HUMBLE BEGINNINGS in designing a flier for a friend’s business have led to a quarter century of business for Catherine Murray. Known affectionately by the community as “Cat,” she is the sole owner of McMurr’s, a print and copy shop that provides almost anything one can think of when it comes to business cards, copies, posters, wedding invitations, and the list goes on.
Murray recently celebrated 25 years in business with a ribbon-cutting held by both Tullahoma and Franklin County Chambers of Commerce.
Her journey in the printing business goes back to 1997 when she was living in California, working and doing part-time work as a disc jockey.
“A friend of mine wanted me to make a flier,” said Murray. “He was my hairdresser. He then told someone, and they told someone, and so on and so on. I had a little inkjet printer at the time, so I printed on that.”
Murray said she looks back at her beginnings with fondness, as she wasn’t even interested in owning a computer.
“The funny thing is that I started working at NASA in 1995 when I lived in California, and I didn’t even own a computer,” she explained. “I didn’t want to use a computer. I saw people doing work on Excel and thought it looked boring. I was an intern, and they assigned me to work with a guy who used Photoshop. I thought it was pretty amazing and got really interested in that. I was given the software before I even had a computer. I finally got a computer around ’97. And I just taught myself. Lots of trial and error and lots of reading.”
Murray moved to Tullahoma in 2000. “After moving to Tullahoma, I wasn’t really going to work but continued DJing occasionally, providing wedding and graduation video productions and graphic design from home. Word got around, and I had to rent a space in town. I was also teaching senior citizens how to use their computer. So much for not really working. After the newspaper did an article on my video services, I was approached by Mrs. Liecty, the principal at Farrar, to do a video of the fifth graders. I think that was around 2001. I’ve been helping there ever since.”
Murray has become a staple at the school, helping raise funds for the school and volunteering with students in any way she can. She just finished her 21st field day, providing music for the children to get their “groove on”.
The printing side of things for Murray became more serious as the demand for her products rose.
“Around 2002, I had been doing graphic design for my realtor,” she explained. “That eventually led to printing. After designing flyers and business cards, I had to outsource the printing of them, so I decided to open a printing business. And the rest is history.”
Today she has expanded her print offerings and provides a wide variety of options to her customers. She said she works hard each day to provide her customers with the best products and the best customer service.
“I always tell people I don’t feel like I am competing with anyone,” she said. “There could be 14 printers in this town, and it wouldn’t matter to me. As long as I and my team are doing what we are supposed to and to the best of our ability, then I am good.”
She is also continuing to DJ and stays booked, sometimes years in advance.
“I only do it once a month,” she said. “I stay pretty booked up. I was asked in 2021 to do a graduation in 2023. I’ve been doing this so long, I’m now DJing weddings of students that went to Farrar.”
She also hosts an annual music event, “HIStory told by Her,” where Murray performs songs from pop music icon, Michael Jackson. The event started out as a one-time fundraiser for Farrar and has now been taking place, sometimes bi-annually, for more than 10 years.
According to Murray, the inspiration for the show came from her deep-seated love for all things Michael Jackson and a desire to help people. This gives another avenue for her to help those in need in the community and an opportunity for people to come together and enjoy a fun, family show.
Over the years, the event has benefitted a wide range of nonprofit organizations and schools that include Jack T. Farrar Elementary School, Robert E. Lee Elementary School CDC, Horse Play Inc., the Literacy Council, Alzheimer’s Tennessee, and CASA Works Inc.
Murray said while it is hard to believe the time has flown by, she has enjoyed every minute of the past 25 years.
“I love it. I learn something every day. I love helping people,” she said. GN
