Retailer profile // Connaught Kitchens
Once I had a taste and passion for kitchen design, it became my ambition to set up my own business
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dips in the road,” he says. “I’d say the secret to running a successful business is getting a number of factors right. “One of the most important lessons I’ve learnt over the years is that
you must be willing and able to adapt your business. Yes, we have experienced challenges along the way and have tried things that haven’t worked out but that’s where being open to change comes in and I think the business is stronger as a result.” Location also helps of course. The majority of properties Connaught
works in are worth upwards of £3 million which, Ozorio admits, means that the business doesn’t have to hit huge monthly sales targets to succeed something that’s particularly helpful during a challenging period. “We’ve had a really busy period up until now – the project sheet is
probably half as busy as it was by comparison two years ago,” he says. “Part of the reason we were so busy in the first half of the year is that we had some delays on projects which are now being finalised. “That said, we’ve always aimed ourselves more towards the high-end of the
market and, because of the type of clients we’re working with and the budgets they have, we probably only have to do between 20-30 projects per year to tick over which takes a lot of pressure off.” So, what’s next on the agenda for Ozorio and the Connaught Kitchens team? “I have no desire to open a second showroom, but I certainly want to grow the business
in terms of developing new project work and strengthening relationships,” he concludes. “We’d like to do more with interior designers and architects and increase our contract business. We’ve been pretty slow in building up our social media presence until now, but we are now implementing a strategy to raise our profile and build key relationships. “We’ve introduced lunch meetings with key clients that have proved really useful as it
gives them an opportunity to get to know us as people, and that all harks back to how important we view relationships.”
Meet the designers Chiara Scartezzini
“I’ve been with the company for around seven years. I did a BA in interior design in Milan and was then offered an internship at an architectural practice in London. I then did my master’s degree in interior design and spatial design. Although I didn’t necessarily set out to design kitchens, being Italian I’ve always understood how important the kitchen is to the home. It’s a very architectural process and that’s what I really enjoy.”
Hrisiana Angarova “I’ve been at Connaught for six years now. My design career began with a fine art degree and progressed into kitchen design through interior design roles. What I love about designing kitchens is the process of taking an idea and a sketch and turning it into reality. Building relationships with our clients and seeing the designs come to life is also really special.”
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60
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September 2024
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