Case Studies
ShutterCo
Friday 24 September 2010
Company Profile
Family owned, ‘ShutterCo’ specialises in manufacturing and installing plantation style shutters in both homes and commercial properties nationwide. The business is located on the North Road just outside Ashbourne. Owned & operated by three members of the Rice family; Brendan Rice, his son Barry, and daughter Sarah.
Brendan has over 15 year’s business management experience as owner/director of his previous business. Sarah is qualified in interior design and has previously worked as a display designer for ladies fashion retailer ‘AWear’. In this position, Sarah travelled to stores nationwide creating new and original in-store & window displays. Barry studied architectural technology in the UK and has worked for architectural practices in Dublin, Sydney & Brisbane.
Between the three, they believe they possess the expertise and experience necessary for the challenges of running and developing the company.
The Difference
ShutterCo competes with competition from imported shutters by striving to provide a superior product backed up by a superior service and all at a competitive price.
In addition, ShutterCo offers something the others cannot match. As a country we are becoming ever more dependent on China and other such Eastern countries to manufacture our goods. This ongoing export of wealth is counterproductive in resurrecting our flailing economy. ShutterCo offers the peace of mind in knowing that when you spend your money, it’s going back into the local economy and supporting Irish jobs.
Plantation Shutters
Already hugely popular in the US; the popularity of Plantation Style Shutters in Ireland rapidly increasing and evidence suggest Shutters will be the ‘next big thing’ in the home improvement sector here. More and more, Irish interior designers are looking to shutters to create elegant and contemporary looks for their projects, and as public familiarity rises home owners are viewing them as a serious alternative to curtains & blinds.


Chinese Imports
As the demand for shutters here increases, window covering companies are rushing to add shutters to their product range. There are several wholesale companies who act as middlemen between the manufacturers and the retailers. However, due to the nature of the lengthy manufacturing process, these wholesalers invariably opt to buy their panels from China and other such low cost economies. The quality of these imported shutters can vary, however the lead lead-times do not. Generally, one can expect to wait in excess of 2 months for orders to ship.

Media Exposure
Fans of ‘Fair City’ may notice ShutterCo’s shutters on the latest episodes of the RTÉ show. The soaps newest family ‘The Dillon’s’ have shutters installed throughout their home and ShutterCo have been working with producers to create the look they desired for their new sets.
ShutterCo have also recently featured on TV3’s morning show, ‘Ireland am’ when they installed the shutters in the Ideal Homes show house.
ShutterCo, Masspool, North Road, County Meath
Telephone: (01) 835 9555 Email: info@ShutterCo.ie Website: www.tradeshutters.ie
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