A proud Co Tyrone man has opened up about how he turned a vision into reality when launching a new business.
Seán Murphy, from Galbally, was working as a coach from a gym outside his home when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, suspending work for the fitness industry.
The 28-year-old used lockdown to "sharpen his skill assets" in the world of business, reading books and listening to podcasts to gain inspiration.
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Fast forward two years, Seán now owns MOVE Clothing, which has grown from a collection of branded sweatshirts to an attractive array of gym and leisure active wear clothing and accessories suitable and versatile for wearing anywhere.
"What started off with just a few sweatshirts in our initial iconic range, escalated into something beyond what we could have imagined when we started off the journey," Seán told Belfast Live.
"I was working my way up the ladder in the fitness industry. Strength and Conditioning was the profession I was heavily invested in and I worked from my gym outside my home. Covid-19 then came in March 2020 and with all the restrictions I had to close the gym for the foreseeable as all businesses, especially gyms had no clear future as the virus was completely unknown.
"I have always been interested in fashion and sport and one night during lockdown I watched a documentary on The Boston Celtics and The LA Lakers on ESPN. When I seen the retro vibe of their tracksuits, I had a lightbulb moment - that I would love to design my own concepts, not to sell but just for a personal task.
"I literally drew sketches on an A4 page, coloured them in and sent to suppliers to recreate. When I received them back and they turned out well I then had to make a decision if I actually wanted to turn this into a reality."
Seán says his vision for MOVE was to have some gym merchandise to compliment his own gym branding.
Using the same logo as his gym's, because it was a standout design, he saw that it worked well in the world of clothing. Unsure whether it would be a success, as soon as he launched MOVE, sales came in - in the hundreds.
"I have never looked back," he said.
"MOVE Launched on a Friday night in the middle of May 2020. It was when restrictions were easing and you could meet other households but only outside. I hadn’t seen my friends since lockdown started and we agreed to meet that night. I remember launching it on social media from my car literally before meeting them outside.
"That whole night my phone was buzzing in my pocket with notifications and I’d no idea what people were saying. I hadn’t seen the boys in months so I didn’t want to be on my phone the whole night checking. I remember getting home and being eager to see the response - I couldn’t believe it.
"There was thousands of interactions over all the posts combined. It was a surreal moment. I didn’t sleep that night with the buzz of it. It was a huge step in the journey and a moment I’ll never forget.
"Things have gone really well. We now have an office with four full time staff, including myself. We have a warehouse too which we erected last year. It’s crazy how it’s become a job for not only me but the others in the office. We sit in the top 1% of Shopify stores worldwide based on traffic. It’s a crazy statistic and one that highlights great growth since we started
"When I seen people wearing MOVE at the start, I used to get really embarrassed and shy. I still do to an extent but not as much, I’m just a shy fella anyway so it’s just in my nature.
"I do love seeing it places outside of home now and I do really appreciate anyone who buys a product. People will send me pictures if they’re on holidays throughout Ireland and see a MOVE top. I love seeing how far we are reaching and hopefully it becomes more and more popular throughout the whole of the island."
Following in the footsteps of is brother, who owns Murphy's Gaelic Gloves, Seán hailed his parents, family, friends and community for their continued support in this journey - which is only beginning.
Admitting that setting up a new brand is not the norm in a rural area like his own, he said being alongside his friends, who also own businesses, it's a great atmosphere to thrive in.
Seán continued: "We are currently just enjoying the process of it. We certainly aren’t getting carried away with any massive plans. We hope to continue our ranges steadily - we like to plan every one carefully so we keep up to date but also produce quality clothing.
"We are due to launch our MOVE Golf gear in April and it’s something I’m really looking forward to. We just want to continue the progression of the brand to a point it’s known throughout Ireland and UK.
"Recently I have I planned to recommence my profession in Strength and Conditioning and be able to have TWO thriving businesses work simultaneously. I hadn’t time to do it due to the workload of setting up the MOVE brand but now I have systems set in place and a fully working office I hope to work at both.
"For every single person that has ever purchased an item I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every single sale means a lot to me and it’s you who make the brand grow - not me. Without sales this wouldn’t be possible and I hope you can continue to do so as we grow this brand together. One of my visions for this brand is to create a community and I cherish every sale as it means the community is growing and strengthening by the day.
"Lots of people have started businesses like me and their success stories inspire me. I’m just your normal guy and I always will be - if anyone wants to reach out to ask me anything or even to give me advice on anything, then they can do so, I would love to hear from them."
For more information, visit the MOVE website here or email seanmurphy@wearemove.ie.
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