SMALL BUSINESS Q & A:

For this week’s Small Business Q and A, Kehlan Kirwan talks with Kieran Finane of Finline Furniture in Emo, Co Laois. Finline produces bespoke, made-to-order furniture. Kieran explains why they decided to start selling direct to the public, and how it how it has changed the way they operate for the better.

So what does Finline Furniture do and how did you start?

Well Finline started with my father Kieran in 1979. He used to work for a foam manufacturer, but realised that Ireland lacked the ability to provide really fine sofas and chairs like in the UK or Europe. So from there we have grown and grown and now own a large space in Emo, Co Laois. From here we create custom- ordered sofas and chairs which has been a great success. Our furniture is high end, top quality and handmade. Everything, including the fabric, is sourced from the best in Ireland and Europe. About three years ago we needed a new way to reach out to customers as a lot of stores were selling medium to low-end furniture to capture the demand for pricing. However, we remained true to our belief in the quality of our product. So we went directly to the consumer instead of going so much through stores. It was a great move for us and allows us to speak directly to the customer and offer greater choice.