In 2005, as the Celtic Tiger roared, friends Anne Blake and Claire McDonough gave up safe jobs in Donegal County Council to open an interior design and specialist gift store in Letterkenny. Back then, both believed that there was a local market for their store, La Maison, concentrating on quality homeware and wedding gifts in a time when consumer spending was running high. Soon, they realised that La Maison was only going to stay open if they diversified. “These were so popular with people and most definitely helped us keep the business open during the leanest year,” says Blake. We are very flexible, used to adapting and pivoting, so whatever happens, expect to see La Maison flourish,” says McDonough.

Source: The Irish Times November 28, 2020 00:56 UTC