F: Can you tell us about Hen’s Teeth Store

HTS. We like to play around in the space where food, music & art all meet. In the gallery/store we work with artists from across the world to create original art and art objects, and through our studio we work with clients that want to meaningfully connect with art, food & culture. A good example of this is a zoetrope early animation device we created with Oscar winning designer Annie Atkins for Hendrick's Gin. That was a fun project. We're lucky for it to pass as work tbh.

F. What made you decide to open a lifestyle store?

HTS. A love for art was the starting point. The homewares, food & lifestyle store felt like the natural extension of that.

F. You've recently started selling Falcon enamelware. What’s your favourite product and what do you use it for?

HTS. The teapot is our best seller in store, and we use ours daily. It's a beaut.

F. Are there any other local companies you'd like to shoutabout? Where do you usually eat, drink, and source ingredients in your local area?

HTS. The Fumbally Cafe is just a 30 second walk from our place, and they've played a huge role in a food revolution (If that's not too strong a word) in Ireland in the past decade. A lot of seriously talented heads have gone through that kitchen (Harry's Nut Butter, White Mausu).

Hang Dai Restaurant on Camden Street is another spot I'd highly recommend checking out when travel resumes. Incredible interior, even better food. It flips into a disco bar at night, it's a very good time.

We've got a bit of a contemporary art trail emerging in and around our area too with Hang Tough Contemporary and Maser's Atelier Now. We all started in the same building almost 10 years ago.

F. How have you been keeping during this time? Do you have any tips for small business owners?

HTS. It's been rough, but that's true for everyone. The break at the start of 2020 allowed us to rethink things and we're in a much better place 12 months on because of it. I very much doubt we'll get another break like it, but we used the time well. Part of that was giving over to doing nothing for a couple of weeks which helped clear the mind. We're toying with the idea of closing the store/gallery & restaurant every January and using that time for rest, research and a recce here and there too.

And that's the advice. Make sure you give yourself space and time. Good ideas often come from that place. And try stuff out on the regular. The best bit about being a small business is the ability to be nimble and swift with decisions. It really doesn't matter if it doesn't work out, just keep things moving and have fun with it. I think that kind of energy comes across in what we do, and folks appreciate it.

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