This article first appeared in Our Sunday Visitor magazine. Subscribe to receive the monthly magazine here.
From a college locker room to a brick-and-mortar store, Nick and Garrett Bernardo’s apparel company is more than just an entrepreneurial success story — it’s a testament to faith, perseverance and courage. The founders of NOVUS, a purpose-driven athletic brand, sat down with Our Sunday Visitor to share their story, the trials they’ve overcome, and the deeper meaning behind their brand’s mantra: Claim Your Crown.
Our Sunday Visitor: How did NOVUS begin? What made you decide to start an athletic wear company?
Garrett Bernardo: It actually started as a side hustle — just a fun project. Nick and I were playing baseball at the University of Maine, and we were always relationship-driven people. Faith was important to us growing up, and we wanted to create something cool for our teammates around the locker room.
We started printing a crown logo with the word NOVUS — which means “fresh” in Latin — on tank tops and crewnecks. We’d ask our teammates, “Do you want the red crewneck or the navy?” Not if they wanted one, but which one. People on campus really supported us, and that’s how it all started.
Our Sunday Visitor: When did you realize NOVUS was more than just a side project?
Garrett: After a few rounds of designs, we noticed that people kept asking for more. We thought maybe this was an opportunity to use NOVUS as a vehicle for something bigger.
That’s when we started thinking about our logo. Growing up, Nick and I shared a room, and we had this football poster on the wall that read “Never, Never Quit” with the Bible verse James 1:12 (“Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him”).
That verse clicked for us. We already had a crown as our logo, and suddenly, we realized what it truly represented — overcoming trials and challenges to claim your crown.
Today, our mission at NOVUS is to inspire others to claim their crown by living a life of passion, conviction and perseverance.
Our Sunday Visitor: Were there any moments where you thought, “I don’t know if we can do this”? Any major turning points as you launched the brand?
Nick Bernardo: Definitely. From 2011 to 2018, NOVUS was still just a side hustle. I was selling insurance in Atlanta while Garrett was serving as a missionary with FOCUS Catholic. The moment that changed everything was when Garrett had to decide whether to stay with FOCUS or go all-in with NOVUS.
Garrett: Yeah, I was torn. I loved serving with FOCUS, but NOVUS was calling me. The day I had to give my answer, I went to daily Mass. The first reading that day? James 1:12. That was my moment. I was like, “Wow, God, I’m all in.”
I believe that there’s a deeper meaning in all these different things along our journey. And in that specific moment, I felt like God was giving me the affirmation I needed to take a big leap of faith.
Nick and I went full-time in 2018, but three months later, COVID-19 hit. Our business was 99% sportswear — team uniforms, athletic apparel — and suddenly, no teams were playing. We had just hired our first full-time employee, and it felt like a massive challenge.
Our Sunday Visitor: How did you navigate through that storm?
Garrett: We had to get creative. We started making custom masks and engaging with people online. We launched a social media trick-shot challenge, and one of the winners ended up getting featured on ESPN! It was a moment that helped us get through a tough time.
Nick: Truly, through a lot of prayer, I felt so much peace to go all in on this. And that’s really from God’s grace and the support of my brother to just not look back. God’s given me tremendous peace to pursue this dream.
Our Sunday Visitor: You talk a lot about servant leadership. How do you define it, and how has it shaped your business?
Garrett: Our dad always told us, “If you take care of people, they’ll take care of you.” That’s what servant leadership is — meeting people where they are and helping them grow.
We were blessed to grow up in a household where our grandfather started a family business, and our father modeled that principle of service. In everything we do, we try to lead the way Christ did — humble, present and focused on others.
Nick: We also come from a team sports background, and that mentality is part of our company culture. No one person is more important than another. We’re all in this together.
Our Sunday Visitor: What makes NOVUS a special place to work?
Nick: We want our employees to feel like they’re chasing their dreams while helping others do the same. We’re passionate about creating an atmosphere where people are inspired and can grow into the best versions of themselves.
We also try to foster an environment that’s both fun and mission-driven. We’re young, we’re hungry, but we also know we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.
Our Sunday Visitor: What are some of the highlights of your journey so far?
Garrett: One of the coolest moments has been our annual volleyball tournament, The Colonial Acres Tournament. We started it as kids, just playing in our parents’ backyard. Now, NOVUS sponsors it, and it’s grown into a major community event. Over the past five years, it has raised more than $100,000 for charity.
Another incredible highlight is our 1:12 Project, our annual mission trip to the Dominican Republic, where we run baseball camps for local kids. Last year, one of our team members had an incredible moment. His late father had always dreamed of him going to the Dominican Republic to play baseball. When he arrived, he discovered his assigned room had his dad’s name on the door. It was a powerful sign that his father was with him.
Our Sunday Visitor: NOVUS works with a variety of athletes and high-profile ambassadors. How do those relationships come about?
Nick: A few years ago, we sponsored our first NOVUS travel basketball team in Maine. Turns out, their star player was a young guy named Cooper Flagg — who’s now the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. We’ve built a great relationship with him and his family, and it all started with a simple email from a parent.
Our Sunday Visitor: What’s next for NOVUS?
Garrett: We’re growing in a big way. We just opened our first retail store, launched a refreshed crown logo, and we’re expanding into new sports. We also want to continue partnering with Catholic ministries and leaders — we’ll be at SEEK, Napa Institute and other major Catholic events, any place where we can tell our story.
Nick: Long term, we want NOVUS to be the premier brand for purpose-driven athletes. Whether you’re wearing our custom team uniforms or our everyday apparel, we want people to feel like they’re part of a movement — one that helps them live with passion, conviction and perseverance. Everyone out there who’s facing challenges and striving to chase big dreams, there’s a brand out there for you that’s running that same race.
