Cabin Builder Announces Expansion Plans

A Londonderry based log cabin manufacturer has set its sights on expanding sales, with the help of Invest NI.

Oakgrove Cabins, which builds bespoke products, is aiming to beat the current economic downturn by pushing exports.

The firm plans set up operations closer to potential customers in Great Britain, identified as a key market for the business.

A south England base will be established for the firm's own Park Home Development for its log cabins.

Oakgrove - which employs 10 people - designs and manufactures a range of high quality, fully finished, bespoke log cabins. Up to now they have targeted the developing holiday, home caravan park and tourist and leisure markets throughout Ireland.

The new project to build sales outside Northern Ireland was announced by Noel Flanagan, Managing Director of Oakgrove Cabins, who runs the enterprising business with brother Eamon.


He said: "We have researched this particular marketplace for our cabins and believe that there is a significant opportunity for growth at this time. It makes sense for us to set up a reference site for our premium quality cabins which can be used by holiday makers and also to encourage them to purchase one.

"We will also take potential customers from many parts of England to the site and thereby enable them to see the quality and range of our products at firsthand," he added.

Invest NI's Des Gartland said: "We are helping the company to achieve its business goals by providing advice and assistance to enable management to develop and implement a focused marketing strategy and to ensure that the resources are in place to implement it."

Oakgrove Cabins is based on a business idea developed by Eamon Flanagan during his time working on similar products in the US.

The cabins are up to 40% cheaper to build than traditional buildings and also have low heating and general running costs. Because of these features the cabins are increasingly attracting people wishing to live in them full-time. In addition, the cabins are easy to relocate.

The upmarket cabins are manufactured by hand using Scandinavian red wood timber and feature a pitched, lightweight metal tile roof, and PVC double glazing windows and doors. It takes between three to eight weeks to manufacture a bespoke cabin and a further three days to construct on-site.

Oakgrove Cabins also offers customers an optional package that includes fitted bedroom furniture, wooden floors, tiling, verandas and natural tongue and groove sheeting inside to achieve an authentic log cabin effect.

(PR/JM)