The current lockdowns in NSW and VIC have hit non-essential retail hard and when we see brands doing something innovative to keep their services going and sales coming in, we want to share it. The latest comes from Melbourne’s Norsu Interiors, who are offering console styling advice via email for an affordable price.
Starting at just $39, they’ll help you style your console like a pro. This might be a hallway table or a buffet in your dining room for example.
“Styling a console is one of our most favourite things to do!” says co-founder Nat Wheeler. “It’s a piece where we can really get creative with objects, plants, artwork and mirrors, and, in a nutshell, let loose.
“Given the multifunctional nature of a console, we get it can be confusing selecting the right things to style with. Do you go for form or function? How many pieces should you place on top? Have you considered the heights of your objects to ensure there is balance?
“If the mere thought of these questions sends your head into a spin, we are about to rock your world! With the new ‘Style your console like a PRO’ e-styling service, simply select your package, send us pics, answer our simple questions, and wait for our styling gurus to send you a visual representation of your perfectly styled console oozing with personality!”
There’s no obligation for you to buy the suggested items from Norsu, but of course you can, or you could buy some and use some of what you already have that’s similar, or you can save up and buy them later.
They also offer a similar service to help you pick cushions for your sofa or bed, something I know many of our readers (and I!) struggle with!
Do you know of any interiors and home businesses offering something a bit different online during lockdown? Let us know!
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A desire to offer quality designer furniture without the inflated price tag led David Janovic to leave a successful career at Goldman Sachs in 2012 to start his ecommerce business. Almost a decade later and RJ Living has evolved to offer unique furniture and homewares for every room in the house, with the same commitment to in-house design and great customer service.
With many cheaper, fast furniture brands to compete with, their longevity is no mean feat. They actually started as an eBay store, evolving over the years to a team of more than 20 and a flagship Richmond furniture showroom. “Being a bootstrapped business, it’s our customers who have fuelled all our growth, and it’s something we’ll never forget or take for granted,” David says.
“We don’t think of ourselves as just a furniture business, we’re a design-led brand, inspired by global trends that help us deliver original designs that truly represent the laidback Australian lifestyle,” says David. “We have a curated offering, selectively producing products that we feel our customers will love. We’re always looking to the future, developing new ranges and keeping across ecommerce trends to ensure wherever our customers interact with RJ Living, they’re having the best possible experience.”
There are no automated bots and customers will always speak to a passionate and knowledgeable real person! “We love learning about our customers and how they want to transform their space, and being accessible for these insightful conversations is a key focus of ours,” David says.
In-house design is a key differentiator and at the core of everything they do. “We pride ourselves on a fantastic website, sales and customer care experience, but ultimately it’s our product range that speaks for us, especially as our customers will own an RJ Living piece for many years.”
David says you can’t truly create furniture for the Australian lifestyle unless you’re experiencing it yourself every day. “We’re always keeping an eye on Australian and global furniture trends and bringing those into our customers’ homes in our own way. It’s about creating with our customers in mind, to ensure seamless functionality and longevity in their homes for many years to come.”
So, what is this distinctly Australian way of life they’re designing for? It’s easygoing and friendly and with a love of the outdoors, David says. “That love for the outdoors and wanting to enhance the natural beauty of the home serves as a key inspiration for much of our range.”
Home has taken on a new meaning since the pandemic, with people really wanting to surround themselves with a space they truly love and is responsive to how they live. “We’re actively incorporating more tactility into our range, whether it be natural finishes, textural fabrics or woven rattan, which helps create a rounded space for spending extended time in,” David says. “We’re also focusing on versatile furnishings, allowing our customers to create spaces that are multi-use, while also visually appealing.”
RJ Living want you to love your home so much you never want to leave it (and with some of us currently in lockdown, that’s not a bad vision!).
Most of their customers are women in their 30s and 40s who are looking for something different to the mainstream. RJ Living consider their pricing to be mid-range, and very affordable for the quality. “We are concerned that the growth in disposable furniture is causing a negative environmental impact and we want our pieces to have a sustainable impact and longevity. We use sustainable materials wherever possible, ensuring the life of the furniture we are selling is extended as much as possible.”
At any point in its life, their solid oak furniture range can be lovingly renewed. Sanding and recoating will strip back a formed patina, and can push past stubborn stains and give the piece a new lease of life. “With legal measures protecting woodlands, all timber in our pieces is responsibly logged, ensuring longevity and care for these forests. Sustainability has become a key pillar in our design program, and something that we take very seriously.”
Storage pieces have been a big focus for the brand and their tv units, sideboards, buffets, and beds are hugely popular. A staff favourite is the Linear Range, which is an homage to weatherboard homes along the Australian coastline. “Our bestsellers constantly change and as we introduce new pieces to the range. Seeing designs we’ve brought to life receiving customer love is a massively rewarding experience for us.”
A big focus in 2021 is broadening their horizons and introducing new textures. They’re introducing a walnut furniture range, and there’ll be additions to their marble and rattan furniture ranges. “We also have a completely new project launching later in the year which we’re incredibly excited about. All we can say for now is that it’s of the upholstered variety, and to keep an eye out for more news!”
