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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Design showroom
focuses on valueJoseph Berardy swore he'd never do retail again, and yet ... His 10-year-old DBI-Hawaii Inc., doing business as Hawaii Home Interiors, and the more than 2-year-old Hanalei Bay Designs Inc., owned by Melissa Vincenty and James Mather, have opened up shop together.
Hawaii Home Interiors, featuring rugs by Hanalei Bay Designs, is preparing for its Saturday grand opening at Nimitz Business Center, following a soft-opening in December. The store features classic and tropical furniture designed in Hawaii and made in Indonesia and the Philippines, hand-knotted wool rugs designed in Hawaii and made in Nepal, Hawaiian quilts and futon covers, and home accessories by local artisans.
It is right down the street from Gentry Pacific Design Center, which positions itself as a hub of upscale companies specializing in kitchen, bath and interior design and home remodeling.
Hawaii Home Interiors had been wholesaling for 10 years and had begun showcasing its teak furniture at Costco locations. "They decided to get out of the teak business," but Berardy still had great sources and people knocking on his door asking to see the futons and other pieces.
Vincenty describes Berardy as a mentor for her business, designing rugs that also were sold at special showings in Costco.
"Some of our first rug designs came from his quilt designs," she said.
The business friendship and collaboration grew to the point that a retail showroom seemed like a natural move. Each business had a following, with customers trekking to warehouse spaces to view merchandise and feel rugs.
Berardy and Vincenty chose the Nimitz Business Center for the showroom, citing its redesign and client mix, as well as lease terms attractive to their budgets. Hanalei Bay Designs also leased office space in the center.
"We wanted to get into a location we could grow with," Vincenty said.
"We wanted a place where anybody could come in and get high-end if they wanted but also ... the concept was affordable but really good quality. Excellent quality for the price," she said.
Berardy encourages people who come in to shop around and compare prices and will provide suggestions on where to go.
"We don't want to be known as discounters, but we have such good prices that people should shop us before they shop elsewhere," said Berardy.
The showroom's merchandise mix will rotate regularly and will include Hawaiian-style futons, teak, bamboo and rattan furniture, Hawaiian quilts, vintage prints and the locally designed rugs.
The 2,600 square feet will be more than a showroom for Berardy's furnishings and Hanalei Bay's rugs, it will provide opportunities for local artisans to feature their works.
Hula-dancer sculptures by Kim Taylor Reece are among the accessories carried in the showroom, as are Hawaiian ipu featuring pen and ink art by Brerardy's brother Lloyd, graphic artist and showroom manager.
At the grand opening, Hawaiian quilter Carol Dowling Kamaile will provide demonstra- tions; artists Fili Penetani and Peter Dunn-Rankin will display their work and explain how their designs are being adapted for use in rugs; and Lloyd Berardy will demonstrate his pen and ink techniques.
The grand opening of Hawaii Home Interiors/Hanalei Bay Designs will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1130 N. Nimitz Highway.
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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com
