Latest news with #Sean
Irish Examiner
18 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Homeless entrepreneur Sean builds babywear business inspired by daughter's eczema condition
It's not your average route to market: from living out of a car to starting your own business while in emergency accommodation. But that's the journey undertaken by one young homeless entrepreneur, inspired by his one-year-old daughter's health issues. Sean Fox has come through addiction, health scares, and homelessness in the past few years, so launching a start-up on a second-hand laptop is just another chapter. He has plans to move his online business into markets in Dublin and Cork. Goosey Goo, created with his partner Clodagh Kelly, sells organic hypoallergenic clothing for infants, clocking up almost €2,000 in sales since its inception last month, no mean feat for a business created on a battered second-hand laptop. The company is already in talks about linking up with a prominent Irish investor. All that would have seemed in a different world not so long ago for 26-year-old Sean, who hails from Finglas in Dublin, who stumbled his way through the education system. 'I failed my junior cert and then I got about 250 points in my Leaving Cert. I studied computers in Blanchardstown IT, but never completed it," said Sean. 'I went on undiagnosed with ADHD and found it hard to stick to things that didn't pique my interest. I fell into drug addiction on and off from the time I left school. Cocaine abuse and alcohol abuse were filling a void. I felt like I was lost and without purpose. Sean Fox with his partner Clodagh and their daughter Eabha. Photograph Moya Nolan "I had a bad relationship with my father growing up. He was a drug addict himself and that was my whole life in my teenage years. He'd pick me up on a Friday to bring me over to his place but it was always be a thing where he'd end up on the session and but I'd be left crying at the window every weekend. 'I think all of that had a part to play in where I found myself. You know, I went out looking for love through the street. I didn't always find it at home, so I looked elsewhere. I end up finding other things, and falling into addiction.' The negative spiral saw Sean 'going in and out of jobs' for seven or eight years. 'I went back to college a second time during covid; I studied automotive management and technology in Bolton St. I did that for two years before I dropped out. With cocaine, I'd have about six months and let me life get turn to ruin, then get back on my feet and get a job then would end up falling off again.' Two events got Sean on the road to recovery: meeting partner Clodagh, and the death of his father. 'When my father passed away about three years ago, I got myself back on the straight and narrow. I started going to NA meetings and started to get my head together.' Meeting Clodagh brought another positive into his life. By the time they found out Clodagh was pregnant with baby Eabha, Sean was already started on his journey of recovery, settled and was working as a service advisor for a national car firm. 'I had worked hard, and then I got an offer to work as a service advisor across the city with better money and. It was a dream.' Eabha was born in July 2023, and life was looking up, when fate too another twist. A trip to the dentist saw a sore on his lip misdiagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma. It turned out to be benign but when Sean told his employer he believed he had oral cancer, he was still on probation in his job. He was let go days later. The young couple, with baby in tow, now had no income and had to leave their accommodation. 'I come from a big family, so there was no space for us in my mother's house in Finglas. We ended up sleeping out of the car, and my Ma would take the baby at night, and we'd call to her during the day. 'I was sacked at start of January 2024, and in mid February we got emergency accommodation, in a converted hotel. We were then moved to an old Magdalene laundry, where my grandmother had been 56 years before.' Eabha had developed eczema, which was another worry. 'It was severe. It was literally head to toe and we'd be wake in the morning, and she'd be scratching her neck. 'When your child has a skin condition you are cutting back all your other spending about 20% for medications and for different skincare products. And like us, when Eabha was raw head to toe, you need specific clothing. Bamboo clothing is realy soft to the touch and children don't sweat as much. But it was expensive, it could cost €30 a piece,' said Sean. 