Too many people out there are doing jobs they’d rather not do or running small businesses just to turn a buck.
Everything we use, even our glues that are water based, is environmentally friendly.
Not so for Arthur Georgopoulos.
This modest and softly spoken furniture designer and manufacturer has it made, and it all happened by making what he truly loves.
“It all started back in the 70’s, when I was making furniture as a hobby. I was always creative and I was doing it for my own use, ” Georgopoulos said.
“Then a friend of mine saw one of my pieces and asked me to make another one for him, and it was with that particular piece of furniture I had the opportunity to exhibit at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne.”
This piece was quite unique in its design.
“It was a sofa made of natural timber with a black and white tail hide, from a cow” Georgopoulos said.
“It created an enormous reaction at the time. It was unbelievable.”
And from there has never looked back, but what was different, Georgopoulos was keen to point out, was that not only was his work original in its design, there has always been environmental attitude behind his work, “And that was back then in the 70’s you must remember!” Georgopoulos said.
About three years ago, Georgopoulos explained, the Government introduced a scheme to encourage manufacturers to be more environmentally friendly.
This is with the use of non toxic or natural materials, and it’s clear Georgopoulos is very passionate about this cause and has instilled this work ethic in his own business from the very beginning.
“I have known many cases of people getting really sick from their own furniture and this furniture has come mainly from Asian countries,” Georgopoulos said.
Furniture design since the 70’s has changed a great deal of course and Georgopulos is always looking out for new design avenues.
“I get alot of my inspiration from travelling in Europe and from the furniture shows there, ” Georgopoulos said.
“In the first few years it was difficult to come up with new designs, and in quality and colour. But now I look around and see what’s happening with other furniture designers,” he added.
“It’s good, I learn from them and they learn from me.”
All of Georgopoulos’ furniture is manufactured in Oakleigh in Melbourne in a 4000 square foot warehouse, with retail outlets in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
His operation although large, “we are not mass producers; we are boutique manufactures.”
His furniture design is described as minimal and the materials are “mainly hard woods for the frames and leathers from different parts of the world, like New Zealand and Europe” Georgopoulos said.
“We also use a new foam from Dunlop that is completely fire proof. Everything we use, even our glues that are water based, is environmentally friendly.”
A great deal of boutique businesses, conscious of quality and customer service, they tend to be run by families, not faceless corporations.
Georgopoulos son, Leonard is now part of the business, which is clearly very proud of.
“Leonard has been involved for five years now and he the same passion for furniture and in design.”