Goodwins - A History

William Goodwin started his own business in 1978 after having spent almost 30 years in the builders merchants business, ending up as Managing Director of Chadwicks. As Chadwicks grew and became a public company it was re-named as the Grafton Group. With a strong entrepreneurial flair and a vision of the potential to grow a business in his own particular style, William took the plunge and set up in business on his own as Goodwins Builders Providers.

Jonathan Goodwin

Trading started from a small unit in a field at the back of the family home in Lucan, near Dublin. From small beginnings, and with just a handful of staff, the business grew under William’s careful management by utilising a combination of excellent customer service and continual business improvement. His son Jonathan joined the company in the early 1980s and learned - hands on - every aspect of the business from the ground floor. During this time Jonathan also gained a degree in Marketing and after six years took a break from the family business to widen his experience in the UK. He gained an MBA at Aston University and held business management positions in DIY and retailing. Returning to Ireland in 1990 he rejoined the family firm and became Managing Director when William retired in 1997.

The Goodwins Group now employs 100 staff in three locations in Ireland with an annual turnover in excess of €20m. At the start of 2001 the company started serving the specific needs for timber frame kits and this area has seen steady growth in the Irish market. In 2004 such was the success of Goodwins Timber Frame that a brand new, custom-built factory was opened in a 5.5-acre site in Tullow, Co Carlow.

The move to open a business in the UK in 2005 is an exciting opportunity for further growth for this energetic business. The 80,000ft2 factory provides a superb opportunity to cater for the potential growth of the UK timber frame market with the capacity to supply house builders of every size.