'The friendships we had in homeless accommodation helps get you through, and one evenig we were sitting down with a few of those friends having dinner, when Clodagh saw bamboo clothing could be purchased online. 'The cogs started turning in my head,' said Sean. 'Why don't we sell our own clothing? I just started working from my old laptop. Sean Fox's Goosey Goo baby clothing orders ready for postage. 'I have no background in business. I started getting in contact with suppliers,. It was literally me and Clodagh paying our social welfare to pay for the samples. I put everything into it, this became like a drug to me." The business needed a name. 'Sometimes we'd call baby Eabha our little 'Goose' so we said what about Goosey Goo?' Sean created a goose design emblem and started putting together a business plan. He enrolled in the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers national entrepreneur development programme, which supports start-ups in Ireland. One of his mentors there was Dr Colin Keogh, a leader in the Irish start-up space, and a specialist in commericalisation, who helps companies and entrepreneurs to bring research and ideas to reality. 'I deliver a lot of content on those courses around the country teaching and training entrpreneurs on building companies. Sean told me his story fully, and that sort of honesty is quite rare in the start up space. It was so impressive,' said Mr Keogh. Building the brand has taken on a life of its own in the year since. Sean sourced a supplier in China who could supply Ecotech standard 100 FSC-certified organic bamboo, hypoallergenic and antibacterial. Bamboo keeps the skin about two degrees cooler than cotton. The babywear prints are designed in Ireland, manufactured in China. The Goosey Goo website is up and running, with babygrows selling for €15. 'We are solving affordability of organic materials for children who suffer from severe skin conditions,' said Sean. Last February, Clodagh was attacked by a service user at the homeless accommodation the family were using, so the family were moved to a new emergency accommodation flat across Dublin city. That's now serving as HQ for Goosey Goo, which was incorporated as a business in April, with the first products ready for market. 'It's my office, my fulfillment centre, team meet-up spot, everything,' said Sean. Clodagh acts as the eyes and ears of the business, the creative director and company secretary. Nicola, who the couple described as their 'homeless mum' in their previous accommodation, previously worked in corporate travel before she found herself and her family homeless. She is now acting as operations director for Goosey Goo. The company even has a young marketing professional on board. 'Alan has just finished his degree in marketing and communication so is jumping on board to gain experience with social media and website marketing,' said Sean. Dr Colin Keogh and Goosey Goo founder Sean Fox speaking to students at the ID8 hub in Dublin. The website is live and the company has sold almost €2,000 of babywear since April. Sean is now looking at the next step in the company's development. 'I'm looking at getting into the Herbert Park market and the St Anne's Park market in Dublin, and I'd like to go down into Cork's Marina Market, which has a huge footfall,' said Sean. 'I'm hoping to do 500 units a month. That might drop off in summer, but should pick up again towards the winter.' This week, Sean was a guest speaker for third level students at the ID8 innovation hub in Dublin who are looking at becoming innovators themselves. He has also held discussions with an angel investor interested in taking a stake in the company. 'That would be a gamechanger but we don't have a valuation yet. I've worked so hard to set up this up, I don't want to give it away,' said Sean. Colin Keogh works with entrepreneurs and business leaders of the future every day, at Trinity, UCD, and other institutions around the country. He doesn't hold back in his praise for Sean. 'I've been in the start-up space for 10 or 15 years, I've started seven or eight companies and I have been involved in 40 or 50 others. I've seen some companies fail, lots of companies grow. Sean's dedication is unmatched, despite the fact he had less resources and much more precarious life situation. 'Goosey Goo has found a massive need. I have an 18-month old so I am aware of the cost, particularly for people that can't afford expensive clothing. "This isn't going to be Sean's only company because he has that bug now that he knows what is possible. 'There's lots of entrepreneurs, a handful may have once been homeless, but to be actively homeless setting up a business, Sean is a one in a million.'
