By james art 
Madison Murphy, who was born and raised in Birmingham, said her longest absence from the city was for a 30-day family trip. Using his knowledge and love of Birmingham, Murphy now owns his own business that curates items made in the area – from downtown to US 280 – to create unique gift boxes.
Growing up, Murphy attended Briarwood Christian School and was then homeschooled. During this time, she poured her energy into the piano and at 17 began teaching students to play. Murphy, who did not attend college, continued to teach for the next 10 years, until 2020.
“I loved all the students I taught … But I knew I didn’t want to do it forever,” said Murphy, who still attends Briarwood Presbyterian Church.
In 2016, while still teaching piano, she started her own grocery delivery company, Full Pantry, which is still in business today. But by 2018, Murphy was already drafting a new business idea.
“I had been playing around with Full Pantry with small Christmas supplies and it went really well. I thought it would just be a one time thing. That’s when I was like, ‘That was really fun,’ and there’s really no one in Birmingham who does things just in Birmingham in gift boxes,” Murphy said. “So in October 2018, I launched Byndel. It would be called Parcel, [but] there was a Parcel that did the same thing I did in Oregon.
One weekend, on her way to the beach, Murphy opened a dictionary and started flipping through it, looking for the one-word name she hoped would fit her new gift box business. Finally she landed on top of him.
“Byndel is the Saxon spelling for bundle and … I like the definition of bundle, [which] was “a lot of things thrown together,” Murphy said. “And I was like, ‘This is what I’m doing. That’s it.’
Now, six years after its inception, Byndel has blossomed into something big.
“My business has grown dramatically this year,” Murphy said. “I’m finally seeing it pay off, which has been so encouraging.”
Murphy designed his boxes to fill several gift categories.
For a taste of the state, the Alabama box includes blue beans from McEwen & Sons, tea from Piper & Leaf, a dish towel from Stately Made, and honey from Bee Creek Farm. For morning refreshment, the Pick Me Up box comes with a mug made from Civil Stoneware, tea from Piper & Leaf, coffee from Cala Coffee and honey from Bee Creek Farm. Others, like the Southerner box, include Jim ‘N Nick’s Cheese Cracker Mix along with unique tasters like Medders Family Farm’s Peanut Butter S’mores.
“Giving can be a huge way for a business to get more business,” she said. “I’m not selling you something that has no value to you and is frivolous, but I really think it can help businesses stay in front of their customers.”