In 2007, I had the privilege of being introduced to Steinhoff UK, marking the beginning of a pivotal chapter in both my career and my company’s growth. This was the dawn of my exploration into the Far East, as volume commercial upholstery design took off. My travels spanned across Poland, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Germany, and Malaysia, where I collaborated with the Steinhoff team to source and supply for some of the biggest and most popular retailers in the industry at the time.

Steinhoff was considered second only to IKEA in terms of volume capacity in retail. Throughout their tenure, they acquired several of the retailers they worked with, further broadening their portfolio and expanding my reach across the globe. This expansion took me further East, where I created designs for clients such as Manwah, HTL, Violino, Creative, and others. Together, we achieved tremendous commercial success, which continued until the company’s closure in 2020.

Over the years, we enjoyed exciting projects around the world, working with incredible teams and learning along the way. Our work contributed to millions of dollars in sales and the shipment of thousands of containers filled with carefully designed products. As we honed our presentation techniques, cost creation strategies, design innovation, and technical abilities, Steinhoff simultaneously advanced, and we grew together toward mutual success.

The creation of commercial design solutions became an enjoyable side of the business. We identified gaps in the market, maneuvered strategically around competition, and worked at lightning speed, as volume was key to our success. My partnership with Steinhoff remains one of the most impactful of my career, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and successes we shared throughout our collaboration.