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Love Island in new ‘fakery' row just days before new series as villa hunk slams show bosses
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Love Island contestant, Sean Stone, shared a scathing insight into how the show is run. Sean, who appeared in the 11th season of the ITV reality series in 2024, was embroiled in accusations of racism and bullying while on the show. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Love Island's Sean Stone reflected on his time on the reality show Credit: Getty 3 He told fans that not everything appeared as it seemed from the outside Credit: Rex He came third in that series with his now ex, Matilda Draper, and has opened up in a new TikTok about how the show is made. Sean began by saying "the hardest part" of coming back to the real world after being in the Spanish villa was that people "act like they know you" because of what they've seen on TV. "They think they know you, and they have their opinions about you," he said. "Now, obviously, this show's a reality TV show, guys, it's very dramatic. "It's not normal or natural, really." Sean continued: "When you're obviously on the show, you're in your Love Island bubble, you don't really know what's being shown on the outside, you're just there living in the moment. "And I really don't think that situations in there were as bad as what they were shown on TV and situations were obviously dramatized for TV purposes and not actually what generally was happening inside the villa." The reality TV personality explained that when "you come out to the real world," you realise the stories written about him and comments on social media were a shock. "Obviously, the new season is around the corner, and on reflection, I learned a lot about myself from the show and just TV in general," Sean added. He said would always be "very, very grateful" for the opportunities he got from Love Island, "but obviously, it's not all sunshine." Love Island's Tasha slammed by ex in foul-mouthed rant as her new boyfriend is revealed "But yeah, thank you so much for the support. As always, I really, really appreciate it," Sean concluded. People reacted to Sean's video in the comments section. "I mean you did say those things though...." wrote one person. Another commented: "'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all', isn't just for the kids and applies on reality tell as well you know?" And a third posted: "Don't let the negativity get to you Sean, we love you." Ofcom was inundated with complaints after an episode of Sean's season of Love Island where he and fellow Islander, Joey Essex, were accused of bullying. Some people also accused Sean of racism and did not approve of the way he spoke to contestant Mimii Ngulube. The media regulator eventually decided not to investigate the complaints. The new season of Love Island stars on Monday, June 9.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Love Island in new ‘fakery' row just days before new series as villa hunk slams show bosses
A FORMER Love Island contestant, Sean Stone, shared a scathing insight into how the show is run. 3 Love Island's Sean Stone reflected on his time on the reality show Credit: Getty 3 He told fans that not everything appeared as it seemed from the outside Credit: Rex He came third in that series "They think they know you, and they have their opinions about you," he said. "Now, obviously, this show's a reality TV show, guys, it's very dramatic. love island "It's not normal or natural, really." Sean continued: "When you're obviously on the show, you're in your Love Island bubble, you don't really know what's being shown on the outside, you're just there living in the moment. "And I really don't think that situations in there were as bad as what they were shown on TV and situations were obviously dramatized for TV purposes and not actually what generally was happening inside the villa." The reality TV personality explained that when "you come out to the real world," you realise the stories written about him and comments on social media were a shock. Most read in TV "Obviously, the new season is around the corner, and on reflection, I learned a lot about myself from the show and just TV in general," Sean added. He said would always be "very, very grateful" for the opportunities he got from Love Island, "but obviously, it's not all sunshine." Love Island's Tasha slammed by ex in foul-mouthed rant as her new boyfriend is revealed "But yeah, thank you so much for the support. As always, I really, really appreciate it," Sean concluded. People reacted to Sean's video in the comments section. "I mean you did say those things though...." wrote one person. Another commented: "'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all', isn't just for the kids and applies on reality tell as well you know?" And a third posted: "Don't let the negativity get to you Sean, we love you." Some people also accused Sean of racism and did not approve of the way he spoke to contestant Mimii Ngulube. The media regulator eventually decided not to investigate the complaints. The new season of Love Island stars on Monday, June 9. 3 Sean reflected on his experience as the new season of Love Island is set to begin Credit: Rex
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
'I felt like I attended': The Adare Manor wedding that had the country hooked on TikTok
