Welcome to Episode 10 of The Pocket with Chris Griffin! This week, we were thrilled to have Matthew Banks, the visionary founder of my favourite and also Australia's largest men's jewellery brand, Merchants of the Sun. In this conversation, Matty takes us behind the scenes of Merchants of the Sun, sharing the brand's inception story, the challenges faced, and the pivotal moments that defined its path.  One of the most captivating stories Matty shared was about a bold decision made at the peak of the brand's success. Despite Merchants of the Sun doing an astounding $150,000 a month, Matty chose to close the store during the busiest times of the year. This wasn't a step back but a strategic pause to refocus and reimagine the brand's vision, setting a precedent in the industry about the importance of alignment with core values over immediate gains. We also touched on the hard times, the doubts, and the resilience it takes to build a brand that stands out for its commitment to quality and sustainability. Matty's journey with Merchants of the Sun is not just a business success story; it's a testament to following one's passion and the courage to redefine success on one's own terms. As a personal fan of their jewellery, I can't express enough how much I love Merchants of the Sun's creations. I wear their pieces every day, and their commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability is something I deeply respect and recommend to everyone. Be sure to check out Matty & Merchants in the links below: https://merchantsofthesun.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/merchantsofthesun/ Thank you to Switch Nutrition for sponsoring this episode. I take the Switch products every single day and I love them. My recommendations as touched on the the episode are the Hydrate and the Adrenal. Use code CHRISGRIFFIN for 20% off https://switchnutrition.com.au/collections/all FOLLOW THE POCKET ON INSTAGRAM: https://Instagram.com/THEPOCKETPODCAST/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.