Liam Holland, sales and marketing director, Colourtrend is on a mission.
What’s your business pitch?
Colourtrend is Ireland’s largest independent paint manufacturer with 90 people employed at our facility in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. We create technically superior paints in colour palettes inspired by the Irish landscape.
How long have you been in business?
We are a family business founded by the current managing director’s father in an old 1841 famine workhouse in May 1953.
What did you want to be ‘when you grew up’?
Still working on that – haven’t grown up yet.
What’s your ambition now?
To build the Colourtrend brand into an iconic Irish brand.
What’s the most important thing you have learned so far in business?
Surround yourself with good people, listen to them and empower them. Do less but do it better.
“When you are growing as fast as we are you need good cash flow and good business systems.”
What was your biggest ‘mistake’ been, in business so far?
No show stoppers. But from a previous industry like so many others – putting content on the Internet for free.
Who inspires you in the business world?
Anyone that follows their dreams, irrespective of whether they succeed or not.
What historical figure would you choose to have dinner with?
Well, being a golfer, Jack Nicklaus. I think he’d have some great tales to tell.
If you were ‘ruler for a day’ what would you do to change the business or social climate in this country?
Introduce a regulation to promote the production of water-based paint products. Lower VOC (volatile organic compounds), low odour and much kinder to the environment. Colourtrend has been manufacturing these type of goods for the past 12 years.
Did you receive any supports to start your business and what do you need most at this stage of your business?
Well, we are 63 years in business, and I am only here five years, so can’t answer that part of the question. When you are growing as fast as we are, you need good cash flow and good business systems.
