Shep and Ian Murray, CEOs and brothers (as they like to be called) created the now iconic clothing brand Vineyard Vines. The two brothers were working for in Manhattan in 1998 when they both decided to quit the corporate life to pursue their dream of living the good life hence their slogan “Every Day Should Feel This Good.” They say their story began with the reminiscence of their childhood on Martha’s Vineyard. Before quitting their jobs in NYC they signed up for as many credit cards as they both could
(and used their health plan just as much, they like to say). With their credit cards they used all they could to personally finance their dream of living the good life.
July, 1999 the two brother began selling their ties off their old boat and out of backpack on Martha’s Vineyard. That summer saw the largest growth their new company Vineyard Vines (VV) had ever seen. By the end of the season VV moved to a small office on the island. By 2004, the Murray brothers’ company grew to multiple boutique shops along the East Coast. Between their expansion in ’04 and ’07 the new company’s revenue tripled. And, in 2015, VV christened its new 91,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Stamford, CT.
The story of the Murray brothers and Vineyard Vines goes to show that investing in yourself without a safety net is always the best motivator for any entrepreneur. Risk it all to get the best reward because “Everyday Should Feel This Good.”
This is a perfect example of how the American Dream can change someone’s life forever. With high risk put into such a project, high reward is always a possibility depending on how much effort and time put into the work at stake.
I had no idea that Vineyard Vines was a family company. It is great to see two brothers go all in together on an idea and end up making it big. Really shows you to go all out in everything you do and to never hold anything back!
Cole, I am so glad to see you do a post on Vineyard Vines. Who else better to know the background. I did not know this was a family based company. I love how they dropped everything to make their dreams come true and they did in style! Awesome post
It’s always interesting to see how certain brands come to be, and VV is no exception. Though the prices for some of the clothes are too high for my personal liking, I know that the quality and longevity of the clothes is nothing to scoff at.
Who know Vineyard Vines was such a cool family company? I love their brand and what they have implemented into the world of retail. Their brand equity is enormous because of how reputable they are. Great post.