We love getting to know the people behind the businesses in Enfield. We caught up with Maria and Hassan of Agha Home and asked them our famous 5 questions:
1.What prompted the start of Agha Home?
Our Interior Architecture business started in Central London over 30 years ago, where we used to live. Our projects continue to be based there. When we moved to North London we set up the shop originally to be a gallery space showing our furniture and lighting, designed and made by us. Almost 10 years ago we added home accessories and gifts and this strand of the business has grown to run alongside our interiors and bespoke furniture design work. (You can see more about all this HERE)
2.What does your business offer its customers?
We offer curated collections of premium gifts, homeware and home accessories finely crafted and designed with wow factor!
We pride ourselves in offering a range of services from help with finding that most unusual gift finished with our signature complementary gift wrap, to creating imaginative centre pieces, bespoke furniture and ultimately realising small to full-scale interior design for any space in the home; supported by knowledgeable and highly experienced project management.
We are mindful to give space and time so customers enjoy a hassle-free, calm and inspirational experience at Agha Home.
3.What kind of customers do you work with? Are there any types of business you collaborate well with.
Our customers who visit the shop cross all generations. They are a fantastic mix from young families, professionals, a host of artists and wise mature folk! Our design work tends to be for clients who are professionals who often find themselves with little time but are assured in the work we do as we are always promoted by word of mouth.
Over the years we have established work links with companies in the areas of kitchen, lighting, furniture, architects, structural engineers, mural artists and vast range of companies who source premium materials – wood, stone etc. For the shop we work with around 132 businesses, small and large. We support individual artists and crafts people and particularly those companies who give opportunities to artisans and pay them fairly. We also seek to work with companies who donate back to disadvantaged communities . We just ran a competition for Artists and Makers and chose 3 winners and they will have space in our shop and online to show their work and whatever is sold all profits go back to those artists. So for us it’s not just partnerships for products and services but also about what can be shared where possible.
4.What’s the toughest part of running your business?
We are artists ourselves and often have creative projects outside of the day to day running of the shop, and balancing all this can be a challenge. The other greatest challenge is constantly aiming to beat our personal best and to think ahead for exciting ideas that inspire those who visit our shop or work with us.
5.What piece of advice could you give to another business owners?
It is important to establish your style and to allow that to be your voice and not to feel you must fit the commercial mould. Be genuine and commit to that! Find ways to understand and respect the needs of your local community. Share where you can – like we have in sharing our shop and marketing other creatives who need support, encouragement and a platform. If you can’t offer space then maybe try offering workshops and events to share your skills, for example, we are thinking of curating a range Performance and Participation events on the Green to bring our community of artists, creatives and locals together on a not for profit basis.
Get in touch with Maria and Hassan at info@aghahome.london or visit their website HERE
Follow them on instagram for more piccies of their amazing work