HARRIET 'Haddy' McMicking was travelling through Morocco, one of Africa’s most diverse countries, when she “had an epiphany”.
She’d just finished secondary school the year before and was enjoying life abroad as a ‘gappie’ when she discovered what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
“One day I told myself, I would start a homewares business and bring the magic of travelling back into people’s homes,” Harriet recalls.
That was nine years ago.
Now 27 years old, living in Brisbane, and working as a cost analyst for an oil and gas company, the former Goondiwindi resident is following her dream.
Teaming up with friend Jessica Fraser, the duo has started a homewares brand – TIPI Interiors.
They launched the business last Thursday night with a Pop Up store at Showroom, on Latrobe Terrace in Paddington, Brisbane, sponsored by Beau Dalton from NAB Paddington.
Kate Brewer and Dan Chittick, Sydney. Kate designed the tableware collection for TIPI Interiors.-Picture: ALISHA MUSIL. Click to view gallery
Harriet and Jessica hope to open the web store by the end of 2015.
When Harriet first approached Jessica with the business idea and to see if she would help bring her dream into fruition, “it had been seven years since that burning desire had evolved and it had not faded one bit.”
“I suppose when you think about something day-in, day-out, for seven years, you become very passionate about it and very driven to make it happen.”
Also living in Brisbane, Jessica is a consultant psychologist and shares Harriet’s passion for “creating beautiful spaces and coming up with products that evoke a response.”
Travel has been a big inspiration for the business, with the pair hoping TIPI Interiors will enable customers to create “spaces that reflect one’s life story, travels and personal style.”
Starting a new business has been a steep learning curve for Harriet and Jessica, particularly with neither of them having design backgrounds.
Other challenges such as balancing the pressures of a start-up whilst continuing to work in full-time positions, as well as day-to-day operational learnings dealing with another culture and time zone in India, have also presented along the way.
The first collection launched at the Pop Up included outdoor living (director and deck chairs), tableware (table cloths, napkins and tea towels) and a few one-off furniture items.
The products have been designed by the girls, together with Wollongong based artist-friend Kate Brewer, before being made in India.
Kate designed the tableware collection, while Jessica and Harriet worked with a team of craftsmen from Jodhpur to bring the outdoor furniture range to life.
“Our vision is to become the leading boutique online homewares retailer in Australia,” Harriet said.
