Kieran Nagle, 44, from London left behind his finance career and long days stuck in an office to pursue his passion for furniture assembly
A bloke who swapped his corporate life to pursue his passion for assembling flat-pack furniture is now pocketing a cool £50,000 annually. Kieran Nagle had enough of the “rat race” and endless office hours before deciding to transform a lifelong hobby into a full-time job.
The 44 year old followed his boyhood interest and embarked on a career that many would find daunting – constructing wardrobes, shelves and cabinets.
“[I was] seeking more fulfilling and rewarding work that better aligned with my interests,” Kieran, hailing from West Drayton, London, shared with CreatorZine. “My mum encouraged me to turn his DIY talent into a business, so I left finance in 2007.
“I discovered my knack for building things as a teenager. My interest in DIY and furniture assembly continued into adulthood and eventually became the foundation of my business.”
Kieran’s talent for putting together furniture first emerged at the tender age of 15, when an IKEA delivery turned up early whilst his parents were away on holiday. The young lad grabbed some tools and got stuck into assembling his new bedroom furniture.
Nowadays, Kieran is a handyman and flat-pack furniture expert, running his own venture and operating on the online marketplace Airtasker, which recently honoured him as a national winner at its annual awards. Through Airtasker alone, Kieran typically pulls in between £2,500 to £3,000 each month.
Alongside his own enterprise, We Build Your Flat Packs, Kieran’s total annual earnings range between £40,000 and £50,000. He was drawn to the platform after spotting a TV advert during a lull in his handyman business amid the Covid pandemic.
With work slowing down considerably, Kieran saw an opportunity to supplement his income without disrupting his existing commitments or daily routine. Thanks to Airtasker, Kieran has managed to fund holidays, including a trip to Vietnam, something he admits would have been out of reach before.
Kieran said: “This is a stable, self-made income that supports my London lifestyle and gives me more financial independence, a significant and positive change from my previous salaried role.”
He believes the era of lengthy commutes and monotonous office work is behind him, and the flexibility he now enjoys has empowered him.
He said: “Using Airtasker has had a significant impact on my outlook on work. It’s revolutionised work for me.
“It makes me feel more in control of what I can pick up and when. It’s changed my life.”
In addition to the financial stability, he relishes meeting new people and working with amiable clients. Some of his most memorable gigs have even involved working for celebrities.
However, Kieran has also encountered hurdles along the way, particularly when Covid struck and face-to-face work became unfeasible.
He continued: “It has worked out well for me, but the biggest challenges I have faced are the lack of stability that comes with being self-employed. A prime example is during Covid where I was unable to enter people’s homes.
“It was a scary time and that’s the downside. There are definite pros and cons and it’s about working out what’s best for you.
“I wasn’t happy getting on the same train to and from work to sit in front of a computer and having a different situation to manage every day keeps me stimulated.”
Despite the rollercoaster ride, Kieran believes the benefits far surpass any hurdles he’s encountered.
He added: “The best part about running my own business is the freedom it gives you. You can pick your hours, which on a personal level is such a huge bonus.
“Travelling at rush hour is always an uncomfortable situation and being able to work around the mad rush makes the day a lot more stress-free. It’s also great being able to make time for situations that arise in life without having to ask for permission first.”
