There are days when running a business feels incredibly hard

Starting a business from nothing is difficult at the best of times. Building a brand, earning a reputation, looking after customers, finding new customers and making enough sales to keep the doors open — all while constantly trying to improve, learn, adapt and push things forward — is a huge challenge.

And sometimes, being the one person carrying all of that can feel very lonely.

There are days when it feels like everything is pulling against you. Days when you question yourself, wonder whether you're doing enough, and wish there was someone beside you who had been there before.

For me, that person would always be my Dad.

The Forge Prees began life in 2019 as Dad's retirement project. After a lifetime of building businesses, developing people and contributing to the industries and communities around him, he wanted to do something for himself.

Something he loved - British classic sports cars.

Sadly, Dad passed away later that same year, before he ever had the chance to see the dream properly come to life.

I often think about what it would be like if he were still here.

I wish he could see the cars that are now passing through The Forge. I wish I could sit down with him and talk through the difficult decisions, the successes, the mistakes and everything in between.

More than anything, I wish I could hear him say, "You're doing alright."

I had the privilege of working alongside Dad for 25 years. I learned more from him than I could ever put into words — about business, about people, about making difficult decisions and, perhaps most importantly, about having the determination to keep going when things don't go to plan.

He taught me to work hard.

To do things properly.

To stand by your decisions.

And to keep pushing forward.

So when things get difficult, I remind myself why I'm doing this.

The Forge isn't simply a business to me.

It's a continuation of something Dad started.

A small part of his dream that I have the privilege of carrying forward.

I wish he was here to experience the journey with me — the good days, the bad days, the excitement, the frustration and everything in between.

But he's still part of it.

In every car.

In every decision.

In the values behind the business.

And in the determination to keep going. I also want to take a moment to say thank you.

To every customer who has trusted The Forge, every supplier who has supported us, and to the people who have been there alongside us from the very beginning — thank you.

Your support, encouragement, patience and belief in what we're trying to build means more than you probably realise.

Building The Forge has been a journey, and it certainly hasn't always been an easy one. But having good people around you makes all the difference.

We still have a long way to go, and we will continue to learn, improve and push forward as we endeavour to grow The Forge and build something special.