Ever evolving the customer experience as well as their range, they’ll soon introduce 3D and AR functionality to their website. Customers will be able to see a more detailed view of furniture pieces, as well as test them out in their homes, from the comfort of their screen. They’re also planning to introduce in-house delivery trucks, meaning they can provide the best end to end purchase experience.
Love the sound of all this? One lucky reader will win a $3000 voucher to spend at RJ Living. Simply complete the form below for your chance.
Not open to associates of Addicted Media or RJ Living and their immediate families. Open to Australian residents only. No cash alternative will be offered. Only one entry per person permitted. The winner will be chosen by Jen Bishop based on what she believes to be the best entry of 50 words or less. The competition starts at 7am on Thursday 15 July 2021 and closes at 5pm AEST on 29 July 2021. The winner will be announced within 48 hours of the closing date, on this blog post and via email to the winner.
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To say it’s been a tough start to the year for Few & Far, known for their beautifully merchandised homewares stores, would be an understatement. So winning a global retail award this month has come as a very welcome boost and motivation to keep on keeping on!
The NSW South Coast husband and wife business was selected as one of six winners from 32 applicants worldwide for the prestigious Global Honouree Award at the Global Innovator Awards (gia) recently held in Chicago.
“We are extremely proud of this accomplishment and to be recognised for ‘retail excellence and setting the standard for global retail moving forward’. We hope that our resilience and determination will inspire and provide value to your readers and offer an example of how we can overcome catastrophes only to come out stronger,” says Tara Solberg.
Tara Solberg of Few & Far
After a devastating summer of bushfires that ravaged the South Coast (they have stores in Huskisson, Berry and Bowral) followed by the crippling impact of Covid-19, the local homewares and furniture retailer has continued to surge ahead, maintaining a successful business and loyal following.
Trade publication Giftguide works together with the International Housewares Association (IHA) and each year, picks an outstanding Australian retailer to represent the country at the awards in Chicago. At the Gala Dinner, five global winners are chosen from more than 30 retailers worldwide.
“It came as a huge surprise when we received an email that Few and Far had been nominated to represent Australia at the gia awards. The news took a little while to digest, as we were both in disbelief, but we were so excited and felt so encouraged to be recognised,” says Tara, who runs the business with husband Danny.
“In order to compete for the ultimate Award of ‘Global Honouree’, we were asked to complete an evaluation that assessed our brand vision, business development, store design, visual merchandising displays, marketing and advertising promotions, customer service initiatives and an emphasis on how we have been innovative. Through documenting our answers, it was clear that we had a strong brand with a clear vision that focused heavily on innovation. We have thoughtfully considered every little detail, and have always been aware of the need to offer a memorable and unique shopping experience with a personal approach.”
Tara says they are big believers in storytelling and use this as a tool to ensure they’re being innovative in every aspect of the business, most importantly, their merchandising.
“The award announcement was made live at 1am Sydney time on 24 April and I’ve got to say it’s the first award we’ve ever received in our pyjamas! We can’t wait to attend the event in 2021 in Chicago and to be able to celebrate our win and to share an inspirational experience with the many other businesses that have also been selected.”
After making it through the bushfires, the Solbergs were hoping for a busy Easter to make up for at least some of the revenue they’d lost during the summer holiday period. But then along came COVID-19!
“When it initially hit, we were extremely nervous as there was so much uncertainty and the landscape was constantly changing. However, we’re extremely fortunate that the hard work and plans we have put in place prior to this have led to creating an established business, therefore we are still open and trading successfully during this unprecedented time.
“When COVID-19 turned the world upside down, we realised we needed to act quickly and invested heavily with energy, time and money into polishing our online space. Fortunately, our online store has been growing steadily for the last 12-to-18 months and our social following has also been growing at an impressive organic rate. We immediately acted on expanding our product range online as well as introducing an e-Decorating service offering interior design services without the direct contact which has been hugely successful!”
They’ve also introduced some ‘how-to’ styling videos on their social media channels with an emphasis on improving your home and creating a sanctuary you love through isolation. “As a result, our online store has been performing better than ever and we are using this time to put more procedures in place to ensure we continue to maintain longevity and continued growth.”
Before all these challenges, Few & Far was on target for its best year yet. Stores and warehouses were fully stocked, ready for their busiest period of the year. They’d invested in extra staff and due to their business model offering both retail and wholesale, they’d also invested heavily in even more stock that was expected to arrive in time for the February trade fairs (all due to be paid for by the January takings).
“There really isn’t a lot that can be done to recover from these events except to just keep going and to be extremely grateful that we still have a business, premises to operate in and a future to look forward to,” Tara says.
“Staying open throughout this period and still having the ability to trade (even in this extremely quiet landscape), has enabled us to make the most of any opportunity. We’re thankful for our large and spacious stores that offer our customers an escape and room to wander. If you can take a positive out if it, I guess the silver lining is that it’s definitely been the push we needed to ensure our online store is the best it can be and we’re definitely using the down time to put more procedures in place to ensure we continue to maintain longevity and continued growth.”
As for life on the other side of Covid-19, Tarahopes that the emphasis on ‘home’ will always remain. “Our homes are a reflection of us, our travels, aspirations, memories, style and personality, so why not create a beautiful space to live? With restrictions in place for everyone to stay at home, we have seen a rise in the need from our customers (old and new) to make their home more comfortable and personalised. It’s almost like they’ve realised the importance of living in a beautiful space and perhaps prior to this may have felt there was something was missing in their lives.”
