Dom Bridges, Founder of Dulcie (formerly Haeckels)

In this talk, Dom Bridges shares how a small, independent business rooted in Margate grew into an internationally recognised brand, and what it has really taken to get there.

Starting out in a single rented shop in Cliftonville, Dom built Dulcie (formerly Haeckels) around a strong sense of place, using local natural resources and Margate’s coastal identity as the foundation. The business grew rapidly, buying its own building, expanding operations, opening stores in London and briefly Tokyo, and developing projects that blurred retail, wellbeing and community — including the much-loved community sauna at Walpole Bay tidal pool.

Dom will speak candidly about the realities behind the growth: attracting large-scale investment, managing ambition and risk, and the pressures of scaling a values-led business. He will also address setbacks, offering an honest insight into the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and what resilience looks like when the numbers are challenging.

This is a story about building from the coast, staying rooted in place while thinking globally.

Who should attend:
Founders, high street businesses, creative and product-led brands, and anyone interested in scaling a business from a coastal town.