'It started as a bit of fun': Northern Ireland start-up hitting the back of the net with successful mystery shirt sales

For football fans, few things spark childlike excitement quite like unwrapping a brand-new shirt.

For Rory, founder of Mystery Shirt in a Box, that feeling became the blueprint for an online business that now ships surprise kits to supporters across the globe.

“It started in 2022 as a bit of fun,” he explains. “I’ve always loved football shirts and I wanted to capture that buzz of getting a new one in the post.”

What began as a small side project soon morphed into a fast-growing digital venture, powered by a loyal customer base and a small team helping with operations and support.

Based in Northern Ireland, Mystery Shirt in a Box proves that success doesn’t require a storefront on a busy high street. Customers span the UK, Ireland and the US, with orders also arriving from Europe and beyond - from hardcore collectors hunting for rare shirts to shoppers looking for a standout gift.

As a digital-first business, Mystery Shirt in a Box lives almost entirely on the internet. Everything from orders and stock management to customer service and marketing happens online.

“Without the internet, the business basically couldn’t function,” Rory explained. “Connectivity is non-negotiable for us.”

As the brand scaled, so did the tech demands behind the scenes. Before upgrading to Openreach Full Fibre, connectivity could be patchy and slow, especially at busy times. Upload delays, buffering video calls and sluggish systems added daily friction.

The decision to switch came three years ago, prompted by rising demand and the need for a more robust digital setup. The improvement was immediate.

“Uploads were faster, systems were more responsive, and we saw a lot less frustration,” Rory explains.

Stability has also been a game-changer: Full Fibre reaches every corner of the company’s 4,000 sq ft workspace, keeping operations seamless.

Reliable connectivity has supported the business as it processes higher volumes of orders and traffic, enabling larger marketing pushes and quicker customer response times.

“It definitely helped save time and reduced those little delays that add up over a working day,” he continued.

“It shows you don’t need to be in a major city to build a brand with a global audience."

With demand for online services continuing to rise, the role Openreach Northern Ireland plays in keeping businesses connected has never been more important - and Mystery Shirt in a Box is a textbook example of how local entrepreneurs are using world-class connectivity to think bigger, scale faster and ship farther.

Rory added: “Openreach Full Fibre has given the business a faster, more reliable backbone that makes everything run more smoothly and supports future growth.”