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NO DAYS OFF and working on as little as three hours sleep a night. That’s what life can be like for twins from Greystones who – between a business, a lifestyle brand, an appearance on the Late Late Show and a likeness to Jedward – you will find hard to escape from in the coming months.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Stephen and David Flynn describe how “life and work are blurred, to get a full day off doesn’t really exist”.
The brothers have turned The Happy Pear in Greystones from a small vegetable market to a national brand and now they’re reaching out to the UK as their second book launches across the water.
It’s a far cry from how they describe their teenage years.
“We’d go out and spend €50 getting drunk but the next day we wouldn’t go out and buy ourselves a punnet of blueberries or a decent lunch.”
However, it hasn’t been an overnight success. The brothers have been chipping away for 12 years and have what they describe as a holistic approach to the business.
Stephen says of their second book: “It’s a philosophy book with recipes.”
“This book is called the World of The Happy Pear and it’s our life. I think it’s not just about healthy eating but our lifestyle.”
Energy balls
The brothers are energetic and passionate about their work.
That enthusiasm was evident from the start as Stephen revealed how, “When we started the business Mam asked what colour we wanted the shop – we said the brightest colour they have.
“The choice was between an a luminous green or a bright orange and she said ‘you’re not having the green’.”
That energy and enthusiasm is what caused Ryan Tubridy to liken the pair to Jedward when they appeared on The Late Late Show last week.
When asked how they felt about the comparison, David said, “I can see why – we’re twins and we’re doing our thing and we both have lots of energy.
I think people are always going to parallel you with something they can relate to.
Discussing the criticism that comes with becoming well known, Stephen said:
Initially you can be a bit sensitive and a bit proud and I think the more you get up there, the more you realise people like to throw stones.
“I think if you’re comfortable in why you’re doing it, then you really don’t mind about people throwing rocks at you. It’s like ‘I’m doing my thing, if you like it great and if you don’t, that’s okay – that’s your choice too’.
“I’m not doing it to try and impress you, this is something that we really feel passionate about and we want to try to make the world a better place and add value.
“And then your skin gets very thick … I often don’t read them, I don’t feel a reason, I’ve expressed what I want to express.”
All consuming
The brothers fit a lot into their days – which can mean skimping on sleep – and they’re constantly sharing what they’re doing on social media.
David says, “I probably get up at around 5am most days … if you’re doing things that you like to do it’s a lot easier”.
While Stephen added, “I could function on three, four, five” hours sleep.
Asked if they feel pressure to share every aspect of their life, including their children – who appear in the latest book – David said:
I don’t feel a pressure. For us, it comes natural because there’s so much we want to express and share. It’s really in our nature to want to share, if you’re quite private it might be hard.
“I think it builds more emotional connections and that’s what it’s about. In terms of social media and other things, it’s about where people can emotionally relate to you and I think the more you can show how authentic and genuine you are – that’s why snapchat and vlogging are great because you can actually show what you do in a day – it’s not just a filtered perfect veneer that Instagram has.”
Stephen added that people see how hard they’re working and how much they get done in a day.
“I think the more you share and the more real and transparent and authentic you are the more people can relate to it.”
The work is paying off: they now have two books on the shelves and their products are being stocked in more than 200 Supervalu stores across the country.
So what’s next for the Flynn twins?
When asked about expanding with another restaurant, they said, “We’d love to … I think we will at some stage but I wouldn’t like to say something and then not do it.”
Hinting at the possibility of looking to the UK, the brothers described how aiming the new book at a UK market is exciting, adding “maybe start with the book and see where we go”.
When asked if we could see a store popping up in London, they replied with wide smiles saying, “That would be great wouldn’t it, we’d love that” before considering, “Dublin is closer – we should go there first.”
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It’s ironic really, the brand is all about healthy living and a balanced lifestyle and the owners are workaholics living on three hours sleep a day.
That’s not good for you at all! I’m a vicious b!tch if I get less than 8 hours sleep.
Bill Cullen used to get by on two hours sleep a month and look what it did for him !
Yes he lost a lot more than a nights sleep
Mick. Where is bill cullen these days anyway, he was all over the news a while back, doing the rounds on Ryan tubs show etc. Thought he’d the midas touch, Irelands Alan Sugar. Really if he can’t make it with his canny sense for business what hope have the rest of us.
So he said….
Working for yourself demands 80 a 90 hour weeks and no holidays until it is well established. Congrats lads. Brilliant idea and well deserved rewards.
I love how positive they are – easy on the eye too – I’m off to have an apple!
