Manufacturing
LUSH: Hand Made Luxury
Being pampered is one of life's little pleasures. Indulging in luxury is something that most of us crave but can't always afford. Lush Cosmetics knows that luxury comes in many different packages, one of them being hand made makeup and toiletries that are fit for a queen.
Lush's story is one that stretches back to the 1970's when they began making their hand made cosmetics. Ten years later they founded Cosmetics to Go on the south coast of England where they provided beach goers with never before seen products like Bath Bombs, Shampoo Bars, and Massage Bars. Around this time they also built a successful mail order company unlike anything else in the cosmetic industry. Shortly thereafter Cosmetics to Go went out of business, leaving the Lush team to sell their company.
But in the mid 90's Lush gave it another go. They opened a shop in Poole and then one in London's King's Road, and today boast nearly 200 worldwide locations. They're also back on board with the mail order business in countries like Germany, Taiwan, Canada, Italy, Sweden, and the United States to name a few. While Lush is loving (once again) the sweet taste of success, they still make their products in their own facilities so that every product is as fresh as can be. After all, their "aim is to have the youngest, freshest products in the history of cosmetics."
Lush is a fun company that's disrupting the traditional world of mass produced soaps, fragrances, and other cosmetics. They're proving that people want more than a run of the mill experience, and are capitalizing big on their ability to stick with their original vision of fresh products in unordinary packages.
AQUASCAPE DESIGNS INC.: Installing Tranquility
Most people enjoy nature. Especially water. We pay top dollar to live on a lake, or close to the beach, or even to own a boat that only makes it to the marina in the summertime. So why not create a personal water oasis right in your own back yard? Aquascape Designs thinks you should, and they know that having your own personal pond doesn't have to break the bank.
Greg Wittstock has been 'The Pond Guy' for 15 years. As the founder and president of Aquascape Designs, this entrepreneur got an early start at the age of 12 when he built his first backyard pond. Greg's self taught career has grown from there, and in 1991 resulted in the launch of his residential and commercial water feature design firm, Aquascape Designs Incorporated. Aquascape Designs specializes in water feature design and construction, and is currently the nation's leading water garden construction company.
And while water gardens are beautiful to look at, many people think that it takes a lot of work to keep them looking that way. Greg promises that an Aquascape Ecosystem pond requires less maintenance than the same amount of grass space would. The water gardens usually take one day to construct and cost about as much as a hot tub. And if you have cold winters, don't worry; the majority of the fish and plants in your pond come back year after year. In addition to beautifying landscapes, Aquascape also hopes to provide you with a tranquil space where you can go to relax.
Aquascape cares about more than just attractive yards. Greg has spoken to thousands of Green Industry professionals, working with them on topics like the impact of water features on retailers, water gardening design, construction, marketing, and public relations. Seven years ago he visited more than 57 cities around the country and was met by sold out seminars and exciting attendees. Perhaps Greg's presentations are so successful because of his engaging dialogue, tremendous energy, and visible passion for his job. Seminars from Aquascape Designs are growing in demand, and they now have several employees to help out. In all of the business success, speaking engagements, and new ideas, Greg stays rooted to his primary focus of dissolving "age-old misconceptions about building and maintaining ponds and his very simple philosophy to work with Mother Nature and not against her." Greg's commitment to his goal of staying in tune with Mother Nature is one that comes across in the wide array of educational and training materials he infuses the gardening industry with. His work can also be found in the less mainstream Green Industry in publications for personal as well as business use.
Aquascape Designs is a great example of a company that's doing what's right and winning big. Their commitment to beautifying our homes and our earth have earned them a loyal following in addition to some strong word of mouth advertising. This company knows that people are increasingly looking for more meaningful experiences, and work to provide cultural capitol and personal escape in a return to nature.
DESIGN WITHIN REACH: Furniture for the Fashion Conscious
Have you been dreaming about a Le Corbusier couch? Or perhaps a Saarinen Tulip Chair? Look no further than Design Within Reach, the ultimate furniture company that offers some of the most in demand designers of yesterday and today. And while their goods may not be exactly cheap, they are timeless.
