From Booth Babe to Business Owner: My Paintball Journey

Many people in the paintball industry know my husband, Simon Stevens. He’s well recognized for inventing the first force-feed hopper system—a product that truly changed the sport—and for many other innovative designs that followed. But beyond his achievements, Simon is also one of the kindest, most brilliant, and fascinating people I know. I’m lucky to call him my husband and partner in life and business.

I thought it was a good time to share my story and how I found my place in this amazing industry.

Where It All Started: Toulouse, France – 2004

In the summer of 2004, I was just looking for a summer job when I ended up working as a “booth babe” for National Paintball Supply (NPS), which had recently opened a facility in the UK. The event was the World Cup, taking place in Toulouse, France.

Because I spoke some English, I was able to help French wholesale customers communicate with the NPS team and build relationships that led to them carrying the company’s products. I loved the energy and experience so much that after the event, I reached out to NPS to say I’d love to help at future events if they ever needed me.

A Leap of Faith

Shortly after, they invited me to visit their UK facility—and offered me a job as a sales representative. After a brief visit, I told my parents I was moving to the UK to work for a paintball company. My dad and I drove from the south of France all the way to Colchester, England to get me settled.

It wasn’t easy. I was young, French, and had no rental history or UK bank account—so finding a place to live was a real challenge. But I was determined.

I had never even heard of paintball before that Toulouse event. English was my second language, and I had no background in the sport. It was a steep learning curve—understanding the products, what they did, how to talk about them—but I kept pushing forward. Eventually, I found my groove and became one of their top salespeople.

The Next Chapter: Inception Designs

Fast forward to 2013—after many years of both Simon and I working for the same company (which had changed ownership by then), we decided to start something of our own. That’s how Inception Designs was born.

Our goal was simple: to create innovative, high-quality paintball products and to build something we believed in.

Still Learning, Still Grateful

Running a small business comes with its share of challenges, but there’s also a lot of reward. We’ve had the privilege of meeting incredible people through this industry—some of whom have become lifelong friends. We’ve learned so much and continue to grow every day.

To everyone who’s supported us over the years—whether you've been with us from the start or just discovered us—THANK YOU. We’re truly grateful for each and everyone of you.

Thanks for being part of this journey with us.

In the accompanying photo, I’m pictured on the left. Toulouse, France-2004