At the same time, society has been forced into becoming more comfortable and confident with purchasing or using services online. “We definitely see that as a trend that’s here to stay, however through being forced to purchase online, we also believe that the need for bricks and mortar experiences is also more important than ever. We are all waiting in anticipation to be able to get back out there to explore, to connect and to enjoy the experience of life. There’s no denying that physical experience will always outweigh the digital.”
For now, who could blame Tara and Danny for basking in their glory a little longer? “To think that what started out as a little store in Huskisson on the South Coast of NSW will now be recognised on a global scale is completely mind blowing! We pride ourselves on our personal approach to all aspects of our business and our distinctive style that mixes the old and new in a curated and thoughtful manner. To be recognised for what we love to do is just the cherry on top!”
We are so often told that the days of bricks and mortar homewares retail are numbered or that it’s impossible to succeed as a boutique shop these days. So when Sydney’s The Vignette Room recently celebrated two cracking years in business, I had to ask them to share their secrets! One half of the mother-daughter duo behind it, Jennifer Brown, lets us in our their learnings and what makes them stand out from the crowd.
Jennifer and Tracey with new team member Cassie at the beautifully styled The Vignette Room store
How fast two years go by! It feels like only yesterday that we opened the doors to The Vignette Room, with the aim of giving our customers an inspirational and immersive shopping experience in a beautifully styled homewares haven. We’ve learned a lot (note to selves: retail is hard!), but our time spent on the front line, listening to our customers’ feedback and experiencing the store environment every day, gives us a unique perspective and drives us to keep improving and evolving.
Our second anniversary seemed a good time to gather our thoughts, celebrate our successes and take an exciting new step. So here are a few reflections … and the launch of a fabulous service that we’ve been dying to offer since day one.
There’s nothing quite like instant gratification
It’s hard to beat that incredible rush when you find The One – you know, the perfect product you’ve tracked down after picking up all the others in the store. And that confidence you feel in knowing you’ve explored all options before reaching the right decision.
We believe this is still a wonderful advantage the in-store experience has over online ordering. No waiting, no uncertainty, and no disappointment when you receive something that’s not quite right. Just you and your gorgeous new possession, right there in your hand.
We’re pleased with how our store and online presence work together. We love the fact that we can post the unboxing of new stock on Instagram, which can lead customers to view its details on our website, then inspire them to come in, feel it for themselves and walk out with their purchase. Magic!
Personal connections make all the difference
That touch-and-feel element of the shopping experience is something we are proud to offer, and we love guiding our customers through the process. We’ve learned that confidence is important – the confidence of our customers in us, that we have hand-picked every product and styled it with love. And the confidence we can instil in our customers as we help them to find the perfect product or styling solution.
The most effective way we can provide assistance is in person. We delight in being able to advise both regulars, based on our personal knowledge of their shopping history, and newcomers, based on the stories they share with us. The most valuable feedback we receive is still the immediate sort, from customers as they shop.
Taking our store to the next level
Our exciting new offering was born from the insights we’ve gained thanks to this unique access to customers. The question we have been asked most over the past two years is ‘Do you have an interior styling service?’. Now the time is right, we’re thrilled to introduce that very thing.
As part of our more comprehensive interior styling and sourcing service, interior designer Cassie McCulloch has joined The Vignette Room and is available for paid in-store and in-home consultations. She can help with any aspect of interior styling, from a full planning service to finding items of furniture to establishing colour schemes, right down to finessing those finishing touches.
It’s been a big decision for this mum-and-daughter team to bring in another person, but Cassie’s like a member of the family who shares our passion and our aesthetic. Mum (Tracey Kennedy) and I will continue to offer our free in-store advice – and nothing can part us from the joy of engaging with our customers as they engage with our products! With this new service, we look forward to giving our customers an extra level of value and a great boost of confidence in making their style decisions.
–Jennifer Brown and Tracey Kennedy are co-owners of Sydney homewares store The Vignette Room. Visit them at 42 Gurner Street Paddington NSW or online at www.thevignetteroom.com.au
When it comes to decorating and furnishing your home, there are a few things you’d probably never dream about buying online. Until now!
They include paint, tiles, window furnishings and rugs. They’re either too hard to buy online because of the necessity to touch or see the product; the fact you’ve never traditionally bought them online, or via a salesperson doing a “free” measure and quote in your home or returning them is just too hard if you get it wrong.
We’ve noticed a definite increase in businesses making it easier than ever for you to buy things from the comfort of your own home with very little risk, so we thought we’d do a roundup for you! They’re things you have probably never considered buying online, but we hope you might now!
Buying tiles online is a very new phenomenon and online store TileCloud say there are multiple benefits for the customer. We particularly love how they offer to send you five samples for $5 in the mail. You can quickly and easily browse everything in one place (they only feature what they currently have in stock so you know it’s immediately available) and they promise year-round fair prices so you’ll never see big discount sales from them.
They also have a great range of all the tiles we have seen trending recently such as herringbone, mosaics, timber and concrete-look tiles, encaustic, travertine and natural stone for your bathroom, kitchen, floors or outdoor. They display all their tile and freight prices on the site so there’s no waiting around for a salesperson to get back to you and it’s easy to budget. There’s also customer care via phone and email to help you work out what and how much you need, as well as an online tile visualiser. Shipping (Australia wide, no exceptions!) is cheaper than you’d think, and often free, depending on the size of your order. And there’s a discount for trade customers too.
