Summary: Ellen Bennett is the founder and creator of Hedley & Bennett, the Los Angeles based apron company founded in 2012 at age 24. After culinary school and while working as a line cook at two Los Angeles’ restaurants, Ellen noticed the stale look and poor quality of the aprons she wore daily. Inspired to make a more functional apron, she created Hedley & Bennett. Soon, attention came from press like the New York Times and celebrity chef fans such as Martha Stewart and Mario Batali, solidifying her as a real player in the restaurant game. Ellen grew her operation from a 400 square foot office space to the showroom, office space and 14,000 sq. ft factory she currently resides in in Downtown LA - all in under three years. The company has quickly expanded and now her aprons can be found in more than 3000 restaurants worldwide. Upon realizing aprons weren’t only for chefs but for any maker who wanted a professional grade apron to protect them while they work, she developed aprons for gardeners and potters so they too could have a garment as beautiful as the clothes they wore underneath. Since then, Bennett has collaborated with SpaceX, Google, Lexus, Delta, Four Seasons, Food & Wine and thousands of others to craft functional aprons for their specific needs. In this episode, you hear the behind the scenes story of how Ellen started Hedley and Bennett, how to believe in yourself, and how to create a positive company culture.
