A man who left his corporate job to pursue his love for assembling flat-pack furniture is now earning an impressive £50,000 per year. Kieran Nagle decided to move away from the corporate world and its long hours to turn his lifelong passion into a full-time career.
At 44 years old, Kieran decided to follow his childhood interest and delve into a field that many might find challenging – building wardrobes, shelves, and cabinets. “I wanted a more satisfying and fulfilling job that resonated with my interests,” Kieran, originally from West Drayton, London, shared with CreatorZine. “Encouraged by my mum to turn my DIY skills into a business, I left finance in 2007.”
“I discovered my talent for crafting things as a teenager. My hobby in DIY and furniture assembly persisted into adulthood and eventually evolved into the basis of my business.”
Kieran’s knack for furniture assembly emerged at the age of 15 when an IKEA delivery arrived earlier than expected while his parents were away on vacation. The young man grabbed some tools and started assembling his new bedroom furniture.
Today, Kieran is a skilled handyman and flat-pack furniture expert, managing his own business and operating on the online platform Airtasker, where he was recently recognized as a national winner at the platform’s annual awards. Through Airtasker alone, Kieran typically earns between £2,500 to £3,000 monthly.
In addition to his own company, We Build Your Flat Packs, Kieran’s total annual income falls between £40,000 and £50,000. He was attracted to the platform after seeing a TV ad during a slow period in his handyman business due to the Covid pandemic.
With a significant slowdown in work, Kieran saw an opportunity to supplement his earnings without disrupting his current commitments or daily routine. Thanks to Airtasker, Kieran has been able to fund vacations, including a trip to Vietnam, something he previously thought was unattainable.
Kieran mentioned, “This is a reliable, self-made income that sustains my lifestyle in London and provides me with more financial independence, a considerable and positive shift from my past salaried position.”
He believes that the era of long commutes and tedious office work is behind him, and the flexibility he now experiences has empowered him. “Using Airtasker has significantly altered my perspective on work. It has revolutionized work for me,” he stated. “It makes me feel more in charge of what I can take on and when. It has changed my life.”
Besides financial stability, he enjoys meeting new people and working with friendly clients, with some of his memorable projects involving working for celebrities.
Despite facing obstacles, particularly during the Covid outbreak when in-person work was not feasible, Kieran remains positive. “It has worked out well for me, but the main challenges I’ve encountered are the lack of stability that comes with being self-employed. For instance, during Covid, I couldn’t enter people’s homes,” he explained. “It was a scary time, and that’s the downside. There are definite pros and cons, and it’s about figuring out what works best for you.”
Kieran believes that the advantages of running his own business far outweigh any challenges he has faced. “The best part about owning my business is the freedom it offers. You can choose your hours, which is a huge personal perk,” he added. “Travelling during rush hour is always uncomfortable, and being able to work around the rush makes the day much less stressful. It’s also great to have the flexibility to deal with life events without needing permission first.”