We say it’s definitely worth order ing your five samples and giving it a go!
Monsta are redesigning the way people buy paint, enabling you to do so online and have it delivered for free. They claim you’ll pay less than other paint brands with no sacrifice in quality.
Their paint is made in Australia with extras like mould inhibitor included as standard. You can get free white colour cards (they have a range of 20 whites) and buy sample pots online. They also offer free customer advice via phone, email, Facebook Chat and Skype.
We haven’t tried it ourselves, but we like the direct-from-manufacturer model.
DIY Online Blinds are making it super easy to buy blinds and plantation shutters (yes, you heard right) from your laptop at home! This is an industry where you are probably used to getting a free at-home measure and quote. But of course, nothing in life is free! DIY Online Blinds cut out the middleman. You can get huge savings on PVC plantation shutters by cutting out the middleman, measuring and installing yourself. It might sound daunting but they give you all the help you need to do it right. It’s actually nowhere near as tricky as you’d imagine! However if you live in metro NSW, VIC or QLD you can choose to have them installed for you, but it will obviously cost more.
We had our shutters installed by DIY Online Blinds and highly recommend them! Because they’re made here, unlike many suppliers, the turnaround time is just a couple of weeks.
DIY Online Blinds’ shutters in the latest reno of former Blockheads Bec and George
We’ve written about Miss Amara before but we like their online model so much, they’re getting another mention here. The rug-buying experience is not always the most inspiring, and why is it that those rugs shops (you know the ones) are always having a closing down sale but never actually closing?!
Miss Amara have a great range to suit all tastes and budgets but it’s how you buy (and return them if necessary) that appeals to us. For starters, delivery is free. Then you get to try it in your home for up to 30 days. Because it is really hard to visualise without having it there, don’t you think?! And if you don’t like how it looks, you can return it and they’ll cover the cost of pickup etc. It makes rug-buying online pretty much risk-free. We love it.
There’s even a free styling service so if you send them a photo of your room, they can advise you on some good options.
What do you think? Would you buy tiles, paint, shutters or rugs online after reading this?
It’s been a year since we opened The Vignette Room, and we’ve loved offering customers a homewares haven within a sumptuously styled terrace house. Here are some in-store advantages that we think website shopping just can’t match.
Experience
We’re talking about the tactile joy our customers feel at getting up close and personal with our products. We believe a home – and a homewares store – should delight all the senses, and we encourage visitors to soak up our styling, inhale our candles, listen to our playlists and cuddle our cushions. The only sense we haven’t covered yet is taste and it’s next on our list – stay tuned.
Interaction
There’s nothing like a face-to-face conversation for allowing you to immediately understand a customer’s needs – and to respond to them. When customers show us images of their spaces and tell us about a look they want to achieve, we’re able to get a feel for their style and make on-the-spot recommendations. We’ll also source products at customers’ request, a service that’s easier to arrange in person.
Immersion
Because our store is set up like an “open home” display – admittedly a lavishly decorated one – we encourage customers to lose themselves in it and forget about their to-do list for a while. Having everything at your fingertips is an opportunity to interact with the products, to see scale, colour, fabrics for yourself and how they work in a space.
Inspiration
Styling ideas can be demonstrated more easily (and more lovingly) in an actual home space than on a screen. It also lets us show products in a new light via different, dramatically layered displays. We’ve used a chandelier as a table centrepiece and arrayed blue and white ceramics en masse – both these vignettes drew lots of attention.
Hospitality
By this we mean good old-fashioned customer service – providing that sense of feeling looked after, which can become lost in an online experience. There’s something thrilling about making a purchase, watching it being wrapped in chic tissue and then walking out the door with a crisp new shopping bag. We also offer a concierge service with private viewing times for customers who want that little something extra.
Personality
Standing out in an online world can be difficult, but walk into our store and you see our distinct styles. Mum favours bling while I prefer bohemian – and it’s how we combine these in-store, where you can see the eclectic mix, that sets us apart. Plus we both have so many of the different products in our own homes that we can personally vouch for them!
Immediacy
Walk in, spot something, buy it, walk out – oh, the joy of in-store shopping! There’s no waiting on shipping or worrying that a gift won’t arrive on time. What’s more, the product you see is the product you take home. We understand that not everyone makes the right decision straightaway, so we allow customers to observe the product they’ve purchased in their space and exchange or refund if it doesn’t suit.
Location
We knew it was an unorthodox choice to open a store in a Paddington terrace back from the main strip, but the space fitted our vision and we’re dedicated to making it work. Our shop-front stands out in the mix of terraces and has a strong appeal to walk-by traffic. We build further on our local audience by supporting school fundraisers and forging relationships with cafes. From there, word spreads.
Adaptability
Seeing how our customers shop allows us to adapt our store to meet their interests. We never intended our furniture range to be a focus, but rather as a display that supported our décor and accessories. However, the response to the original pieces was so positive that unique but affordable furniture has now become one of our most popular offerings.
