Furnished For Success

As anyone who has bought a house or apartment for the first time knows, it can be very expensive to fill a new living space with furniture and for those of us on a modest budget, a trip out the M50  would seem to be the only option. Though a novelty when the giant Swedish company arrived first, there are a growing number of consumers who are looking for quality Irish design that can be tailored to suit their needs, without having the pay a king's ransom for it. There is a gap in the market between the very expensive  high-end furniture and the mass-produced items that often don't stand the test of time.

Bridging The Gap

When cabinet-maker Conor Kelly and his partner Nell were furnishing their new home, they too found it difficult to source well designed furniture on a modest budget. They decided to make their own and, in the process, founded Snug Furniture, our latest Kickstart Your Business feature, creating simple and beautiful Irish designed furniture that does not cost the earth. All the furniture is made by Conor in his small workshop in Snugboro and along with their range of products for the home, they offer a bespoke service.

Keeping It Simple

As Gerard pointed out, the real trick is to get the organisational piece right as the business grows, keeping it simple with as much automation as possible, so that all the artisan and hand-made features are invested in the product itself. The website is a great example of that simplicity, with a clear navigational path for the customer to follow, making a purchase easy and straight forward. That simplicity needs to continue right up to the moment the furniture is delivered to your door.

Over To You

How can Conor and Nell keep it simple, even as their business grows? Listen back to the show on Kickstart Your Business and let us know what you think.

We'd love to hear from you.

(Kickstart Your Business is broadcast live on The Right Hook on Newstalk106 in Ireland every Thursday at 6.40pm)