Wednesday Waffle: Factory Floors, Face-to-Face & What Comes Next for British-Made Smocks

Wednesday Waffle: Face-to-Face, Factory Floors & Building What Comes Next

Business rarely moves in straight lines. Some weeks are all graft behind the scenes, others are spent out front, shaking hands, telling the story, and reminding yourself why you started in the first place. This week was a bit of everything — factory floors, countryside events, personal development, new partnerships, and laying foundations for where Lockwood Premium British Smocks is heading next.

As always, this is your Wednesday Waffle honest, unpolished, and very much in motion.

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From the Factory Floor: Spring / Summer Is Taking Shape

Friday took us back up to the factory to collect samples for the first phase of our Spring / Summer range. There’s something grounding about being back on the factory floor handling garments at the earliest stage, checking fit, fabric weight, construction, and details that most people never see.

This is where British-made actually means something. Sampling isn’t glamorous, but it’s the difference between a jacket that looks good online and one that performs properly in the field. These early pieces are about lighter layers, technical functionality, and versatility — kit designed to work just as hard in the countryside as it does day-to-day.

Everything we build still follows the same principles:
    •    Designed with real use in mind
    •    Made in Britain
    •    Built to last, not trend

Spring / Summer isn’t about watering things down it’s about refining them.

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Badbury Rings & the Power of Face-to-Face

Saturday saw us at Badbury Rings for the Countryside Alliance point-to-point, and once again, it reinforced something I’ll never stop believing in nothing replaces meeting people in person.

You can talk about British manufacturing, quality outerwear, and heritage all day online. But standing in a field, letting people handle the kit, hearing their stories, and seeing how they actually live and work outdoors? That’s where brands are built.

Events like this aren’t just about selling. They’re about community, trust, and visibility. They remind me that Lockwood isn’t just a clothing label it’s becoming a shared identity for people who value substance over noise.

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Working On the Business: Learning Never Stops

This week also included time stepping back from the day-to-day to work on the business, not just in it. I attended a business seminar with James Sinclair, focused on sharpening commercial understanding, long-term thinking, and founder development.

There’s a temptation when things are moving fast to just keep your head down and graft harder. But real progress comes from pressure-testing how you think, not just how much you do. These sessions aren’t about shortcuts — they’re about building something sustainable, scalable, and resilient.

The goal isn’t growth at all costs. It’s right growth.

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Content, Collaboration & Building in Public

Today I’ve been sat down filming and creating content with Jack Wiles from RB Club, and we’ll be jumping on a live Wednesday Waffle together later.

This kind of collaboration matters. Not forced influencer stuff real conversations, shared values, and building in public. Letting people see how businesses form, evolve, and connect behind the scenes.

Founder-led brands don’t win by shouting the loudest. They win by being transparent, consistent, and human.

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Elevating the Details: Packaging Matters

One of the quieter wins this week was picking up new laser-etched hangers. Small detail? Maybe. But details are what separate good from great.

When someone opens a parcel, I want it to feel intentional. Considered. Worth it. British-made clothing should arrive like it belongs in your life for years, not months.

Packaging isn’t fluff it’s part of the experience.

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A Proper Thank You: Free Branded YETI Mug

From now until 31st March, every purchase of a smock will receive a free, one-off branded YETI mug, created in collaboration with Wee Burns It.

This isn’t a clearance gimmick. It’s a thank-you for backing British manufacturing, for supporting an independent brand, and for being part of what we’re building.

Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

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Looking Ahead: Technical Credibility & What’s Next

Tomorrow, we’re heading to HR4K to discuss showcasing Lockwood products in their space, led by Ben Garland.

This is an important step. It represents a move deeper into a customer base that values technical performance, credibility, and equipment that’s earned — not marketed. People who understand what good kit looks like, feels like, and needs to do when it matters.

That alignment doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built through consistency, proof, and trust.

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Final Thoughts

This week was a reminder that momentum isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s factory samples. Sometimes it’s conversations in muddy fields. Sometimes it’s sitting quietly learning how to think better.

But piece by piece, it all stacks.

If you’re reading this and you’ve supported the brand worn the kit, shared a post, sent a message, or stopped for a chat at an event thank you. You’re not just buying clothing. You’re backing British manufacturing and helping build something with purpose.

As always, we go again next week.

God bless, God save the King,
Jacob