Uni Side Hustle to Full-time business owner: Harry on building Jim’s Jerseys
Written by Ruby Bradshaw
Harry started Jim’s Jerseys as a side hustle, turning it into a full-time business specialising in custom rugby jerseys and apparel. Drawing on his family’s entrepreneurial background and his own rugby experience, he spotted a gap in the market for high-quality, traditional cotton rugby shirts. What began with an initial order of 75 shirts for Sheffield has grown into a thriving brand with a strong community vibe and loyal following across universities and rugby clubs.
Starting with no formal business plan, he quickly set up an Instagram page and a website to showcase the products. He actively engaged customers by requesting photos and feedback to fuel organic growth. His hands-on approach and authentic connection to the sport helped build a loyal community, turning what began as a side hustle into a promising business that celebrates rugby’s culture of pride, teamwork, and heritage.
Harry’s vision for Jim’s Jerseys is all about capturing the social side of rugby and creating a sense of community. He explains how the brand fits into the rugby culture of working hard on the pitch and then enjoying time with mates off it. Whether players are wearing the jerseys at the pub after a game or on sports trips, the goal is for the shirts to bring people together. He’s especially interested in how the brand can unite different generations within grassroots clubs by giving everyone the same shirt to wear. As the business grows and expands across the UK and beyond, Harry knows one challenge will be keeping that community feel. Right now, because the brand is still quite small, it’s easier to maintain close connections with customers. But as Jim’s Jerseys gets bigger, he wants to make sure that sense of belonging stays strong.
Jim’s Jerseys grew naturally and at a pace he could manage, especially while juggling a full-time job. “When I started at uni, it was more like a hobby, something I could do for myself and take my mind off other things,” he explains. After graduating, he worked in marketing full-time while the business was still in its early days. “One of the main challenges at the start was just time, balancing a full-time job and trying to grow the business to a point where I could quit my job.” He admits the decision to leave his steady income was daunting. “It felt like a massive decision. If I quit my job, I wouldn’t have any security of a salary.” But looking back, Harry realises it wasn’t as scary as it felt at the time. “I’d already proven the business concept, I had customers coming back, so it was actually a pretty small decision. And it was definitely the right one.”
Harry highlights how hands-on they are with every customer, walking them through the entire process from design to choosing the right size. “We often get clubs wanting replica kits or shirts, so it’s quite personal, going back and forth to get everything exactly right.” He emphasises the quality of both the products and the service, “I believe the quality of what we offer is one of the best in the custom apparel space.”
He shared that he doesn’t often take time to reflect on his achievements, but when he does, a couple of things really stand out. “I’m proud that I managed to turn what started as a side hustle into my full-time job, and that it now provides a living for me.” He also highlights the fact that he began with zero investment. “I basically started from zero, with no money put in upfront. Because of the business model, taking payment upfront from customers before ordering from suppliers, I’ve been able to grow the business through reinvesting profits. It’s been a lot of hard work, but that’s how I’ve got to where I am today.”
One of the moments that really makes it feel worthwhile, Harry says, is seeing people wearing his products out in the world. “Whether I’m at Twickenham watching an England game or just spotting people at different rugby clubs, it’s a great feeling to see strangers wearing Jim’s Jerseys, enjoying them, and using them for what they’re made for.”
Harry’s day-to-day is pretty full on. Due to his background in marketing, naturally, he loves spending time on marketing stuff for Jim’s Jerseys, whether that’s running ads on Facebook and Instagram, setting up partnerships with other businesses, or planning photo shoots. But in reality, a lot of his time is eaten up by admin tasks. That means answering emails, handling customer questions, working on designs, coordinating with suppliers, sending orders, tracking production, and booking couriers. It’s a lot to keep up with, and he’s hoping to bring someone on board soon to take care of those day-to-day admin duties. That way, he can focus more on growing the business and being creative again which is something he really enjoys. Harry even mentioned how much he loved design technology in school and how creating and building things has always been a passion.
He admits that when he was younger, he thought you had to invent something totally new to start a business, but that’s not true at all. It’s more about spotting where things can be done better and making that happen. What he noticed was that big rugby or sports brands weren’t really offering high-quality traditional rugby jerseys for teams and clubs. So he found a gap there and filled it. “You don’t have to re-invent the wheel,” he says.
For Harry, it took about two and a half years to get his side hustle to a sustainable level. He recommends starting slow, proving the concept bit by bit, and then gradually taking bigger steps once you have customers and some revenue coming in.
You can check out Jim’s Jerseys here and follow them on Instagram.
