Cross-border networking brings bespoke wooden boxes to a growing market

Carol Curtis, the owner of HanaLee Studios, founded the company at her kitchen table in 2018 with a vision to create beautiful gifts that preserve the memory of life’s special events. Beginning with a single product, the HanaLee website now hosts over 200 keepsakes that memorialise weddings, births and other life milestones. Six years after its inception, three generations of the Curtis family are fully involved with the business. Creativity, customer service and sustainability are core values of HanaLee Studios and reflect the company’s commitment to producing gifts meant to last a lifetime. 

Steering a thriving business has meant pursuing opportunities and tapping resources in the local community. Over the years, Carol worked with the Local Enterprise Office in Meath to expand the market of HanaLee Studios. She took part in several training courses, twice receiving vouchers to help build her website and implement search engine optimisation. Carol’s hard work and business savvy led to a 700 % increase in sales the first year her website went live. 

Expressions of interest lead to new business partnership

As HanaLee Studios grew, Carol wanted to expand the company’s offerings to include Christmas-themed wooden keepsake boxes. But she was not satisfied with the quality or artistry of the boxes her suppliers in Ireland could provide. She worked with her business adviser in Meath to find a new supplier, and it was the Local Enterprise Office that realised HanaLee Studios needed to look abroad for a new supply partner. 

Carol’s business advisor put her in touch with Enterprise Europe Network partner John O’Hara of Donegal County Council. From that point, things moved quickly. John helped Carol submit a business request through the partnership opportunities database. This involved clarifying technical aspects of the boxes Carol sought, such as dimensions, finishes, quality expectations and minimum orders. 

HanaLee Studios' clear and straightforward business request garnered 14 expressions of interest. By remaining neutral and transparent, John helped Carol evaluate the responses in an objective manner, ensuring that no valuable opportunities were overlooked due to unconscious bias. Carol selected Mfurniture, a well-established Lithuanian producer of high-quality custom-made wooden products. "We have the capacity to produce not only furniture, but also smaller products and interior details. We are a medium-sized company, so we are fast, flexible, and are able to easily adapt to the needs of our customers," says Antanas Kolesnikovas of MFurniture.

On their side, Mfurniture was supported by the Network partner Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts. The company has been cooperating with the Enterprise Europe Network for more than 5 years. It has a business cooperation proposal registered in the Network's database, and it regularly monitors inquiries from foreign companies seeking new partners.

HanaLee Studios placed an initial order with Mfurniture in September 2024, and the quality of the boxes surpassed expectations. Carol was impressed with the craft excellence as well as the ethical and environmentally sustainable way the boxes were produced. A second order was placed with Mfurniture in February of 2025, and Carol looks forward to a long collaboration with HanaLee Studios’ new Lithuanian partner.

Successful steps towards internationalisation

When asked about her experience working with John O’Hara, Carol shared: “The most valuable insight I gained from working with Enterprise Europe Network was discovering the potential of businesses I might have otherwise overlooked – particularly those that don’t offer off-the-shelf products. With the Network’s help, I gained access to a wider range of companies, including bespoke manufacturers that aligned perfectly with my needs, but which wouldn’t have been on my radar without Enterprise Europe Network’s support.”

The Network-supported experience of HanaLee Studios is a true success story. “It is a strong reflection of the core mission of Enterprise Europe Network. It highlights our commitment to fostering international business partnerships and supporting the internationalisation of Irish SMEs. By facilitating access to a trusted network of suppliers across Europe, we enabled a small creative enterprise to overcome a supply chain barrier and strengthen its growth potential,” John emphasised. 

With the help of the Network, HanaLee Studios has found an international collaborator and established a trusted supply chain. The company is well-positioned to grow internationally, a key mission of the Enterprise Europe Network.