For the latest in our series of editorials focusing on Irish Women in Business, we’re talking to Kate O’Hara, of Kate’s Kitchen Sligo.
After working in sales in a local hotel, Kate roped her sisters in on a whole new business adventure – their own fine foods store! When the family business involves baking delicious fresh cakes and bread, you know it’s going to be a success!
Here, Kate O’Hara shares her experience of setting up shop, the support of some amazing mentors and the ups and downs of coming through a recession.
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Q: What was your background before setting up Kate’s Kitchen? What age were you starting out?
Jane was fresh out of college, Beth was working in a bar and I was in Sales in Radisson Blue Hotel in Sligo. None of us had any background in food let alone entrepreneurship! Then we took over and built up Kate’s Kitchen. I was 26, Beth was 22 and Jane was 20 when we took over the business.
Q: Why did you choose to start Kate’s Kitchen?
Kate’s Kitchen was an established business and one that we would have been familiar with growing up. I always had a love for it and when Kate Pettit (previous owner) decided to retire that was when alarm bells went off and we thought we fancied a challenge.
Q: Was it difficult choosing staff to add to the family business?
No, because of the “Recession” we had to make staff redundant which was quite unfortunate considering we were only just starting off. In the beginning there was the three of us and one other member and then as the business grew over the years so did our extended family! We focus more on personality than skills when hiring. Some things you can teach and some things you can’t!
Q: What had been the biggest barrier when starting out?
The unknown. While Kate’s Kitchen was established, the O’Hara Sisters weren’t. So we had to build relationships with everyone from our customers to our suppliers. Every day in the early days we never knew how busy it was going to be, there was no consistency and that made things a little scary. But thankfully, six years on and we have developed a pattern and really found our feet.
Q: What was your unique selling point starting off?
Being honest, we didn’t have one. What we did know was that we had we had to adapt constantly to what the customer wanted and needed. Maybe that is what has kept us going year after year.
Q: Have you any mentors?
We are really lucky – Kate and Frank the previous owners have always been here for us. You couldn’t pay for that kind of advice. We must be doing something right though as they still shop with us every day.
Q: What’s been your greatest moment since starting out?
When we re-branded and became the Sisters O’Hara, almost like seeing your name in lights!
Q: What’s the best part of the day, and being your own boss?
We all love different times but my favourite is when we open early in the morning, I love when the shop looks its best and the smell of baking with the counter full of deliciousness!
Q: What advice would you give someone starting off?
Try and maintain a work life balance, it is very easy to get caught in a rut of all work and no play, and that is no fun!
For more information, visit Kate’s Kitchen’s Facebook page here, or check out their website here!
