Bizstartup.ie - News Kee Interiors to open online shop

Kee, who has seven years’ experience in the interior design field, set up Kee Interiors in 2008. The business is based in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, with Kee operating out of her own premises.

As well as being managing director  and an interior designer, Kee also designs her own range of headboards and makes curtains to order for various window shapes. Her father is also involved in the business as a director, while Kee also has a bookkeeper to help with the financial aspects of Kee Interiors.

Right now, she is in the process of working with a computer programmer to set up her online shop, which will officially launch in July 2010.

Setting up an online shop

According to Kee, the online shop of Kee Interiors will initially have a portfolio of 10 to 15 items, with lots of visuals to appeal to the discerning eye of the consumer.

Kee brings a diverse range of both business and interior design education to her business.

She initially studied business and information studies at Dundalk Institute of Technology, which also gave her a good introduction to marketing. Then, she decided she wanted to take a more creative route.

Studying by night at Dublin Institute of Design, Kee got a job with Duff Tisdall, an interior design company in Dublin, managing their showrooms and helping with showhouse exhibitions.

Then, having got her diploma in interior design, she went to work for a company called Silk Road (now closed down) between 2006 and 2007, and was immersed into preparing many showhouses during that two-year period.

Because Silk Road was a start-up, Kee also garnered valuable insight into the paperwork and business element of the business. She was also charged with sourcing fabric, buying it in from London for instance.

At the same time, Kee was studying an interior architecture course by night at Griffith College Dublin.

Venturing out on her own in 2008

It was in 2008 that she decided to venture out on her own, so Kee did a 10-week Start Your Own Business Course at Fingal County Enterprise Board (CEB).

“I came out of that course with a very comprehensive business plan,” she explains.

Kee was then lucky to source some start-up capital from her bank, coming in just before the full impact of the recession hit, which enabled her to set up a library of fabrics and attend exhibitions such as the Ideal Homes Exhibition in the RDS, which she does every six months.

“When I started on 16 May 2008 I had one client, but I started preparing for exhibitions, which is a mass marketing tool, as 20,000 to 30,000 people will pass by your stand during an event. I also give free consultations at these exhibitions.”

Challenges starting out

The biggest challenge starting out, says Kee, was nobody knowing who she was.

“Marketing yourself takes a long time. Storage space has also been a problem. You learn from your mistakes and realise that everything comes down to cost when starting a business.

“Setting up as a limited company also involves a lot of paperwork and it’s more complicated than you would think.”

Digital-marketing campaign

Kee’s plans for the coming months is to engage in a digital-marketing campaign to get the message out about her new online shop, launching in July.

Via Fingal CEB, she has been given access to a mentor, Carol Cousins, who will advise Kee on the most effective ways of marketing her business to potential online consumers.

Finally, Kee’s advice to others who are thinking of going down the start-up route is to do the Start Your Own Business courses at the CEBs.

She also says people should not let customers try to get them to lower their prices too much, particularly during a recession.

“Don’t be too cheap and stand your ground. Be self-assured in your products and services!” adds Kee.

Photo: Lorna Kee, managing director, Kee Interiors, which is launching an online shop in July 2010