Love the idea and love how their hard work has paid off. I don’t like the type of fakes and bandwagoners that the restaurant seems to attract in huge numbers. It appears to me that it’s the latest hipster fad.
Drove down to have lunch in their cafe and found it to be very grubby and tbh we didn’t eat there as a result
I’ve a taste for a banana now !
I’m with you Apu. Their cleanliness leaves a LOT to be desired. I wouldn’t eat in their place if you paid me.
For health advocates….it is obvious that not sleeping enough is unhealthy.
Also having a better work life balance is healthier and better for you and your families.
Perhaps I should make a patronising cheesy video, advocating baby steps to achieve longer sleep, and work less and spend some quality time with your family.
But hey…..why be consistent when you can charge 15 euros for uncooked chopped veg. And based on uneducated hipsters paying it just to get a sense of smugness and sense of superiority. While the grow messy beards and wear hemp clothes and glasses without prescription, for vacuous fashion, and to fit in with other mindless cultists
Too far ? :)
Just tell us how you really feel!!!!
I think you’ve covered pretty much covered everything there .!
I used to deliver bits of veg out to the lads in Greystones. Tho it would be only items that hadn’t arrived in on the trucks on time as they would be in the Fruit Markets 1st thing every morning hand picking their stock. I can honestly say aswell that you would never meet a better pair of guys. True gentlemen. Fairplay lads . You deserve everything you both have accomplished . I wish you both well for your future ventures..
I’d love to catch them eating a big dirty snackbox and cheesy fries – drinking Dutch Gold down the beach in Greystones.
Seriously – am I the first person to comment how annoying these guys were on the late late last week ?
They were ridiculous.
Hipsters without the beards
They were embarrassing. I kept’ thinkng of Steve Martin’s “Craaaaaazy funny guys!”
I can’t fcuking stand them.
Heard them on the radio with Matt Cooper during the week.
Hate to admit this but I was inspired by their attitude and passion for healthy food.
Gonna buy the book. Deffo.
What is it about vegans they always look about 15 years younger than their actual age?
What age are they cause I’d put 35+ on them
It’s just that they age you by fifteen years listening to their self righteous tripe.
Id say 40?
They are 35 years old. Personally, I think they look a few years older than that, about 38.
They are 35/36. They used to get the same bus as me to school in the morning. And honestly, with all the crap they push about heathy this and healthy that, the look 10+ years older than me!
Pair of annoying gimps with over rated food..Vegan me arse
Lovely guys…..they were even so nice as to hire workers via job bridge a few years back.
Is that illegal?
Notions
They know feck all about food, cooking and taste. Their shop produce is overpriced, no service whatsover and their food is bland. Rich kids done good, but hey they’re twins who look great!!
Vlogging ……
Jesus
Vlog him!
Fair play to the two of them. Great lads. They have a message and they work hard putting it out. Soon as vegetarian or vegan is involved ignorant d1ckheads feel entitled to roll them over. If only everyone stood up for and worked so hard on an idea that they cared passionately about. Easier to type bile in the journal.ie. They’re a total success and I wish them the very best of luck!
Vegward
Private school well to do greystones poshies never worked a hard day in their life
Lol
While not a fan I’m pretty sure they are working a hard day every day. I certainly respect the hard work needed to build a business from scratch
There are no private schools in Greystones.
@ all the jelaous ignorant thicks: the pair were there doing their thing long before the term ‘hipster’ even got invented!
What year was the term hipster invented?
Vlogging ……
Jesus
Pear of dopes…
You can’t help be happy watching the guts going.. Reminds me of Disneyland … Without sugar!!!!
Their food products are way too expensive.
Now employing over 150 people in north Wicklow & expanding! They work hard and sell a good story! Congrats guys & best of luck for the future!
Now employing nearly 150 people in North Wicklow. Marketing is fantastic & they sell the story well. Congrats & well earned success guys !
If we had more happy pears & less grumpy gooseberries on the journal it would be a better place
If ever there was an advertisement for 15 pints a day and 40 Major, massive chippers 7 days a week while sitting on your hoooooooooop watching the box, that’s it right there folks.
Well done to you both..I’m envious..
In it about a couple of years ago…couldn’t get any service and left after ten minutes
I admire their healthy food message but if wearing vests outdoors ( in Ireland FFS ) is mandatory then count me out .
Happy Pear is ‘happy’ to use unhappy volunteers to their profit making business. RTE did not mention in their interview the use of volunteers or the job bridge scheme.
A likeness to Jedward is a good thing now??
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