Design Within Reach (DWR) is a company that offers easy access to well designed furniture, furniture that in the past could only be found in designer showrooms. Rob Forbes, founder and designer explains DWR's mission is to "Deliver great products to a broader group of people and to elevate the interest in legitimate design has been here since the Bauhaus. Our goal is simply to accelerate the way that design gets to the public and to take advantage of the most current technology in this process. In Europe, furniture design is taken more seriously and the public has greater access to well-designed products. We expect to emulate that." Their "form follows function" mantra has been popular in the furniture world since the 1920's, and embraces simplicity, quality, and original ideas.
DWR has chairs, desks, couches, rugs, fixtures, and fans that include designs from Furniture Greats like Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer, and Alvar Aalto to name a few. In addition to the classics, DWR features up and coming designers like Enrico Franzolini, Ron Aradm and Phillipe Starck. They market their products in a number of different formats including a monthly catalog, retail locations, and the Design Within Reach website. DWR further differentiates themselves from other high-end furniture studios by keeping a large in stock inventory that's always ready to ship (most other places offer a standard delivery timeframe of three to four months).
DWR has grown from a single, San Francisco Studio to a company that boasts locations in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, and Portland. DWR prides their retail showrooms as being comfortable spaces where customers can experience the products first hand and get lots of useful suggestions from the well informed staff. This furniture retailer is looking to create a lasting customer experience that starts in their store and lasts as long as your chair, couch, or chaise does.
Semco:Innovative Behavior and Employee Autonomy
Fresh out of Harvard Business School, Ricardo Semler returned to work for Semco, his father's company in his home country of Brazil. Upon returning, he realized that there was something inherent in the business's organization that he greatly disliked: the autocratic managerial model that disrupted diversity and organizational production. After a few years, Semler took over management and began to implement change.
Semler's newest book "The Seven Day Weekend" epitomizes his philosophy. After taking over Semco he worked himself to death trying to run the business, eventually fainting from exhaustion while on a visit to one of his factories. Semler realized he needed to change his life as well as the organization of his company. What he did next was truly revolutionary, turning common managerial practices on their head.
Semler realized that when workers try to please their manager, they're less likely to create innovative products that boost diversity and progression. He saw that workers were too concerned with pleasing a boss and not concerned enough with the actual product they were creating. After trying several different managerial strategies, Semler adopted a "lattice organization" in which self-managed groups of six to ten manufacturing employees are placed in charge of every aspect involving production. To promote a true sense of ownership over the entire process, the groups handle their budgets, productions, and salary. Upon implementation costs fell dramatically while sales went through the roof. This democratic approach to management drastically reduced employee complaints regarding the allocation of funds, while at the same time exemplifying Semco's trust in their employee's ability to make decisions and carry them out efficiently. Semler believes that his company will find success in an environment rich with freedom, choice, and innovation. He explains that,"It's as free market as we can make it. People bring their talents and we rely on their self-interest to use the company to develop themselves in any way they see fit. In return, they must have the self-discipline to perform."
At Semco, subordinates choose their managers, and also decide how much they are paid and when they work. Meetings are voluntary, and two seats at board meetings are open to the first employees who turn up. Salaries are made public along with all of the company's other financial information. Sounds like a recipe for chaos, right? Yet Semco has surfed Brazil's rough economic and political currents with panache, growing at a consistent 40% a year. Revenue has gone from $4 million in 1982 to $249 million currently, exploding with the arrival of Semler's innovative managerial tactics. Semco is the test case of what happens when a company actually puts the annual report-speak of "trust" and "delegation" into practice. The corollary of democracy and treating people as adults - the only real rules at Semco - is plenty of peer pressure and self-discipline.
Semco's policy manual is a mere twenty-pages and emphasizes not what an employee must do in accordance with how their managers direct them; rather, it encourages participation, stating that employees should not settle down, but should "give opinions, seek opportunities and advancement, and always say what they think." With a strategy like this Semco can't afford to have employees who see themselves as "just one more person in the company." Employees must see themselves as active partners and associates who democratically decide on investments and acquisitions. Semler's unusual business approach has established Semco as a model company of consistency and success by encouraging self-motivation, autonomy and improvement.
STEELCASE: Timeless Design
In order for companies to truly be successful, sustainable even, they must be able to adapt with the times. Steelcase is a leading example of such a company. Founded in 1912 Steelcase has been a leader in office furniture for almost a century. Steelcase offers a rich history coupled with unparalleled credibility that makes them an ideal company for architects, planners, and designers around the world. In addition to their practical use, Steelcase is known for their cutting edge aesthetics and unique blend of materials. Owning their furniture (people have a special fondness for their chairs) is like owning a piece of art. Steelcase has transformed standard, industrialized furniture into something people covet, with some of their early pieces going to collectors for thousands of dollars. We admire Steelcase for their relentless spirit of innovation; and for continuing to stay true to their goal of making furniture with integrity.
