What dreams are made of
November 30, 2009It's fair to say that Kelletts (Oldcastle) Ltd has come a long way since the company's first steps into the big bad world of business in the dark days of 1940s Ireland. Kelletts currently employ 150 people.
Kelletts was established by Jack and Joan Kellett, the parents of current CEO Thosh, in 1947. "My father was a harness-maker by trade," says Thosh. "They had a young family and there wasn't much money about - and there certainly weren't many horses to keep you in work. So they started making handmade beds, and local priest Fr Johnson got them the job of re-teasing fibre and horse-hair mattresses for St Finian's College in Mullingar. That was their first order, and it put them on the right road."
Having produced all manner of furniture - or "odds and sods", as Thosh puts it - for the first 25 years, the decision was taken in 1972 to specialize in the manufacturing of beds. Key to the company's future success would be the purchase of leading Dublin brand Respa Beds, also in '72, while the mid-1980s saw Kelletts diversify further into the manufacturing of wire springs with the establishment of wholly-owned subsidiary Springcastle.
Almost 40 years after purchasing the brand, Respa remains the standard-bearer of the Kelletts operation, while the company has also developed another brand, Sleeptight, as an affordable alternative at the other end of the market.
Says Thosh: "We are very fortunate that we can control and source all our raw materials. Our expertise is in spring manufacturer, we are one of the few companies in the UK and Ireland that still manufacture their own springs. All our products ARE well made by highly competent, well-trained staff who have a huge pride in their work. Most of our employees are local, often many generations have worked here, we also have many non-nationals indeed we currently have nine different nationalities. We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful local workforce - I'm tremendously proud of them."
From the factory to the field, and 2009 was an exceptional year for everyone involved in Oldcastle GAA. Kelletts (Oldcastle) Ltd is a longstanding sponsor of the club's juvenile section, with the Respa logo appearing on the Oldcastle underage jerseys. In addition, Thosh's youngest son Richard was part of the panel which brought senior football back to the north Meath town with a dazzling victory over Kilmainhamwood in the IFC final in October.
"It was great to see another success," says Thosh. "I know every one of their mothers and fathers, and I've seen the lads come up all the way from underage, the good days and the bad days, the disappointments and the triumphs. They're a great team of young lads who all grew up together and all play for each other. The work they put in this year, their success is highly deserved."
So what about 2010, and another tilt at a first ever Senior Football Championship success?
"I was talking to an old friend of mine, Pat Smyth from O'Mahonys, after the Intermediate final and he said to me 'There's not too many teams who'll be looking forward to playing them next year'. I think they'll be well able to hold their own."
For more information, visit www.respabeds.ie. Tweet
