The INSIDER PODCAST: Season 16 – Scaling Stories – Simon Squibb

How Kukoon Rugs Scaled To £20m - ScaleX Scaling Stories

With Clare & Paul Vallely (Kukoon Rugs)

In this ScaleX Insider episode, Clare & Paul Vallely, co-founders of Cocoon, share their incredible journey from a humble family business to an e-commerce powerhouse. Starting with a small inventory of unsold rugs, they scaled their business to ship over 8,000 rugs weekly to 60 countries. Now targeting £20 million in turnover, Clare and Paul discuss their scaling strategy, the lessons learned, and how they’ve implemented purpose-driven growth. They share actionable insights on building a strong company culture, delegation, and leadership evolution. Join them as they dive deep into their story, offering key takeaways for entrepreneurs and scaling businesses.

Clare & Paul Vallely

Clare and Paul Vallely are the sibling founders and co-managing directors of Kukoon, a Northern Ireland-based e-commerce business that began by turning their father’s unsold rug inventory into a thriving online venture via eBay, then expanded onto Amazon before launching their own website.

Today they ship over 8,000 rugs weekly to 60 countries, achieved £16.5 million in sales and nearly £2 million in profits in 2024, and are targeting £20 million turnover next year. Following their success in the Scalex Accelerator program, they’ve invested in seven-figure digital upgrades, launched partnerships, such as a concession deal with EZ Living Interiors across 21 stores and are now pursuing a high-street retail presence while maintaining a tight, values-led team of 55.

Watch the rest of our episodes: ScaleX Insider: A Leading Business Podcast For Scaling.

Contact Clare/Paul:

Clare’s LinkedIn: (1) Clare Vallely | LinkedIn

Paul’s LinkedIn:  (1) Paul Vallely | LinkedIn

Kukoon Website: Kukoon Rugs Online | Kukoon Rugs Online

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