Realism
While we love delivering a unique in-store experience, we know that an online presence is necessary – we want customers everywhere to have access to our products! We believe that our store, our website and our social media activity all work together and enhance one another. In a recent blog, we’ve offered to style our customers’ favourite products on Facebook – a way of extending into the digital space the sort of inspiration they can find in the store.
–Jennifer Brown and Tracey Kennedy are co-owners of Sydney homewares store The Vignette Room.
When Erica Stewart launched online marketplace hardtofind in 2008, she had an inkling that it could turn into a very special and successful business. Seven years on, the revolutionary retail concept has become a multi-million dollar earner for the working mum who is now calling all the shots after her and former business partner Trudi Jenkins went their separate ways.
“I took a pretty big leap of faith in those early days,” says Erica, who used her maternity leave in 2010 to make the business her priority. It was during this time she realised the true potential of the idea and decided not to return to her job as a national sales manager at News Life Media. “It helped that I really believed in what I was doing. I had traction early on, so I just kept going.”
hardtofind specialises in sourcing gifts and lifestyle finds from small creative businesses across Australia and the world. Bringing them together on one tightly curated site, they make it easy for customers to find fresh and unique products with a story and a soul – plus connect with the makers directly for a much more personal and charming shopping experience. It’s this mix of ingenuity and genuine connection that Erica believes helps them stand out.
Juggling it all with being a mum of three is no walk in the park, but having her husband Josh working in the business works well for their family. “Like most working mums, the ability to multitask is ingrained in my psyche! School mornings are always fraught with activity, but Josh and I somehow manage to get three kids ready for school and out the door on time,” Erica says. “Luckily my eldest kids (11 and 13) can get ready for school, make their beds and make their lunch etc. without help, so I only really need to worry about my youngest (six). Josh has the flexibility to be at home for the kids in the afternoon, so he’s in charge of after-school activities, homework and dinner. It’s a mad house, but we do manage to keep our sense of humour and everyone (even my six year old) has chores to do!”
The flexibility that Josh has with his work hours makes all the difference. “We decided it was best for the kids to have a parent at home after school and during the holidays, so Josh works in the office until school pick-up. Knowing the kids are looked after means I can get on with what I do and not have to carry around so much mum guilt, plus I think Josh quite likes all the attention from the other mums so it’s win/win!”
Meanwhile, hardtofind has gone from strength to strength and is showing no signs of slowing down. More than half of customers make repeat purchases and average order values are increasing. “We’re still seeing a lot of new traffic to the site, so I don’t think we have hit our plateau yet,” said Erica. “This is why curation is absolutely key to what we do. Online shopping is such a cluttered space, so we try to simplify it for customers so they don’t have to search far and wide to find amazing products.”
As for no longer working as a double act with former business partner Trudi, Erica is enjoying the challenge. “I worked full time on the business on my own for a couple of years before Trudi (my co-founder) took the same leap of faith, so I’d already been making most of the day-to-day decisions by myself when she joined me.
“I have a great team who are incredibly passionate about the business and the brand, so I feel 100% supported now that I’m running the business solo. I also have an advisory board who I meet with every couple of months to help with the bigger, more strategic decisions. Now that I’m in charge of steering the ship so to speak, I find I’m able to set a faster, more efficient pace. We’ve kicked some seriously big goals in the last 12 months. My partnership with Trudi taught me a lot though, and I’m sure I’m running a better business because if it. ”
For the past four years, Kate Pierce has run her giftwares storeAntipodean Love out of three different inner city apartments and now from her home in Ballarat.
“The business has grown exponentially and as a result, I have developed quite impressive packing and storage skills! Here are my tips (learnt through many a late night and wrapping frenzy) that I believe can create a sense of sanity for others looking to launch a business from home:
Research. I cannot stress this enough, particularly during your initial planning stages. I would love to say that I had a robust business plan in place but it was more of a notebook filled with figures, notes and ramblings. Look at the market, identify your competitors and work out what your point of difference is. What are you going to deliver that they cannot or that you can do better?
Remember why you started. Ask and constantly remind yourself, ‘why am I doing this?’. You have to love working for yourself as it can (and most often does) become all-consuming. The lines between home life and work become very blurred. As much as I try to set clear boundaries between both, when you live and work out of the same space it is inevitable that there is some overlap. There is also a lot more to an online store than setting up the website, sitting back and watching the orders flood in. You need fire in your belly and a desire to succeed.
Get creative with space. This may sound obvious but most of us do not have a west wing or a huge unused space in our homes that we can work out of. You need to be mindful of what space you do have and how your work space will fit into your home. While my girls have loved copious cardboard boxes to play with, you have to feel at peace with orders coming in to your home and that the business at times can encroach on your space. We started off with a desk and storage in our bedroom, to taking over a bedroom altogether, to taking over the largest room in our house. We have played many games of Tetris with boxes and storage in our home.
Consider unavoidable costs. Shipping will be one of your largest costs/expenses. Research this and be mindful of your products’ weight and dimensions. If you are looking at flat rate postage (and let’s be honest we all like to know our postage fees upfront) postal charges vary widely in Australia dependent on destination. So if your products can fit in to a designated 500g or 3kg Australia Post satchel, you could save yourself a lot of cash.
Get systems in place. I am not talking crazy procedures and process flows but look at all the ways you can make your life easier. In the early days, you will most likely be writing addresses on the delivery satchels (I know I did) and when I automated this procedure it freed up an enormous amount of time.
