Award-winning businesswoman: You have to diversify all the time...

ELAINE Doolan has navigated her business through a recession, Brexit and a global pandemic, and has come out the other side, not just surviving, but thriving.

She has also moved premises multiple times since she launched 18 years ago, in 2006, each time expanding and improving her business, which is bespoke window treatments, paint and interiors.

Her most recent move this year demanded a million euro plus investment and has made her business the largest paint centre and design centre in Munster.

If you were to describe her in one word, it would be gutsy.

Let’s rewind a few years. Lots of people dream about owning their own business and Elaine was one of them. While she worked in a local hardware store, it was something that herself and friend Ciarán Crowley talked about until one day they decided to stop talking, to take the plunge, and go for it.

Already best friends, they became business partners and opened West Cork Paint Supplies on Ilen Street in Skibbereen.

“Two years later we took another shop and expanded into wallpaper, curtains and haberdashery,” said Elaine. 

Then, around 13 years ago we amalgamated both outlets into a premises on Cork Road called Fusion Home Interiors, and expanded into bespoke window treatments and home interiors.

So far, so busy! But Elaine, a mum-of-three, isn’t one to stand still and had big plans for 2024.

“We bought two buildings in Skibbereen and planned to merge them into one large space – but it turns out it wasn’t quite large enough! We then had to invest in another nearby building, for our paint centre, and we opened both last January,” she said.

To give an idea of the scale of the buildings, the design centre is 4,500 sq ft, and home to fabric, furniture, flooring and lighting displays, while the paint centre is a pretty impressive 9,000 sq ft with exclusive paint brands like Benjamin Moore, Tikkurila, and Farrow & Ball, and has 11 instore tinting machines for all brands.

Both showrooms are 200 metres apart on the Castletownshend road. Fusion Home, which employs a team of 10, is also part of the independent retail group – Albany.

“Our industry is constantly changing and you have to keep moving with it, or you’ll get left behind. You have to diversify into different areas all the time,” said Elaine. 

I love what I do and I love discovering new offerings I can introduce into the business, which helps a lot.

It certainly helped when Elaine and Ciarán had to weather the challenges of the recession in 2006 and the major headaches that Brexit delivered.

“We weren’t long open when the recession hit. Then Brexit meant we had to buy paint in far larger quantities, which meant we needed extra storage for all the pallets of stock. That was another challenge at the time. But we’ve always run a tight ship and haven’t overstretched ourselves. We’ve expanded yes, but we’ve done it cautiously.”

Some might argue that she’s more gutsy than cautious? “Or maybe there’s a touch of insanity there!” she laughs. “You nearly have to be, to be self-employed!”

Fusion Home Interiors has now evolved into a ‘destination’ for interior designers and decorators as well as individual customers because of the exclusive brands and vast product offering they stock. Many travel from all over to do business with them as they are a one stop destination for both domestic and commercial paint coatings, bespoke motorised window treatments, curtains, blinds, flooring, lighting, wall panelling, wall papers, furniture and upholstery. They also have two vans on the road, a measuring and fitting service covering Munster which Elaine’s brother Mike Doolan heads up and they also have a paint delivery service for their trade customers.

Elaine joined Network Ireland West Cork around two years ago and has found it a huge support.

“It’s been great to meet other women in business and the support and encouragement has been exceptional,” she said.

She is also enjoying the social aspect as she admits to being a workaholic.

“It’s made me get out and do things. Because I love what I do, I don’t tend to do much else for myself. 

I work six days a week and I’m hopeless at switching off so Network Ireland West Cork has been really helpful in that regard.

Her family are also a huge support, she says. Married to Eddie Crangle, who works at Drinagh Co-op, they’re parents to Saoirse, 26, who works in the design centre with her; Oisin, 16 and Callum 12.

Winning the Established Businesswoman of the Year award recently was “unreal”.

“To be honest, even entering was quite daunting, as I’m definitely not one to put myself out there – I’m too busy working! But the recognition was lovely. It’s nice to think I’m a role model for my children, and of course I couldn’t do any of it without my great team, especially Trish, Mike and Saoirse and of course my business partner Ciarán.

“The award was for them, as much as it was for me, as I wouldn’t have it without them. It was so special that my mother Angel was there the day of the awards too as she has been my biggest cheerleader since starting the business.”

What’s next?

“There are always plans, the business is constantly evolving. I honestly never imagined any of this when we started out, so who knows what’s around the next corner!”