Steelcase is also joining the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Leader's program, a partnership between industry and government aimed at "developing long-term comprehensive climate change strategies." Kathleen Hogan, Director of EPA's Climate Program Partnerships Division applauds Steelcase's involvement with their Climate Leaders program saying that Steelcase is demonstrating "a serious commitment to corporate social responsibility." Keeping in line with their environmentally friendly practices, Steelcase launched the Think Chair in 2004, the first product to ever receive Cradle to Cradle Product Certification from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry's (MBDC). The joy of the Think Chair can be found not only in its environmentally conscious design, but also in the fact that the chair intuitively adjusts to the way you sit, making your daily work experience more comfortable, and therefore, happier. The chair can be disassembled in about five minutes using basic hand tools (hammer, screwdrivers, etc), and is 99% recyclable. In addition to the chair's sustainable materials, the factories where the chairs are made are powered by renewable electricity from sources like solar panels and wind turbines. Companies looking to make the green leap have a lot to learn from Steelcase, as environmentally sound chairs are particularly difficult to engineer.
Steelcase is able to produce furniture that's environmentally friendly while at the same time keeping it attractive and trustworthy, as illustrated in the 2006 Source Guide by Contract Magazine. Contract Magazine recently announced that Steelcase was the top ranking company in seven categories of the Source Guide. Results of the Guide are found using a survey made up of 900 architects, designers, and managers who are asked to name the top three manufacturers they consider when purchasing or recommending office furniture. This show of dedication between business and customer is one that makes it easy to see why Steelcase has been so successful. Steelcase's success includes over 800 independent dealers worldwide and a 2005 fiscal revenue of $2.6 billion. Steelcase proves that when companies make products that encompass more than profit, everyone wins. We like to think that good things happen to good people.
INTERFACE: Carpeting the Way
Innovation often means seeing opportunity where others only see waste. Meet Interface, one of the world's prime examples of green design in everyday applications. CEO Ray Anderson heads up this booming business that is the worldwide leader of modular carpet. In 1994 Anderson was inspired by Paul Hawken's book, the Ecology of Commerce, and has been working to make Interface the first sustainable corporation in the world ever since. Ray believes that while business is a part of the environmental problem, it can also be a part of the solution. In line with their sustainability practices, Interface leases their carpet, reclaiming and recycling it when it's worn out, or if you decide it's time for something new. This idea of leasing a product is one that has enabled Interface to drastically cut the amount of waste and resources they use, and has acted as a blueprint for many up and coming, sustainably minded businesses around the world. And, need we point out, leasing means you can lock in a client for life. You don't have to resell when the product wears out!
Of course, no company can offer an unorthodox business practice without offering an unorthodox product to accompany it. Interface's modular carpet line, Flor, is great because it's super easy to install, and requires no glue or professional labor. An accidentally left on iron that brands itself into your carpeting (though Flor isn't fireproof, so don't try this just for fun), no longer means replacing the whole room since Flor comes in easily adhered, individual tiles. Flor is made from recycled and renewable resources and is available in a rainbow of colors and patterns. It is amazing to see how successful a company can be when it focuses on creating effective customer solutions that look at what customers need, rather than going about things the way they have been done before.
WOLF / SUBZERO: Gourmet Appliances
For the last 60 years, the Sub-Zero Freezer Company has been providing customers with top-notch equipment that makes even the most novice cook feel like a professional chef. When Westye F. Bakke built the first freestanding freezer in his Madison, WI home, he may not have known the impact his designs would have on the rest of the culinary world. Today, Sub-Zero is one of the most well recognized manufacturers of premium built in home refrigerators, with a never ending dedication to customer wants and needs. Sub-Zero hit a milestone when they designed and manufactured the first built in refrigerator that worked with the surrounding counter and cabinet space in the 1950's, and they've been on a roll ever since. Sub-Zero is perhaps the most well known for their dual refrigeration system that uses two self-contained cooling systems to help keep food fresh and preserved for a longer period of time than other refrigerators allow. Sub-Zero continues to develop innovative, stylishly designed products that keep loyal customers wanting more.
