Over the years a lot of people have copied my formula and products, and this makes you strive to stay one foot ahead of what's happening, which can be exhausting as you feel like you are always being chased! Selling online has enabled me to have an easier work life away from having shops. If you wanted people to know about you and to get your product out there, a store front was the most logical way, it was more affordable back then as well. What is the most valuable lesson you've learned along the way? How has working in the online space changed things?When I opened my first shop in 1999, there was no internet, nothing was spontaneous and instant like today, everything took time. You originally started out running brick and mortar shops. I feel incredibly lucky that for 15 years douglas & hope has been my sole source of income, and I have been able to do exactly what I love doing. The foundation for anything I design is utilitarianism, it must be useful. Melbourne really is an incredible city, after living in the country for 2 years and just coming back 2 months ago, I am loving rediscovering this great city, and the inner North is my favourite area.įavorite thing about your job & brand: The single best thing about my job and brand, is product designing for the brand, and having the freedom to work designing and manufacturing products, and to collaborate with incredible people on products. Stomping Grounds | Melbourne AU | Northcote is the neighbourhood I live in, it is a fabulously diverse suburb with old school Italians and Greeks mixed with the new wave of Northcote dwellers, East Brunswick is where I work, Fitzroy and the CBD is where I love to hang out.
Here's a little talk we had about life working, designing and running in the world of retail. If you're nice, She'll even take you for a walk around the block and point out a few of her favorite neighborhood spots. Sure enough, I was right! Upon visiting her studio (located in nondescript building previously running as an ice cream parlor) I was greeted by a bright, bubbly gal who turns out to be quite the sassy business woman to boot.Ĭath Hope is one of many incredible Australians in a very unique and embracing creative community, who's keeping the idea of affordable art and a sense of sunshine for the home alive. When I first stumbled across the collection of cheeky melamine plates and cups at Melbourne Based Douglas & Hope - I had a feeling there was someone fabulous behind the scenes.