Industry Q&A: Arthur G

Arthur Georgopoulos has a strong passion for the craft of furniture making and design, starting this business from the garage in his family home. It has grown radically over the last 36 years to now have showrooms in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth with additional national stockists. With dedication to local craftmanship and materials, all Arthur G production and manufacturing processes are carried out in Australia.

We love Arthur G's furniture design and company values and we loved the opportunity to be able to ask Managing Director, Leonard Georgopoulos, a few questions.

First of all, can you describe Arthur G and what it is you do?
Arthur G specialises in the design and manufacture of furniture in Australia. Based in Melbourne, we’ve been creating classic design for more than 36 years. We’re known for our quality range of leathers, solid hardwood construction and the creative freedom we afford all of our clients; upholstery, inserts, dimensions and configurations can all be adjusted on an individual basis.

My role within the company is Managing Director. I oversee the performance of the company, from new design development and production, through to operations, sales and marketing.

The business was established in 1976 by your father, Arthur. Can you tell us a little bit about the history behind the company?
Arthur has always been a creative person, with a passion for furniture and design. He would spend hours in our family garage simply making furniture for enjoyment. When a family friend came across one of his designs and wanted one, Arthur’s hobby for furniture turned into a small business. 

The biggest turning point however, was Arthur’s first furniture fair. On display was a leather lounge suite, which at the time was quite unique. At the fair, he received 40 orders and was faced with the somewhat daunting prospect of fulfilling each one. Eight months later and with each order completed, Arthur G Designs was officially established.

How has the business grown since then?
While Arthur has always had a passion for furniture design, he’s always been equally driven to provide the best for his family. At one time or another, much of our family has worked in the company; his brother Spiro has been our Production Manager since the beginning.

For almost 35 years, we’ve operated out of our manufacturing facility in Huntingdale, VIC. While technology has changed our manufacturing capabilities profoundly, we still pride ourselves on designing and manufacturing solely in Australia. Importantly, we’re always taking steps to improve our environmental impact, and that’s why we’ve taken the steps to become a GECA certified manufacturer.

In recent years, we’ve consolidated our wholesale arm and expanded our presence nationally with Arthur G showrooms in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. We’ve also partnered with Transforma Furniture to bring our range to Adelaide.

Can you describe your design and product development processes? Where do the ideas and inspiration come from? 
The design process begins with conceptual drawings. Typically Arthur or I will start with a design detail or shape, before presenting this to our production team. From here, the prototyping process begins. Prototyping can take months, but it can be well worth it once the design is realised.

Inspiration comes from living the industry; from new materials and advancements in technology, through to trends in colours and textures. All of these elements play a role. We’re constantly thinking of new ideas.

What are your iconic/best-selling pieces? 
Our best-selling piece for the last 15 years has been our Bobcat Sofa. In recent years, our Felix and Conrad Sofas have become quite popular.

You work with our fabrics a lot, which ones are your favourites and why? 
My favourite fabric right now is Mokum's Coupole with its boucle-like texture. We find this range works really well with a number of our designs, particularly the Felix sofa. 

James Dunlop’s Nature fabric also stands out for its soft handle and great colour range. We recently decided to refresh our Carmen chair, fully upholstering this design in colour Night Shade. The finish was quite impressive.

You are the Managing Director of Arthur G. When did you join and what was it that inspired you to work in the family business? What do you love about it? 
The decision to work in the family business was a natural one. Not only have I always had an interest in the creative industries, but I’ve grown up surrounded by furniture and design. It just made sense. While I started a little over 13 years ago, I’m still as motivated as ever. 

Describe your role in the business?
My day to day role is very diverse. It can involve working with our production team on new designs, meeting with architects to discuss current or upcoming projects and overseeing our team which is spread across three states. No two days are the same!

What do you love about working in the Australian interior industry? 
There’s never a dull moment! Working in the industry, you’re often challenged to come up with new or innovative solutions. Its problem solving at its most creative, and I believe this is what keeps the industry constantly evolving.

What do you see trending in furniture design in 2017? 
In furniture design, we’ve seen the emergence of softer shapes and silhouettes and I think this trend will continue to grow in 2017. Some of our most recent designs such as the Baker chair and Spencer sofa typify this movement. In terms of colours, I think light, natural tones will make more of an impact.

Who is or what are inspiring you on social media at the moment? 
At the moment, I think Sight Unseen one of the most inspiring social media channels. They showcase some of the most interesting design and visual talent, both here and abroad. I also think the Local Project deserves an honourable mention.

What exciting things can we expect to see from Arthur G in the future?
While we’re constantly evolving our designs and manufacturing capabilities, next year we’ll be releasing a collaboration with a talented, Melbourne based architect. The range is aesthetically quite different to anything we’ve done before, so we’re looking forward to sharing another side of Arthur G.

To find out more about Arthur G you can visit their website or one of their showrooms in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.