Then 6 years ago, the Sub-Zero Freezer Company acquired Wolf â€" a leader in professional cooking appliances. In this merger where ice cold meets flaming hot, both companies are able to stick to their mission of never compromising their brands' quality or design, and the ability to give their customers the kitchen of their dreams. Many see Sub-Zero as being a representation of all that a "kitchen can be" while Wolf is a company that stands for all that a "kitchen can do." Wolf has been delivering professional grade appliances for more than 70 years, and are finally branching out to private homes and residencies â€" yet another way to make less than professional cooks feel like an Iron Chef champion. Wolf prides themselves on inspiring a passion for cooking thanks to their world class products that are designed from "the ground up to give the user ultimate control and cooking confidence."
Wolf and Subzero recognize the importance of adding emotional meaning to traditional appliances. By creating a brand that resonates with their customers dreams of being a top notch chef, or having the kitchen that everyone wants to gather in, or just turning out a really good batch of chocolate chip cookies for the kids, Wolf and Subzero knows that their products perform much more than mundane daily tasks. These manufacturers believe in creating products that inspire users, thereby adding cultural capitol to otherwise utilitarian devices.
VELOCITY: Twist Light
Velocity is a super cool showroom / website based out of Seattle that specializes in modern home furnishings and contemporary art. Their store covers everything from bathrooms to babies, and exhibits work from emerging young artists around the country. Owners John Tusher and Lara Coffman Tusher met in 1999, and started Velocity as a husband-and-wife team, quickly growing their business into a 2500 square foot showroom (the first of many planned locations) in downtown Seattle's Belltown neighborhood in 2003. Velocity's dedication to a fabulous selection, fair prices, and awesome customer service has garnered them local as well as national acclaim. Velocity's founders describe Velocity's vibe as "a mix of the best of both timeless mid-century modern and what's modern today, with a focus on emerging designers and artists that are tomorrow's classics. We only feature our favorite things, all the things we love and live with in our own home, which keeps the collection cohesive. We believe that great art and design are incredibly life-enhancing. Our passion is making art and design accessible, inspiring, non-intimidating, affordable, and exciting." (www.velocityartanddesign.com) Velocity features unique finds from up and coming designers and companies like Angela Adams, Molo, Thomas Paul, Blik, and Jason Miller in addition to classic pieces by Charles and Ray Eames, Sori Yanagi, George Nelson, and Verner Panton.
One of Velocity's more talked about products is the Twist Together light â€" a playfully engaging twist on an old idea. The Twist Together light is designed to be a functional, hands on sculptural piece that is as fun to look at as it is to use. This unique light is made out of cast resin blocks that connect to form a modular lamp that enables the user to totally customize the look and feel of each light. The simple key mechanism the Twist Lights use is reminiscent of Lego design, and each block is lit by LED lights which are both long lasting and energy efficient. There are two different color palettes, "Chocolate" consisting of caramel, cream, and brown, and a more kid friendly "Candy" palette with yellow, blue, green, orange, and purple. As the Twist Together lights grow in popularity, more interchangeable elements become available to add on to your collection.
By successfully adding a unique interactive aspect to a lamp, Velocity has proven that people are eager to interact with the technology around them. The Twist Together Light takes something that's familiar and skewed it to create something new and exciting that people look forward to using. So whether you're 8 or 58, Velocity is recognizing that everyone should have the opportunity to connect with products that go above and beyond their functional purpose.
ANDERSEN WINDOWS: Project Odyssey
Windows are one of the things that connect our private lives to the outside world. They let in light and fresh air, at least that's what they're supposed to do. People today don't use windows the way they used to, they close out natural light with blinds and shades, and lock up open windows in favor of central air conditioning. Technology has served to take much of the purpose out of the window's original intent, as we no longer rely on them to satisfy our personal comfort. Andersen Windows has a lot at stake in this market, and refused to quietly comply while potential customers passed by the need for great windows. Andersen worked with a bunch of industry experts and design firms to create "Project Odyssey" - an initiative that's working to make windows fun again.
