The company is owned by Karen Connolly. We spoke to Karen about how she came to open an office in the Innovation Factory with her sister Deborah, their current priorities and her future ambitions for Kitchen design House Ltd.
How did you start your business?
The business was previously established over 20 years ago by our dad who was in the trade for over 15 years, so it has been in the family for a long time. I worked within the kitchen trade as a designer and sales specialist; however I always had the drive and determination to open up my own business as I knew that working for these big companies just wasn’t for me. I had gained a lot of knowledge through my dad and went on to study various courses over the years i.e. Business Information Modelling and specific courses related to this area of work. I decided to venture out on my own a few years ago and take the leap of faith to establish myself as a business owner. The business has progressed significantly over this period of time and now I have a full team behind me including my dad. With the support of him and my family I wouldn’t be in the position I am today. It does take hard work and many ups and downs but if you don’t strive for success and keep going you will never grow.
What are you working on at the moment?
We are working on designs for our clients and managing the installation of all our kitchens. A lot of work goes into the design aspect and consultation process for each client before the manufacturing and installation stage happens. It is a very thorough and detailed job role and it does require a lot of organising and planning behind the scenes. Each client’s designs are bespoke and we take great pride in ensuring all our clients are happy throughout the process and that it is as stress free as possible. Purchasing a new kitchen is a big decision for people and it is one that has been given a lot of thought, so to know that these clients put their trust in us to design the kitchens and manage the whole project from start to finish provides us with a great feeling of satisfaction.
What do you like about the Innovation Factory?
I was in a big showroom setting for 5 years, it took a lot of work and manpower to manage and from re-establishing my brand and business strategy I just wanted to try a smaller, intimate and client focused environment. I was at a networking event and was introduced to the idea of shared office spaces, something I never had considered previously. After researching several locations, Innovation Factory was the one that had all the facilities we needed. The girls at reception are so professional in the job role they do and it is a great reflection on how professional and welcoming everyone is. It is a great set up for small businesses looking to progress in their specific industry. There is a great focus on business events which are very beneficial and the drive to encourage small businesses to move forward with their innovation ideas and to excel is great to see. We have attended a number of business events and have interacted with a lot of people, introducing who we are and elaborating on our background and what our main focus is within the IF setting
What are your ambitions for the company?
We as a business are very focused in excelling and ensuring that our client’s interests are at the forefront. We strive to provide the best quality kitchens at affordable prices. As a family-owned manufacturer we design it, we make it, we sell it and we fit it. Our business aim is to maintain a structure that works effectively and continues to gain positive support and feedback from all our clients. We want to become a prestigious and bespoke design studio and do not want to operate as a factory Company.