Outsource as you grow. As a one-lady show initially, I could not and was not able to do it all myself. Where possible and within financial constraints, you need to delegate and outsource. Try and engage with local people and look at the resources you have available. Also look at your friends and family as you may be amazed at the connections and knowledge they can offer.
Kate Pierce
Above all, be confident in your concept and willing to evolve and change. Work hard, be nice and good things will happen. Things do take time but with patience and determination you will be amazed what you can achieve. Having your own business is so rewarding and fulfilling. I’d love to provide advice where I can if you are starting or running your own business from home. Please feel free to email me at [email protected].
I’ve been a massive fan of Etsy for years. In fact, I don’t think I’ve stopped shopping from its sellers since I discovered it, including half my wedding (read about my top finds here)! So I was really honoured to be asked to be a judge of this year’s Etsy Design Awards and I can’t wait to discover some new local makers and small businesses. As a fellow online business owner and supporter of Australian creatives (we’ve featured many Etsy store owners on the blog), it’s something close to my heart. I’m pretty much a disaster zone when it comes to making stuff, so I have huge admiration for these clever folk!
2014 New Talent winner Carl Holder of Foreply
Now in its second year, submissions just opened and you can enter up until 13 July 2015. This year, the awards are also open to New Zealand sellers.
This year’s categories are:
Art, Illustration & Papergoods
Home & Lifestyle
Fashion & Accessories
New Talent
Business As Unusual.
A winner will be selected from each category, along with a sixth Community’s Choice winner voted by the public. The Business As Unusual category rewards sellers that run their shop and create items in ways that are socially and environmentally responsible, a nod to the Etsy mission: ‘to reimagine ecommerce in ways that build a more fulfilling and lasting world’. The New Talent category aims to showcase creatives new to Etsy who have opened their shop in 2015.
Last year’s new talent winner Carl Holder (above) of Foreply, says: “Winning the award and the resulting media exposure generated masses of interest in my Etsy shop ‐ I went from a few dozen visits a day to literally thousands with interest and encouragement coming from all over the globe. It’s given me confidence to continue what I am doing and allowed me to venture into selling my pieces outside of Australia.”
Helen Souness, managing director, Etsy Australia and Asia, says: “We were so thrilled to see that the Etsy Design Awards, in their inaugural year in 2014, really helped the finalists and winners to grow their creative businesses on the Etsy platform. Perhaps as importantly it gave many emerging talents the confidence to know their work was world-class and that they really could make a living from pursuing their passion for making. We hope to discover many new talents in this year’s Awards and welcome new makers and designers onto Etsy.”
Although the recognition alone is a pretty big deal, the prizes on offer aren’t to be sniffed at, including a trip to Etsy’s headquarters in Brooklyn, New York for the New Talent and Community’s Choice winners, as well as coverage on Etsy’s social media and a feature in the October issue of Inside Out for all category winners.
2014 winners Olive and the Volcano
This year’s awards are in association with Inside Out magazine. Editor in chief Claire Bradley says: “These kinds of awards are a rare opportunity for smaller businesses to have their beautifully crafted products seen by a design‐focused audience. It’s exposure to the very people who treasure true craftsmanship and attention to detail and it’s an acknowledgment of what’s often been years of hard work and sacrifice. Personally, I’ll be looking for entries that raise the bar in terms of materials and finishing details. Quality execution is a must for me. And of course, style that moves past what we’re currently seeing in the market.”
Fellow judge Claire Bradley of Inside Out magazine
Alongside Claire, Helen and I, Ewan McCoin, senior curator at the National Gallery, makes up the judging panel. We can’t wait to see the entries!
Etsy.com, the online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods, has partnered with Melbourne hotel The Cullen (one of my personal favourites), to create an unforgettable curated accommodation experience. For two weeks in April, guests will have the opportunity stay in a one of a kind junior penthouse suite styled with products available on Etsy.
Brooke Holm (left) and Marsha Golemac
Stylist Marsha Golemac and photographer Brooke Holm are set to curate and style the suite, located in the trendy suburb of Prahran. The products, a mix of handmade and vintage homewares, have been sourced through Australia’s burgeoning Etsy community of makers and finders. The result will be a world first boutique hotel experience.
“Etsy at The Cullen is a unique collaboration,” says Marsha. “We see that bringing together retail, local design, art and luxury as a rare combination that makes for an exciting and challenging opportunity. We’ve sourced products from Etsy designers and artists across Australia to create a ‘home away from home’ hotel setting. We wanted to enhance the luxe and artistic elements of The Cullen with exceptional designs to create a space that is considered, tasteful and bursting with character.”
Visitors will also get the chance to experience the suite first hand at an open day on Saturday 11 April. This free event will give visitors the opportunity to tour the curated room and learn about the latest trends in homewares. The products featured in the space will be available for purchase at Etsy.com
Helen Souness, Etsy’s managing director for Australia and Asia, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with such a truly innovative hotel as The Cullen. We have an incredible range of homewares for sale in our marketplace and it is wonderful to be able to present a carefully curated selection in a contemporary hotel space. It provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the work of Etsy’s Australian creative community.”
