Meet Andrew McAteer | Owner A. E. McAteer Design

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew McAteer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I’ve always considered doing everything in house quite important. For me, making products is the most satisfying aspect of the business, and being sure it’s being done to a high standard is key. Being able to work a wide variety of materials and understanding their strengths and limitations helps me design new items, and sets me apart from some of my competitors. This gives me the ability to work with other companies to quickly develop new products, or make changes to old ones. It ensures orders will be delivered on time, without quality issues.

It also allows me to maintain stock of leather, canvas or metal instead of product, which keeps costs down, and reduces waste. I learned early on running your own business can be feast and famine, and a lot of money can be lost through waste of material, shipping costs or unsold product.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve felt that what sets me apart is my ability to work with a wide variety of materials and techniques. My background is in antiques restoration and furniture making, so in addition to canvas and leather, I can work with wood and metal, something that I think sets me apart and gives me a lot of versatility. The beginning was most definitely feast and famine, and I think I overcame most difficulties by not outsourcing and doing the work myself, even when it was daunting. Starting a large project is always the most difficult part. There’s a lot of fluff out there about branding these days, and I suppose that I’d just want it to be clear to anyone in the market for something that I make, that getting one of my products, they’d be getting something well made that would serve them for years to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are a few essential spots- my favorite hands down is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’ve been there dozens of times and always find something new. Right around the corner is the Neue Galerie and Cafe Sabarsky… stop in for a coffee and strudel. It’s a short walk to the ferry from my studio, and you can hop on and take it as far as Rockaway beach, there’s a taco spot called Ripper’s there, it’s pretty popular in the summer, and it’s right on the boardwalk. If you take it as far as Wall Street, it’s a short walk to the South Street Seaport, and there’s lots to see there… my favorites are the Wavertree- a steel hulled tall ship, and the Tin Building, a high end marketplace.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My last boss- Richard Wrightman. He encouraged me to pursue my vision, and has always been unfailingly supportive of it.

Website: www.aemcateer.com

Instagram: aemcateer

Image Credits
Chandler Bondurant