Celebrating
30 Years
in Business with AGHA
From a small warehouse and a noisy fax machine to a very successful wholesale business today, Flair Gifts & Home celebrate 30 years of business through reflecting on the highlights, the challenges and the moments that make it all worthwhile. AGHA caught up with Amanda Brandt, daughter of John Doyle who started Flair International Gifts in 1992 and sadly passed away in January 2021. We asked some of her and John’s favourite memories over the past 30 years and how they got to where they are today. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST WHEN YOUR FATHER STARTED FLAIR IN 1992? I recall the fax ringing at night with long rolls of paper full of drawings and designs from India. Dad had been a head buyer at Coles Myer for over 35 years, which gave him the chance to travel and source
nd her Brandt a Amanda r John Doyle fathe
the most successful products. With the establishment of Flair, he saw an opportunity in the market for decorative items to be imported to Australia and became a pioneer in the homewares industry. ANY FAVOURITE, MOST MEMORABLE PRODUCTS FROM THE LAST 30 YEARS? One of our earliest and most successful products was a brass ‘keys-n-coins’ dish. We estimated that Flair has sold over one million pieces of this handy product over the years and even today a variation of the 30-year-old product continues to sell well. LOOKING BACK OVER 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS, WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? The highlight is certainly the relationships we’ve made along the way. We have the same agent in India now, as we did in 1992, they’ve become
Decorative products from the first Melbourne Gift Fair - August 1992
family. We’ve developed friendships with many of our original customers who continue to build successful businesses with us today. We have come to know their families, partnerships, and the intricacies of their market area. We love supporting their business growth as their ongoing success is our success. WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN THE INDUSTRY AND HOW HAVE FLAIR ADAPTED? The introduction and growth of the online world has changed the industry. Flair was an early adopter of a wholesale website and we have valued this tool ever since. Social media has also been a positive change for us as we can promote new products instantly and connect with our customers. Whilst a new concept to my father John, he knew it was a great tool to reach our customers.
19th Feb ru Sydney Gifary 1995 t Fair
