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Wednesday, 13th June 2007

Clare made home ideas add up

Jill Burdett

COLOURFUL: Stylish interiors
COLOURFUL: Stylish interiors
AS a maths graduate you’d expect Clare Whitehead to get her sums right but even she finds it hard to believe how successful her two-year-old interior design business venture has become.
 
She started Kit It Out from the back bedroom of her Stockport home in 2005 and since then has furnished 300 apartments for buy-to-let investors and developers and this year is on track to have done 400 more.
 
Clare, 33, said: “Like all the best ideas it started because I could not find something I was looking for myself – so I filled a gap.
 
“I had invested in a property to rent-out but did not really want the hassle of furnishing it all and was surprised when I looked round and could not find anyone to do it for me.
 
“There were interior designers and some companies that claimed to offer a full package but actually didn’t. So I did it myself, found I actually enjoyed it and just carried on.”

Combination
 
It would seem, to be the ideal combination of shopping and property, but for investors the cost and quality of what they put into their property can make or break their cash flow.
 
Speed is also essential and as soon as they get the keys the property has to be on the market to get a tenant and generate income as soon as possible, which can mean a turn-round time of under 48 hours including everything from the sofa to the scouring pad and the beds to the baking trays.
 
Interior design was not on Clare’s career agenda when she graduated.

She spent several years lecturing before moving into management consultancy with an IT firm.
 
She said: “I enjoyed the job but yearned to do my own thing so after five years I took a sabbatical with a view to exploring new opportunities and never went back.
 
“We visit each and every space and determine a bespoke package of solutions that fits best.

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“Every room is different and whilst many elements are the same I find that true individuality is easily reached with a bit of creativity and focus.”

Hands on 
 
Her hands-on approach obviously works and she now has offices in Stockport, covering the Manchester area, and in Bingley, to service the burgeoning Leeds buy-to-let market.

However she is also working on developments in London and the Midlands.
 
She also fits out show homes for various developers and said: “I know what looks good, is stylish and will bring a space to life. I treat every client as an individual and attempt to mirror my perceptions with their tastes and with over £1m of business so far it indicates that I’m doing it right.”
 
Nigel Ham, who runs The Ham Group development and contractor company, was so impressed with Clare’s work he called her in to furnish his new home in Huddersfield and said: “It saved me days trailing round the shops and everything arrived on the same day and was fitted at the same time.”
 
Clare, who spends a lot of time sourcing products and finding suppliers said: “It’s been an amazing time and I can see the firm expanding into the overseas property market and to cater for busy professionals who know what they want but don’t have time to shop for it.”

For more information visit kit-it-out.co.uk