What is the name of your business? What do you sell? My business is called ‘Rare Irish Stuff’. We specialise in sourcing unusual artefacts, salvage and pub decor for pubs and home bars. How and when did you start your business Rare Irish Stuff? After losing my property sales job during the economic crash of 2009, I resurrected my passion for buying and selling antiques to get by. Then one Friday night fortune struck when I won €13,500 on a €1 ticket in a local sports club fundraising raffle. I decided to invest my winnings into following my passion. I acquired antique stock, developed a website and operated from an industrial warehouse in Dublin. In this way, I grew both my experience in sales and passion for antiques. We have since sourced items for hundreds of pubs and home bars across Europe, the United States and as far as Japan, Moscow and Australia. So how did the business grow? Markets, antique shops, auctions, fairs etc. were all hugely important for networking within the trade. Social media was also invaluable for networking and connecting with buyers. Today, Rare Irish Stuff has a social media following of just under half a million across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Where do you buy and what do you buy? I source items in a variety of ways such as flea markets, personal collections, auctions and pub closures. Each week is essentially a treasure hunt around Ireland sourcing unique items. What I look for doesn’t necessarily need to have great monetary value. I see a value in items that are aged and pre loved. Items that tell a unique story, or that sometimes are clouded in a mystery that deserves to be unveiled. This is what appeals to me. When an item takes my eye, I usually know if it has the potential for me to connect it with either one of my present clients, or a client as yet unknown. Any notable clients? Aside from many notable pub clients, we supplied pub decor to the Playboy Mansion on St Patrick’s Day 2012. Also, a whiskey vending machine I rescued from being discarded now sits in Conor McGregor’s personal office. TV presenter Laura Whitmore and ‘Bonehead’, the guitarist and founding member of ‘Oasis’, also recently became new clients of Rare Irish Stuff. So, what is a 'Picker'? The term came into common parlance as a result of TV shows ‘American Pickers’, ‘Canadian Pickers’, ‘Australian Pickers’ etc. A ‘picker’ is a term often used to describe someone who buys antiques, collectables and vintage from a range of sources with a view to turning a profit. When picking, I strive to connect clients with items that will be appreciated, admired and treasured for years to come and perhaps even become family heirlooms. Keeping something historical safe for posterity by connecting it with a new owner who will then both appreciate and treasure it is in itself, a huge personal reward for me. What is ‘Irish Pickers’? Irish Pickers is a TV show which used the same format as American Pickers, Salvage Hunters, Australian Pickers, etc. The series followed a general search of antiques, vintage, nostalgia and collectibles on the island of Ireland over 10 weeks. The series has since been acquired by Amazon Prime UK, NOW TV and Aer Lingus for the airlines on-board entertainment menu.