2 minute read
Alfresco Gardenware
Looking to get back into the workforce after having children, Julia Longmuir saw an exciting opportunity in the wholesale supply of garden décor products. Without a background in importing and facing significant risks, Julia embraced the steep learning curves ahead and opened the doors to Alfresco Gardenware in September 2005. She has enjoyed running the successful wholesale business ever since.
AGHA recently chatted with Julia about her business and the trends she is noticing in the gardenware sector.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING THE WHOLESALE INDUSTRY TODAY?
Starting a business from scratch with little resources in 2005 was not easy. That seems like eons ago. Who knows today if it would even be possible. Supply from China or any other country is increasingly difficult. International fairs are still quite a way off and so the timeframe for sourcing new lines has blown out.
The factories are all stretched to the max and many are imposing higher order quantities and longer supply times. Additionally, shipping is in all sorts of disarray. Times are certainly interesting and who knows what the new type of normal will be in the giftware industry.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THE PRODUCT RANGE ON OFFER?
Stockists buy from us for our on trend product range with a fast sell through. We have a team of people constantly working on new products and our ideas come from a variety of sources, including our extensive knowledge of what sells and what doesn’t. We make our own designs, and we also use our supplier designs sometimes with modification. Alfresco Gardenware also creates designs from customer requests, supplier offerings, marketplace research and overseas trends.
WHICH STYLES ARE CURRENTLY MOST POPULAR WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS?
Alfresco Gardenware offers high quality with beautiful designs and an affordable price. Currently, our customers are loving our wind spinner range because they can be used in so many places and give visual impact. They are totally mesmerising. Pots are also huge, as is the trend for indoor gardens. Rust décor also continues to be a high demand segment for us.
WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO FROM ALFRESCO GARDENWARE IN 2021?
We have some fantastic new lines hitting soon including DNA wind spinners, a range of new figurines made from cast iron and resin, a new range of novelty lines featuring floating critters, birds and a beautiful range of copper pieces.
03 9118 4333
alfrescogardenware.com
service@alfrescogardenware.com.au
