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D I S T I N G U I S H E D A C H I E V E M E N T A W A R D

BU107 “gave students the chance to work together as a team and come up with a solution for a real company. That’s exactly what you do in the business world. It gave me the opportunity to roll up my sleeves and think outside the box.”

fun. Their novelty insignias, including the signature pink whale and other island-themed images, were meant to be conversation pieces that would bring people together. The following year, the brothers quit their jobs on the same day, and starting with an $8,000 cash advance from a credit card, began selling their ties on beaches and in boatyards and bars, employing the motto “Don’t be just another suit. Tie on a Vineyard Vine.” They were soon able to move themselves and several hundred ties out of their parents’ house and into their frst apartment, which doubled as their company headquarters. In 1998, they launched their frst catalog and started upon an astounding upward trajectory. The company has grown from a dozen whimsical men’s ties sold only on the Vineyard (the brothers opened their frst store there in 2005) and Cape Cod to a full range of shirts, sweaters, jackets, caps, skirts, pants, belts, fip-fops, and tote bags for men, women, and children sold across the county. The vacation-themed gear is currently available in 32 Vineyard Vines stores nationwide, as well as online and in some 600 specialty, boutique, and department stores, including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Part of the brothers’ creative brand-building includes developing unique partnerships with sports organizations and colleges and universities, cultivating legions of loyal team fans and alumni. Their products hang in hundreds of golf and tennis pro shops. By 2011, Vineyard Vines had licensing agreements with Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Hockey League to produce custom ties and totes for all teams. In 2011, it renewed its partnership with the New York Giants, and in the fall of 2010, a seat

in the Giants’ home MetLife Stadium was painted pink and embellished with the Vineyard Vines whale. In addition to the golf collection’s presence in pro golf shops, custom products have been made for every major PGA championship event. The company has also produced custom ties for some 150 schools and colleges, including Skidmore.

The Murray brothers collaborated with Teresa Heinz Kerry to create an exclusive red, white, and blue tie and scarf design for Senator John Kerry’s presidential primary campaign in 2004. Former presidents George H. W. and George W. Bush, Robert Kennedy Jr., New York City’s former and current mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, and Steve Forbes and other high-profle CEOs and television personalities also don the “good life” ties.

The Murrays’ marketing strategy has always revolved around developing grassroots customer loyalty, treating business partners fairly, and giving back to the community—values that Shep says were imparted by Skidmore former F. William Harder Professor James Settel. Shep refects, “He stressed the importance of being ethical and honest. And that’s the way we’ve done it from the start. We were never out there just to make money. Being ethical, treating our employees well, treating our customers well, valuing partnerships, and giving back is a huge part of what we’ve accomplished.” In addition, “Management and business professor John Holmes taught me the importance of creating ‘win-win-win’ situations in marketing and in life. English professor Peter Griffn, an expert on Hemingway, introduced me to great short-story writers and the importance of writing stories that came from the heart. His idea of giving almost