Bawn

Meet Bevan O’Daly, the owner of Bawn, a sustainability-focused fabric store with Irish roots at the heart of Glasgow.

What prompted you to start a business?

It was a couple of factors that came together, a daydream since childhood, a reflection of the job I most enjoyed (working in a fabric shop in Dublin in my early 20’s), not absolutely loving the job I was trained to do (working full time as a textile conservator), seeing other young women my generation opening creative shops in Glasgow, and spotting a gap in the market that I felt ticked all my boxes.

Where did the name Bawn Textiles from?

It’s very difficult to choose an original name for a business, and as soon as you think you have one, a quick Google search will tell you it’s already taken. I wanted the name of the shop to reflect a few things while not being very literal to the sewing and crafting world. I wanted it to reflect my Irish heritage, nature and the environment, a feeling of minimalism, calmness and softness. It started with the Irish and Scottish Galic word ‘Bán’ meaning white or fair. But one of my personal pet hates is not being able to pronounce or struggle to remember business names. I decided that due to the accent on the word I would anglicise it to ‘Bawn’ which to my surprise meant an encloser around an Irish castle or a meadow. I was so happy to have landed on that name and five years on it still feels perfect.

Favourite and least favourite parts of running a business?

How can I pick just one of each? I think my favourite parts are having the flexibility to design the shop and my work life exactly as I wish, but also the people who support the shop are what really give the shop it’s energy which I am forever grateful for.

My least favourite parts are almost the same as my favourites but on the other end of the spectrum. Being essentially a one girl band means I wear all the hats to run the business and that can feel like a lot, often making it difficult to switch off and maintain a work life balance. Also being public facing can be difficult as a natural introvert, people know you but you might not know them which feels unnatural. And lastly, the one thing that very few shop keepers talk about publicly but is important to bear in mind that if you work alone, there is always an underlying sense of vulnerability. To put it nicely, it’s quite stressful having strangers come into your happy place and, while seldom, unpleasant experiences can arise. You always have to have your wits about you and eyes at the back of your head for your own sense of security and wellbeing.

Favourite sewing patterns / designers?

I am personally a big fan of Merchant and Mills, The Assembly Line and Ann Ringstrand whose designs are all very stylish and timeless. These are the kinds of clothes that non-makers wish they could buy in the shops, but lucky makers can make them over and over again in all kinds of fabric combinations.

Any other stores you admire?

I’m a big fan of the local shops around Bawn as well as businesses that don’t necessarily have a shop front that that keep Glasgow thriving creatively, not to mention the brilliant atmosphere and sense of community they bring to the city. Some include but not limited to the following:

All run by amazingly talented and supportive people doing what they love and making the city better by being there.

Any advice for people considering opening a store?

I think running a shop is more work than many people realise and it is absolutely critical to do things like market research and calculating how you will manage financially moving from paid to self-employed work.

There are so many factors to consider but a few questions worth asking yourself is before committing to opening is: What is my USP (unique selling point) and how can I maintain that? Who and where are my customers, competitors and suppliers? How am I funding stock and or operations? Not forgetting the obvious, and less obvious costs like commercial rent, shop fittings, payment systems, security systems, insurances (plural), legal fees, water charges and other utitilies, software subscriptions, refuse, accounting, payroll, VAT etc. Can all these expenses plus your own wage be supported by sales profits?

One large aspect that some new shop owners can get tripped up on when leasing a commercial premises is to check the legal liabilities for commercial leases where you are. Here in Scotland, commercial landlords own the premises but they are not legally obligated to fix things when they break or make any improvements to the property once contracts are exchanged unlike residential landlords.

So as not to end on a negative note, the other big question to ask yourself is if you are ready to open your door and heart to the many new customers and other business owners who will become life-long friends? If so, then buckle up for a really fun adventure!