kind of belief is rare, and it stays with you. While I can’t pay her back in the traditional sense, what I can do is pay it forward. For me, that means continuing to build a business that creates space for others — especially those at the beginning of their journey. It means designing support programmes that are practical, accessible, and rooted in real-life experience. It means mentoring people who just need someone to believe in them, the way Maxine believed in me. It means using my consultancy work to create structures that support not just success, but confidence and clarity.
If you’re looking for an organisation to donate to, or collaborate with, I can’t recommend HYPU highly enough. Supporting organisations like hers means investing in the future not just of young people, but of future entrepreneurs, educators, and changemakers.
Fellow business owners / Entrepreneurs: Who Was Your First Customer?
Who was your first customer?
This blog is part of a new series where I explore the stories behind business “firsts” the practical, moments that sparked something bigger.
These aren’t just anecdotes. They’re real reminders of how businesses begin not with perfection, but with people, trust, and a willingness to try. Hearing how others navigated their first steps can inspire, reassure, and even redirect our own paths.
It’s more than content it’s connection, encouragement, and insight for anyone building something from the ground up.
If that sounds like you, if you’ve got a story that might resonate, let’s connect. I’d love to hear how your journey began.
Who was your first customer?
What did they teach you?
How did they help shape your direction?
If you would like to know more about how RedBorder Ltd can support your business growth, please do visit our website or get in touch and Book a Complimentary Call. Connect with me via our socials :- LinkedIn, Instagram and join the conversation.