Beckie Mitchell, Art Series Hotel Group’s marketing manager, said: “Being big fans of the work of Etsy makers and creativesaround the world, we jumped at the chance to collaborate on such an exciting project.”
Who doesn’t love a spot of online shopping? I do! Homewares, clothes, cleaning products, books, my weekly veggie box: the list goes on! We’re all busy and online shopping is super convenient because you can do it whenever you want. For me, this often means from the comfort of my couch, with a cuppa, at the end of a long day of multi-tasking.
Now this next confession risks making me sound uber lazy but bear with me. Sometimes, late at night, I’ll get all the way to the online checkout then abandon my basket because I can’t be bothered to get up and find my handbag and retrieve my card details. Bad, I know, but a girl gets tired! This is why the new MasterPass digital wallet network is awesome for me. It securely accesses the details of all my cards in my secure bank digital wallet (and it’s free) and makes it super easy for me to pay however I like without having to find my handbag or remember long card numbers (I’m a words person!). Even better I can use it whether I’m on my trusty MacBook Air, my phone or my iPad. Love it! It also saves multiple shipping addresses, so no need to re-enter all that info every time either. Simply shop, click and checkout.
MasterPass is brought to us by MasterCard, which is clearly an established ans trusted brand. They’ve partnered with banks across the world, not just here in Australia (because let’s face it, most of us buy a lot online from overseas) so they can offer security measures like zero liability. This means your money will be refunded in the case of fraud. So when you see a ‘Buy with MasterPass’ symbol you know you’re safe to buy , not matter where the product is in the world, and pretty much all you have to do is enter your password.
I know, it’s making online shopping dangerously easy!
It didn’t take me more than a few minutes to set up my bank digital wallet and replenish my impressive coffee table book collection with some new additions from Booktopia (you may have seen my Instagram post a few days ago and wondered what I was getting at?).
Stores currently accepting MasterPass include Webjet, Jeanswest, OzSale, Menulog and 2nds World. Many more are due to be added next year.
WIN
We have a $200 Booktopia voucher to give away to one lucky reader. Simply complete the below form by 5pm AEST on 2 January 2015. Terms & conditions apply.
Most bricks and mortar stores go online later but Retrojan has done it the other way around!
There’s a new furniture showroom in town for our VIC readers. Last week, Retrojan opened its first showroom in Abbotsford, Melbourne. It’s packed with their ever expanding range of home furniture (I have a few pieces myself) with a distinct focus on the Scandinavian style.
The old warehouse has been renovated and is near Weylandts, giving you two interiors destinations to visit in the one trip!
Director David Janovic wants to give online customers, many of whom are local, a physical space where they can view the goods in the flesh.
Where: 2 Harper Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067.
Opening hours: 9am-5pm Monday-to-Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays and 11am-3pm Sundays. Closed on all Victorian public holidays. Customer parking is available outside the front of the building or on nearby Nicholson Street (2-hour parking).
I checked out the Hardtofind Pop Up store in Sydney’s The Rocks last week and it is full to brimming with all kinds of great gift ideas for everyone on your list! Go and check it out while it’s still there (until 14 December) plus, if you Instagram while you’re in there you’ll go in the draw to win EVERYTHING in the shop!
It’s at 5 Hickson Road, The Rocks, Sydney (opposite Holiday Inn). Thursdays 10am–8pm, Fridays 10am–8pm, Saturdays 10am–5pm, Sundays 10am–4pm.
Hardtofind.com.au is an award-winning website featuring more than 30,000 beautifully designed, unique items, carefully curated by Sydney-based creatives, Eri Stewart and Trudi Jenkins. Since the website’s official launch in 2008, hardtofind has grown steadily to become one of Australia’s favourite online shopping destinations. Whilst the website may have started as a hobby for the former publishing duo, today there is serious business going on. The company currently employs 25 full-time staff and is scaling rapidly with 180,000 active, repeat-purchase customers, 30,000 products from more than 800 Australian and international sellers, 180,000+ Facebook fans, 5.5 million visitors and 28 million page views in the past 12 months alone.
The founder of wholesale experts Zimba Designs launched Nel Lusso as an own label two years ago and it’s become something much bigger!
Carla Romeril wanted to put her own mark on product design and product development: “Nel Lusso began as a brand name for a new range of exquisite paper napkins that feel like real linen. Nel Lusso is italian for ‘lap of luxury’ and it was the perfect fit for the sort of homewares that I wanted to develop,” she explained. “The products that we develop and range stay true to this meaning; they are luxurious but affordable homewares.”
Zimba have spent more than a decade cementing the kitchenware brands they distribute, including Cuisipro, Fusionbrands, Kasumi and Kitchengrips. But homewares are Carla’s real passion and how she began the Zimba story in New Zealand back in 1994. “So, 150 or so products later, we are really excited by our customers’ reactions to all the new ranges. From Nel Lusso Fine Bone China, boards, lamps, candelabras, furniture, Christmas, and ceramics. I try very hard to retain a cohesive look and tell a nice story across all the products and brand. Once someone buys a piece of Nel Lusso, other pieces they add fit nicely into the aesthetic. Also, it makes it nicer to merchandise in store for our retailers!”
The latest for Nel Lusso has been the launch of their own online store, selling to the public, rather than retailers, for a change. Carla sees it as a great opportunity to showcase everything from the brand in one place as many retailers only stock a selection. It also gives them the opportunity to clear some end of lines in their clearance section, so look out for a bargain!
