Meet the KLIMCHI stockist: Purkhús

Read the story of one of our customers who established KLIMCHI in her shop in Iceland.

How was your journey with Purkhús?

A few years ago I bought my first apartment in central Reykjavík. Moving into that small, cozy space, I discovered how much I love decorating and having nice, unique things around me. I had the idea for Purkhús in my head for a year before I finally decided to start my own company and focus on home decor.

At first, Purkhús was an online shop run from my apartment. A year later I got a showroom in Ármúli 19 and opened two or three evenings a week, after finishing my day job at a bank. People loved being able to see the products in person and pick up their online orders.

The showroom got too small about a year in, so I quit my job at the bank and opened a proper store — we moved to Ármúli 40, a much bigger space we shared with another store. A year after that, we moved a little further down the street to Ármúli 44, where we are now. We'd just settled in when this was written, and we're loving it!

What is the ultimate Purkhús goal as a company, and what are your personal goals in life?

The goal for Purkhús is to be the most exciting, beautiful store in Iceland. I want people to take a breath when they walk in and for it to feel like an experience. We focus hard on the customer and want them to have great service.

My personal goal is simply to do what makes me happy and stay true to myself. I love my job — it's a lot of work sometimes, but I'm lucky to love what I do.

How did you discover KLIMCHI?

I discovered KLIMCHI one night scrolling through Instagram — I saw the Hobnail jug in a photo and knew right away I had to get it into Purkhús. I sent a message and soon got in touch with Lukáš. I remember how happy I was to find KLIMCHI and be able to sell it in Purkhús, and I still am.

Why did you think KLIMCHI would be a success in your store?

I just knew it the moment I saw all the beautiful products — so many beautiful colors. I wanted every single piece myself, so I was sure my customers would love it just as much. I was right.

What were the initial reactions to KLIMCHI?

Customers loved it as soon as it arrived, just like me. They love all the colors available, and many are now collecting KLIMCHI in Iceland — jugs, tumblers, bowls, and more. In Purkhús it's a very popular gift item, so I'd guess it's on quite a few wish lists!

Was it difficult to establish KLIMCHI in Iceland?

No, I wouldn't say difficult. When the products are this beautiful, it makes things a lot easier. Still, we've put in real work to promote KLIMCHI here — working with influencers, running a giveaway, getting featured in magazines and blogs, and shooting plenty of our own photos for social media and ads.

It also helps that KLIMCHI's own product and lifestyle photography is so strong. I think that matters more than people realize — photos that actually stop someone mid-scroll.

What is your bestseller at the moment?

The Crystal Hobnail jug is a bestseller right now.

Did having KLIMCHI in your store increase your earnings?

Yes, definitely. KLIMCHI is a very important brand in our store. It's hard to point to an exact percentage since we've been growing quickly and added other brands around the same time — but KLIMCHI has absolutely helped increase our sales, and I'm so thankful for that.