By HTE Founder, Erin Hughes.
We sat down with The Wardrobe Edit founders Kath Power and Prue Webb to talk about what really makes their partnership work and why friendship remains at the heart of it all.
What do you each bring to the table that the other doesn’t?
Kath brings infectious positive energy, endless style inspiration and a can-do attitude that keeps us moving forward.
Prue brings unwavering support, genuine kindness and an incredible ability to connect people. She builds relationships with authenticity and care, always making others feel seen, valued and encouraged.
How would you describe your working dynamic in three words?
Considered. Joyful. Supportive.
Who’s the organised one… and who’s the ideas person?
We’re both definitely ideas people! Kath has been making more of an effort in the organisation department lately, but truthfully, we’re probably as organised and disorganised as each other.
When you disagree, who usually wins?
We rarely disagree. Neither of us really believes in “winning” an argument, so we focus on finding a solution that works for both of us.
What’s the best part of building a business together?
Celebrating all the wins, big and small, along the way, and never having to walk into a function alone! Given the nature of our work, we get to spend a lot of time together, which is pretty special.
What’s been the trickiest moment you’ve had to navigate as partners?
Like most women, we’re juggling a lot outside of the business.
There have been times when one of us has had more capacity than the other, and navigating that can be challenging.
We’re also incredibly similar in many ways, which can be both our greatest strength and occasionally our biggest challenge.
What does trust look like between you two?
Talking about absolutely everything. It’s knowing that each of us is always considering the other person, making decisions with both the partnership and our friendship in mind. There’s a real confidence in knowing we’ve always got each other’s backs.
Why do you think some business partnerships just don’t work out?
For us, it always comes back to alignment.
If you’re not on the same page about where you’re heading, how you want to work, or what success looks like, things can start to unravel over time. Communication is a huge part of it too.
When people stop having honest conversations, assumptions can creep in and create tension.
We also think it’s important to genuinely respect what each person brings to the table.
No partnership is ever going to be perfectly equal all the time, but feeling valued, heard and appreciated goes a long way.
At the end of the day, the strongest partnerships are built on trust, communication and shared values.
What’s one conversation every pair of potential business partners should have before they start?
An honest conversation about expectations.
Talk about your goals, vision, responsibilities, decision-making, finances and how you’ll handle disagreements when they inevitably arise. Most importantly, write it all down.
Having those conversations early helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps everyone accountable.
What would you say to someone about to go into business with a friend?
Treat the partnership as both a friendship and a business relationship. While trust and a strong personal connection are invaluable, it’s important to have clear conversations about roles, responsibilities, finances, decision-making and long-term goals from the beginning.
Put those agreements in writing to protect both the business and the friendship. But for us, one thing has always mattered most. The friendship came first, so it has to remain the priority. Businesses will have challenging moments, but if the friendship stays strong, you have a much better chance of navigating them together.
And if things do get tricky, don’t be afraid to bring in a third party, whether that’s a business coach, mentor or trusted advisor, to help keep communication open and ensure you’re both staying aligned and accountable.
Find out more about The Wardrobe Edit here.
