Smart Hardware & Electrics
Intelligent Design l Details Driven
London Based. At Pushka, we thought it might be a nice way of welcoming our new customers and reaching out to previous customers by giving you all a little background knowledge on our humble yet thriving business here at Pushka HQ. Pushka is run by the hardworking and dedicated Lucy and Matt. Friends since 2004, it would not be until s
ome years later that they decided to go into business together. Fast forward to 2009 when a friend of Lucy’s returned from a trip to India with 8 beautiful cupboard doorknobs. A light bulb moment for Lucy quickly occurred, and the idea of importing these lovely little items was born. It wasn’t that easy though and what followed was months of emailing suppliers all over India. Unfortunately for Lucy, many of these suppliers would not send over small samples from their ranges of doorknobs to an unknown young woman just starting out. But Lucy persevered and eventually tracked down a supplier who gave her a chance. He sent her over 20 of each design he had and Lucy fell in love with these little Indian treasures. Things were turning around and Lucy’s faith was restored. Lucy travelled around fairs, car boot sales and craft shows, showcasing the knobs and gaining loyal and happy customers along the way. All she had were her sample knobs and a big sign bearing the company name ‘Pushka Knobs’; a little nod to the small Indian village of Pushkar, where her friend initially bought the first knobs back from. Lucy soon realised her little dream was becoming a big reality and she needed help. He had an eye for design and detail and brought in fresh new ideas on how to market the company to a wider audience. He also had a garage that Pushka Knobs was now packaging out of. Matt’s help led to the knobs being sold on Ebay, Amazon and a spangdangly new website, www.pushkaknobs.com. Things went from strength to strength as Pushka Knobs joined forces with www.notonthehighstreet.com. Pushka was growing and by 2012 Lucy and Matt decided to travel to India to meet their supplier in person to get a real idea of where their knobs were coming from. Set up in a small, modern workshop, a team of workers were employed to help make and assemble the knobs. The trip proved hugely beneficial as it meant Lucy and Matt could reach past the language barrier and really get into designing and improving the knobs before the export stage. By March of that year Lucy and Matt were in their own offices in London, packaging and posting from a much bigger space than Matt’s little garage. It was exciting times for Pushka! By 2013 the Pushka team were dedicated to reaching out to potential customers and showcasing their products to a wider audience. This meant packing up the best of the knobs and travelling all over the country to consumer shows including Ideal Home Show, Grand Designs Live, Home Building and Renovating and Spirit of Summer. Not content with visiting just consumer shows, Pushka began trading to shops, furniture restorers and interior designers. They targeted trade shows and networked with other like minded people at Spring Fair, Harrogate Home and Gift Show, Autumn Fair, Interiors and Home. Pushka was now importing their knobs from all over the world which meant a wider and more fantastic range of knobs to offer you lovely people!
2014 has brought new and exciting times for Pushka Knobs, new offices and staff, an improved website and a huge range of bespoke, unique doorknobs in their collection and available to purchase. Lucy and Matt have worked hard to make their dream a reality but without loyal and satisfied customers, the knowledge and advice from others in the business and excellent products to begin with, Pushka would never have gone beyond a simple light bulb moment back in 2009. And for that we are saying *THANK YOU*
Keep sharing the Pushka Love and we’ll do the same…
