Grainne Kelly - Managing director, BubbleBum

What is the most unique thing about your business?

The product; it’s the world’s first inflatable children’s car seat that is safety approved.

When I set up the company I had no experience. That’s probably why I was able to do it; I asked a million stupid questions.

And who better than a woman to ask stupid questions, but an Irish woman – I can say that but you can’t.

What was the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?

Honour your integrity in everything you do. My cousin, Patrick McGonagle of Pakflatt, told me that.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in business?

When I went to China the first time to meet manufacturers, I was very sceptical of their practices. I didn’t like their means of doing business and cutting corners.

They kept telling me this is the way things are done in China but, as far as I was concerned, it was not the way to do it. I had an agent working for me in China but he turned out to be a complete crook. That’s when Patrick’s advice came in handy.

You could say I was too trusting but if I had been sceptical, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t change anything.

I’ve learnt so much in the last two years. Our website went live in December 2009 and independent retailers started selling the product in March 2010.

And your major success to date?

Winning the contracts with Target.com(the US retailer) and Asda have been the big successes to date.

We are now in negotiations to do a test roll-out to between 200 and 400 stores in the US.

Both of them were accounts we were after but I was most proud of Target.combecause I moved the family over to the US for a year to land that.

I was going to have to be there two weeks out of four and I can run the business from anywhere so it made sense.

Who do you most admire in business and why?

David Speakman, founder and former managing director of Travel Counsellors. I worked with them when I had the idea for BubbleBum.

I have learnt so many lessons from him in relation to work ethic; he’s just a get-up-and-go kind of guy. When I went to him with the idea, he said he was devastated to be losing me but excited for me.

How do you see the short-term future for your business?

We expect 2012 to be our biggest year to date. We’ll be launching other products this year; very exciting quirky products.

What’s your business worth and would you sell it?

I haven’t valued the business because I don’t think I’m at a point where I want to sell it. It’s very enjoyable and exciting so I have no reason to want to do that at this stage.

In conversation with JOHN COLLINS