- Birmingham, UK Design Studio crafting products that blends form & function -
Story of a Boxer
In a moment, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Youwok.
But first, a story...
Once upon a time, a boxer taught a businessman a lesson that would change his life.
The businessman was on a trip to a small town when he noticed a local boxer finishing up his training with impressive speed and skill. The businessman complimented the boxer on his abilities and asked how long it took to reach that level.
“Just a little while,” replied the boxer.
The businessman then asked why the boxer didn’t train longer and fight more matches.
As the boxer wrapped up his hands, he replied, “Because I have enough to live comfortably. Plus, I enjoy sleeping in, playing with my kids, taking afternoon naps with my wife, and going out in the evenings to have a drink and play cards with my friends.”
The businessman, who had an Ivy League education, scoffed and gave the boxer a lesson in life…
“Train more, fight more matches. With the winnings, you could hire a manager, and with more victories, you could build a gym. Eventually, you could move to a big city like London or NYC to run your growing business.”
“But then what?” asked the boxer.
The businessman chuckled condescendingly and said, “Then, you could eventually sign a big contract, sell the gym, and become a millionaire.”
“But then what?” asked the boxer, again.
The businessman responded, “Then you can retire. Move to a small town and enjoy sleeping in, playing with your kids, taking afternoon naps with your wife, and going out in the evenings to have a drink and play cards with your friends.”
The boxer smiled at the businessman, winked, and walked away with his gloves slung over his shoulder.
Youwok exists to be that wink for the world.
Hi. I’m Moe
I am... I guess what you’d call... the “Founder” of Youwok. I’m a designer by trade, an entrepreneur by accident.
Youwok, in many ways, was the result of scouring the internet for simple, minimal, well-made designs and coming up short again and again. So, I decided to make my own from scratch.
People seemed to love them. So much so that I designed other products that, like the Sukodo skipping rope, were simple, functional, extremely well-made, and long-lasting.
Long-lasting isn’t always “good for business.”
Like the boxer in the story I shared above, I take a slow and thoughtful approach, remembering that more isn’t always better.
Whether thats thinking up the next design for Youwok, I’m never one for rushing things. I want to design and breathe life into products that last a lifetime and then some.
Sometimes, I scratch my head when my past customers send me photographs of a leather mousepad or messenger bag they bought from me a decade ago and are still using today.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t think to myself… is this the smartest approach to running a profitable business?
Haha!
But, I can’t see myself building a company any other way. It’s just not who I am.
. . . . .
Leave the planet better than you found it.
Shopping from Youwok is a lot like buying from your neighborhood corner store. Not only are you supporting our family, but you’re also supporting other, extraordinarily hard-working small businesses...
Our leather goods are crafted by two makers in Manchester, our hats are handmade in Edinburgh, and our shirts are made in a small factory in Leicester, one of the last UK clothing manufacturers still operating. We pay our partners fair wages because we want them to feel secure and valued. And, for operations, we hire our family and friends.
Now, with all that said, if I’m lucky enough to call you a customer, great. But, if for whatever reason you don’t see anything that catches your eye, please walk away with this…
I encourage you to leave the world better than you found it by thoughtfully choosing quality over quantity, less over more, lasting over “trending” and profound over popular.
I think now more than ever, our world could use more of the boxer’s ethos.