Designers' Collection, an Auckland-based
furnishings company, designs all of their own pieces, and then
makes them to order at four manufacturers in the Auckland area -
all within 20 minutes of its showroom.
Words by ArchiPro Editorial Team
06 May 2022
3 min read
The experience of the global pandemic has
highlighted and exacerbated several key issues, not the least of
which is the vulnerability of the global supply chain. When various
international restrictions create bottlenecks, this in turn
decreases the reliability of offshore manufacturing and transferral
of goods.
In the last two years, this supply chain issue has
wreaked havoc on the worldwide economy, and has had numerous
knock-on effects across almost every sector - not least the
construction industry, which is still plagued by shortages in New
Zealand.
There's a relatively simple panacea for this
problem though: locally sourced materials and local manufacturing.
When importing materials, there's no way to avoid global supply
chain shortages and disruptions; but when it comes to domestic
materials, these problems are largely bypassed.
A brighter light than ever before is now shining on
the concept of 'buying local' for this reason, and companies like
Designers' Collection is a prime example of this.
Designers' Collection designs all of their own
pieces in Auckland.
Designers' Collection designs all of their own
pieces in Auckland.
A streamlined production process
The Auckland-based furnishings company designs all
of their own pieces, and then makes them to order at four
manufacturers in the Auckland area - all within 20 minutes of its
showroom.
This means that in the time before the product
reaches the customer, each process of the company's made-to-order
products - conception, design, and manufacturing - are all done
within the same small radius within Tāmaki Makaurau. This is a
stark point of difference compared to products coming from
overseas, says Designers' Collection managing director Rod
Hanna.
"One of the beauties of local manufacturing is the
flexibility it gives us," says Rod. "If a customer likes the look
of one of our designs but wants it in a non-standard, individual
specification, our business model makes this a very simple thing to
deal with."
The very close business relationship Designers'
Collection has with its manufacturers also simplifies the
process.
"We've been working with these manufacturers for a
minimum of 12 years - and most for significantly longer," says Rod.
"And so we've got a good understanding of how they operate and what
they can and can't do, and they've got a good understanding of what
we are looking for."
The closeness of this relationship, and the highly
localised design and manufacturing process, also yield another key
benefit: timeliness.
"Even for products that are tailor-made for
clients, we can deliver on that project with a very short lead
time, whilst managing and maintaining quality throughout the whole
process," says Rod.
There's a push to attract new talent in the
furniture industry.
There's a push to attract new talent in the
furniture industry.
Attracting talent and maintaining quality
When it comes to local manufacturing, it's not just
the direct benefits to the business and convenience for the
customer that present themselves as serious benefits.
Rod also stresses the significance of attracting
new talent to the industry: "One of the biggest challenges of
furniture making is attracting young talent," he says, "There's a
huge spotlight on the construction industry, but not so much on the
furniture-making industry.
"But when there's a rich local manufacturing
culture, with companies like us as an example, this plays a part in
attracting more talent. If potential young apprentices can see a
healthy local furniture and upholstery industry, it only makes it
more likely to grow that industry."
And it doesn't hurt that all of the other benefits
of local manufacturing, and the knock on effects and net benefits
it gives to the company, also play a role in attracting this
talent. The flexibility is the key benefit, Rod says.
"Short lead times lead to a better ability to
manage quality, and when you have such a close relationship with
your key stakeholders, things become more predictable," says Rod.
"This is an immense help, particularly in the times that we're
really busy - our quality control is very streamlined."
It's just one of the many upsides to manufacturing
locally in Auckland.
Designers' Collection, an Auckland-based furnishings company,
designs all of their own pieces, and then makes them to order at
four manufacturers in the Auckland area - all within 20 minutes of
its showroom.
Words by ArchiPro Editorial Team
02 June 2022
The experience of the global pandemic has highlighted and
exacerbated several key issues, not the least of which is the
vulnerability of the global supply chain. When various
international restrictions create bottlenecks, this in turn
decreases the reliability of offshore manufacturing and transferral
of goods.
In the last two years, this supply chain issue has wreaked havoc
on the worldwide economy, and has had numerous knock-on effects
across almost every sector - not least the construction industry,
which is still plagued by shortages in New Zealand.
There's a relatively simple panacea for this problem though:
locally sourced materials and local manufacturing. When importing
materials, there's no way to avoid global supply chain shortages
and disruptions; but when it comes to domestic materials, these
problems are largely bypassed.
A brighter light than ever before is now shining on the concept
of 'buying local' for this reason, and companies like Designers'
Collection is a prime example of this.
A streamlined production process
The Auckland-based furnishings company designs all of their own
pieces, and then makes them to order at four manufacturers in the
Auckland area - all within 20 minutes of its showroom.
This means that in the time before the product reaches the
customer, each process of the company's made-to-order products -
conception, design, and manufacturing - are all done within the
same small radius within Tāmaki Makaurau. This is a stark point of
difference compared to products coming from overseas, says
Designers' Collection managing director Rod Hanna.
"One of the beauties of local manufacturing is the flexibility
it gives us," says Rod. "If a customer likes the look of one of our
designs but wants it in a non-standard, individual specification,
our business model makes this a very simple thing to deal
with."
The very close business relationship Designers' Collection has
with its manufacturers also simplifies the process.
"We've been working with these manufacturers for a minimum of 12
years - and most for significantly longer," says Rod. "And so we've
got a good understanding of how they operate and what they can and
can't do, and they've got a good understanding of what we are
looking for."
The closeness of this relationship, and the highly localised
design and manufacturing process, also yield another key benefit:
timeliness.
"Even for products that are tailor-made for clients, we can
deliver on that project with a very short lead time, whilst
managing and maintaining quality throughout the whole process,"
says Rod.
Attracting talent and maintaining quality
When it comes to local manufacturing, it's not just the direct
benefits to the business and convenience for the customer that
present themselves as serious benefits.
Rod also stresses the significance of attracting new talent to
the industry: "One of the biggest challenges of furniture making is
attracting young talent," he says, "There's a huge spotlight on the
construction industry, but not so much on the furniture-making
industry.
"But when there's a rich local manufacturing culture, with
companies like us as an example, this plays a part in attracting
more talent. If potential young apprentices can see a healthy local
furniture and upholstery industry, it only makes it more likely to
grow that industry."
And it doesn't hurt that all of the other benefits of local
manufacturing, and the knock on effects and net benefits it gives
to the company, also play a role in attracting this talent. The
flexibility is the key benefit, Rod says.
"Short lead times lead to a better ability to manage quality,
and when you have such a close relationship with your key
stakeholders, things become more predictable," says Rod. "This is
an immense help, particularly in the times that we're really busy -
our quality control is very streamlined."
It's just one of the many upsides to manufacturing locally in
Auckland.