One of the things that makes Project Odyssey so innovative is that it was born out of a conversation, and not crafted in a stuffy boardroom meeting. The dialogue between Andersen Windows and a design firm that was working on a house of the future project generated a conversation about how windows are crucial in every home, but what will their role be in the future? With Project Odyssey, Andersen's goal was to gain a better understanding of how today's technological and behavioral trends affect the role of the window. They looked to apply their findings in a campaign that redirected their products' research and development, approaching Project Odyssey as an anthropological research project that emphasized the perceptions people have about their homes and the technology that exists within them. Andersen worked to identify what future technology could serve specific needs, and at the end of three years ended up with plenty of usable findings thanks to a slue of focus groups and input from customers, designers, planners, contractors, architects, and retailers. Through all of their research Andersen found that people really just want to return to the simpler things in life. They want beautiful windows that let in light, fresh air, and stunning views of the outdoors.
In order to accommodate customers better, Andersen developed products like an invisible insect screen, multimedia windows, and a micro-ventilation window that make people more comfortable in their homes. The ClearSite "invisible insect screen" gives homeowners protection from pesky bugs in addition to providing a clearer, uninterrupted view of the outside world. The new technology Andersen uses in their ClearSite screens also increases the amount of air and light that are able to come into homes. The multimedia window concept would enable owners to use their windows for things like watching television, listening to music, or even adjusting the indoor temperature. They also came up with a "SlideAway" model that's centered on a touch sensor computer screen which users can slide into a discreet side pocket when not in use. The "ViewPoint" concept involves a bay window that also acts as an entertainment center, featuring a middle panel that adjusts from clear glass to an opaque surface that TV or movie imagery can be projected onto. Andersen's "AirWays" micro-ventilation window would enable the window to let in airflow without jeopardizing the homes security. The "AirWays" window uses vents in the frame of the window, and could supplement a traditional HVAC system.
By combining cutting edge ideas with classic applications Andersen has disrupted the window industry, proving that these age old devices can still be imbued with new life. Andersen Windows is working to pave the way into a new market of high tech window solutions, and have opened up the door to innovation, competition, and creativity for window companies across the globe.
BEMZ: Reinventing Your Sofa
A few years ago mom Lesley Pennington founded Bemz, a company that makes slipcovers specifically for IKEA furniture. While on maternity leave, Lesley realized that she wanted a career that she not only enjoyed, but also that gave her a sense of meaning. She wanted a fulfilling career that would let her maintain her family life while still working on her professional goals. Lesley credits her children with the inspiration for Bemz, so much that she's dedicated her company, name and all, to them. The removable, washable slipcovers for sofas, armchairs, and cushions that come out of this Stockholm, Sweden store are designed to be sold to consumers in Europe as well as on the Internet. Bemz differentiates themselves by offering a unique product that customers can't get anywhere else. Because Bemz is an online retailer, they're able to offer a rather extensive selection of slipcovers at super competitive prices. Each slipcover is custom made for the customer once an order is placed, you get to pick from a wide selection of colors and patterns – regardless of what model sofa or chair you have. And it only takes about four weeks from the time you place your order to get your slipcover delivered to your door. Bemz's slipcovers are made from all natural cotton and linen fibers and are prewashed and preshrunk to ensure the utmost quality and durability.
Bemz puts their customers first, and believe that they're essential to the development of their products. They want your input and advice – they want you to try their products through free samples. And if you order a slipcover that's just not quite right you can return it at no cost to you. Bemz is creating value for their customers by producing a product that has the ability to make you fall back in love with your old furniture. For years slipcovers have been a less than convenient alternative to buying new furniture, but Bemz is proving that it doesn't have to be that way. They're designing funky, fitting covers that are hassle free and custom made to fit your stuff – now that's a good idea.
INTELLICOT
The Intellicot Cot from Cencio is a disruptive, purposeful innovation that's changing the world of baby products for the better. The Intellicot couples functionality with cutting edge design, elevating the traditional notion of a crib into a work of modern art. The automatic rocking function helps babies establish a regular sleeping pattern, while the air circulation mechanism helps keep you little one sweat free. To keep you comfy, the Intellicot also has a built in lifting system that reduces back strain from bending over. You can also rest easy knowing that you can see your sleeping angel at anytime, in any location throughout your house thanks to the built in video monitor.
While the Intellicot started as a product design final at college, it has turned into a much-needed redesign in the nursery furniture market. Designers at Cencio spent months and months researching, prototyping, and redesigning a cot that addressed many, if not all of the issues new parents and sleeping babies are faced with. For the last year and a half Intellicot has been working on making parenting easier by soothing cranky babies everywhere.