Social media users have been hooked to the wedding ceremony of two New Yorkers at Adare Manor over the weekend. Ally Rice and Sean Fernando tied the knot in an extravagant wedding ceremony at the popular venue on Saturday, May 24, surrounded by 100 of their friends and family. TikTok and Instagram users have been flooding the comment section of the couple's wedding planner, who has been sharing video clips of the day, with many users admitting that they were 'heavily invested' in the wedding day of two strangers. One of the world's most sought-after wedding planners, Marcy Blum, a Vogue and Harper's Bazaar top-rated event planner and designer, headed the planning for the wedding celebrations with a production team and the help of many locals and internationals. Blum, who is no stranger to extravagance, having planned the weddings of an extensive list of high-profile celebrities, including Billy Joel and LeBron James, shared a post on TikTok showing the behind-the-scenes prep that went into the three-day celebration on the grounds of Adare Manor. 'Hundreds of people, both local and from around the world, collaborated over 18 months in Ally and Sean's Adare Manor wedding day,' she captioned the post. The extravagant wedding is rumoured to have cost seven figures, with no expenses spared. The celebration included a suite of Irish essentials, a bespoke glass marquee, extravagant floral and greenery arrangements, a 'Manor Soirée' and a 'Night Owl' afterparty. An impressive three-day itinerary The couple had a suite of Irish essentials, including chocolate, jams, Keogh's crisps, shortbread, t-shirts, caps, woollen blankets, and themed pins and keyrings, created as an alternative to a traditional wedding welcome bag. The three-day bash kicked off with guests following horses and bounds into the town of Adare for a pub crawl and traditional céili. Night two saw guests take part in a 'Manor Soirée', where they were taken on a theatrical and adventurous history tour of the manor, which included music, song, and dance. The Big Day The wedding ceremony was held in a bespoke glass marquee which was erected on the grounds of the manor. Decorated with florals and greenery, the ceremony venue complemented the bride's dress, which was embroidered with flowers at its hem. The party got started with a topiary chess-inspired cocktail hour, which had everything from chequered flooring to the king and queen pawns donating the toilets. The topiary chess-inspired cocktail hour at Ally and Sean's wedding day at Adare Manor. Picture: Marcy Blum/TikTok. Blum posted a video of the set-up for the themed cocktail hour, noting: 'We were all just willing pawns in Ally & Sean's chess topiary cocktail hour.' The meal took place in a banquet hall-esque designed reception tent, which was decorated with pink flowers and lit by pink candles and chandeliers. The couple's first dance was to a rendition of Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club, before the wedding party and their guests danced the night away at a nightclub-like afterparty called the 'Night Owl', which had everything from champagne bottles with sparklers to a DJ and dancers. The extravagance of it all had social media users glued to Blum's video updates, which now have thousands of views, with users in the comments saying they felt as though they had attended the wedding themselves. "Did anyone else feel like they attended Ally and Sean's wedding this week?" one user commented. "I felt like I was part of it,' another posted. The three-day celebration also had people questioning what the couple does for work, with reports that Sean works in tech and Ally is a video editor. Some users were also quick to welcome the boost that the couple's wedding has given the local town and the recognition it has given local businesses. One thing is for sure - the wedding has broken the internet, and more specifically, Irish TikTok.
India.com
4 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Meet man whose salary was once Rs 12800000, now working as delivery boy due to..., warns that millions...
New Delhi: Once a software engineer earning a hefty salary of Rs 1.28 crore ($150,000) annually in the world of the metaverse, Shaun is now facing a challenging phase in his life. Forty-two-year-old Shaun has two decades of experience in the technology sector, but today he is surviving on small jobs like food delivery and selling items on eBay while living in a small trailer in New York. He was suddenly laid off last April. After that, he sent applications to over 800 companies, but he received less than 10 interview calls, most of which were through Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots. Shaun couldn't find a job anywhere in the tech sector. He states that generative AI is consuming jobs in the tech sector and that the coming times will be even more difficult for tech professionals. In an interview with Fortune, Shawn said, 'This silence is not temporary this time. It is deeper, colder, and scarier.' Working in trending fields like the metaverse, Shawn finds himself at a turning point in the tech industry, where tools like Generative AI are prevalent and human talent is being side lined. Shawn is not against AI. He calls himself an 'AI maximalist.' He believes that AI is a great technology, but it is being used to replace people rather than empower them. He says, 'This is just the beginning. Today it is me, tomorrow there will be more.' Sean's story reflects the reality of the tech sector. This story of Sean is not just about one individual but depicts a changing world where big companies are replacing employees with AI under the guise of cost reduction. He says, 'This is not a story about smart machines; it is the result of short-sightedness. Companies are lowering their ambitions instead of enhancing innovation.' Now, Sean is considering obtaining a technology certification or a commercial driver's license to explore new avenues of income. However, upskilling requires money, which he does not have at the moment. Sean's story is not just a crisis but a warning that if the development of AI is not balanced, it can impact millions of lives.
