What inspired the creation of Harbour, and what sets it apart in the outdoor furniture market?
Harbour was and is inspired by the Australian coastline, which is very rugged, beautiful, rough, and temperamental. In 1976, my uncle started manufacturing steel furniture and in the early 2000s the company was rebranded to Harbour and we started an export line to the US market. So, to answer your question, we design, manufacture, and supply modern luxury furniture, inspired by the Australian coastline. It’s a lifestyle.
What do you think sets Harbour aside from, or above, its competitors?
I think the main thing is that we are a fully vertically integrated company, which means that we design the product in-house with a team of designers. We manufacture the product in our own factories. And we also retail and distribute the product ourselves through our showrooms and various channels around the world. So when a client needs something custom, for example, it’s fully within our capability. When a client needs us to design something for them, it’s fully within our capability. When a client needs a high volume of product, quickly, it’s fully within our capability. We have full control over the entire process – which is what vertically integrated means. Sustainability is a massive focus at the moment.
What is your practice in terms of operations surrounding sustainability?
We use various materials in our furniture. One of them is teak wood from Indonesia. We only use grade A teak, which is fully regulated by the Indonesian authorities. This means that, best practices are used in the supply of that material. Also, we make a very durable product. Our furniture is built to last a lifetime.
In a competitive market, innovation is key to staying ahead. How do you foster a culture of innovation? And, can you highlight any recent innovations of product developments and how do you stay ahead of the trends?
I think innovation in design is important to talk about. Basically, the way in which our design team, led by Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Nicholas Condos, remain ahead of the pack in the industry in terms of releasing beautiful new designs, season after season. The magic happens in Harbour’s design studio in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. It’s amazing to witness the mood boarding, sketching, product development and prototyping.
Finally, what would you say has been your proudest moment at Harbour?
It’s imminent. It’s about to take place later this month on the 17th of May. We are opening our newest flagship showroom on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, which is arguably the world’s preeminent retail location for luxury furniture. We’re moving from the NYC Design Centre into a beautiful, custom-built, two-storey showroom, on the street level. It places us with the giants of the industry. It’s a very proud moment for HARBOUR.