There’s a new concept in online shopping for you to explore and I’m pleased to say Interiors Addict is a part of it. Great.ly is a US-based curated ecommerce platform that connects trusted tastemakers with talented makers from across the world, including, of course, Australia. And there’s a LOT of gorgeous homewares to be found!
GREAT.LY aims to streamline the maker marketplace. The company has tapped tastemakers (including me!) to curate their own boutiques and do all of the selling, so makers only have to worry about doing what they truly love doing— making. Shoppers will discover the best accessories, home and kids products created by distinct makers from near and far, handpicked by the tastemakers they already follow, all in one beautifully curated place.
“Tastemakers are a powerful force online, motivating the purchasing habits of millions of people worldwide daily, yet no one has made them central to an online shopping site where makers go to sell their fabulous products. GREAT.LY is an ecommerce platform that leverages the audiences of tastemakers to drive sales for the maker economy. It is a simple win-win situation,” says Sarah Bryden-Brown, founder and CEO.
Unlike many startups that launch with a product, and then look for an audience, GREAT.LY is launching to a massive audience right from the start. Its tastemaker network currently has over 30 million pageviews per month. And, that’s only the beginning. GREAT.LY has raised $500,000 with the goal to grow to 1,000 tastemakers selected from across the globe, reaching combined pageviews of 200 million, within 12 months.
With a transparent revenue model, GREAT.LY shoppers see just where their money is going. Tastemakers, who already spend their days searching the world for beautiful things to write about, can finally setup shop to share those finds and make a profit, earning 30% of every purchase made through their boutique, plus an additional 5% for sales across the site from shoppers they bring to the platform. Makers receive 50% of sales, and a built-in global sales channel.
decor8’s Great.ly boutique
I really enjoyed filling my boutique with goodies, especially affordable art, which I hope you’ll love!
Some of my favourite international interiors and lifestyle bloggers are also tastemakers, including Victoria Smith (SF Girl By Bay), Holly Becker (decor8), Taylor Sterling and Caitlin Moran (Glitter Guide), Alaina Kaczmarski and Danielle Moss (The Everygirl), Will Taylor (Bright.Bazaar). Great company to be in!
Disclosure: I will receive a commission on any sales via my Great.ly boutique.
There’s no question that the internet is increasingly a game changer for all industries, not least interiors. It’s amazing the products and services we can sell online these days. But despite having an innovative and digitally brilliant online model, new business Urban Couture realise that there are some people who still want to touch and feel! That’s why they’ve just opened this gorgeous warehouse space in Sydney’s Ultimo.
“We decided to open the showroom as it became evident that although the majority of Australians are increasingly confident to buy furniture online, there is still the need for people to “try before they buy”– in relation to seeing and touching the products before they purchase. This is common with our big ticket items such as beds and sofas where clients really want to test the comfort,” says creative director Katriarna Rodgers, a stylist and graphic designer. “We also felt that it is important that we have a beautiful creative space where clients can visit us, be inspired and receive a one-on-one design service.”
Online, Urban Couture is both a homewares and furniture store, a place to create your own moodboards with their free tool Couture Boards, and a place to get free e-decorating advice. Katriarna runs the business with Tom Towhidi who, with a background in accounting and law, looks after the logistics, legal and financial side of things.
Katriarna and Tom
The showroom is a converted warehouse and former wool factory. It’s open to anyone, but Urban Couture have made it by appointment only so they can give everyone a specialised, one-on-one service. They hope to avoid the snobby and unfriendly feel of some high end showrooms and will even be offering customers a glass of wine or a cup of tea: “A process that in our opinion always helps you to relax and decide what it is that you really need!”
Katriarna believes it is thanks to shows like The Block and House Rules, and online inspiration from design blogs and Pinterest, that the general public are increasingly interested in interiors and excited to have a go themselves. While there is still a perception that professional design advice is only for the very wealthy, Urban Couture are trying to make it more accessible by offering free e-decorating to their online homewares customers. “E-decorating is simply an avenue for us to understand our clients’ needs, in order to deliver tailor made design and decoration which works for them and importantly, represents their personal style.”
“One of our goals is to make great international design more accessible to the consumer, no matter where you live or what your budget. We want to continue doing what we love by traveling the world and bringing new and inspiring furniture and homewares to Australia. We hope to play a big part in changing the perception of buying furniture and homewares online, by showing customers that choosing furniture and homewares for their homes can be simplified and enjoyable for them through effective and efficient customer service. Further, by offering a one stop shop and design service, we hope that customers will be in a position to enjoy the process, rather than being faced with the task of searching tirelessly around shopping malls on the weekends and wasting their valuable time.”
This week I’m loving the Handmade Markets initiative from Temple & Webster with the help of the fabulous Jacqui Fink from Little Dandelion. She makes the gorgeous jumbo knits like this beautiful bed runner, which has unfortunately already been snapped up!
Jacqui introduced Temple & Webster to 10 of Australia’s most talented handmade designers to give them an online platform to showcase and sell their wares. It was launched at the weekend and runs until Monday 24 June. “Each maker has been working furiously but joyously over the last few weeks, preparing for this sale event. I trust you will love the product offering,” Jacqui says.
