Tara, Founder of Few & Far, talks about her recent sourcing trip to India and the process of buying both core collections and foraging for one-of-a-kind antiques overseas.
What is the process like for sourcing one-of-a-kind vintage pieces?
It truly is like a treasure hunt selecting our one-of-a-kind pieces. There is this thrill of discovery and the unknown of the treasures yet to be found. We walk 10’s of kilometres through dusty, hot and airless warehouses sifting through piles of items that have a myriad of stories waiting to be explored. Visualisation, creativity and imagination are key here, as it takes a lot of this to know if a particular piece will work or not. You consume litres of water and end up sweaty, dirty and dusty, but it’s so worth it!
Every piece is hand picked. We look for tactility, individuality, imperfections and beauty. Antiques are truly perfectly imperfect - with such unique qualities, intricately carved details and markings that express their history.
Do you design some of the one-off pieces yourself?
Yes, we do and have done in the past. Most of the time though, our suppliers have already played a big part in this process. Many of the consoles and mirror frames that we source were originally old window frames or doors and have been converted into furniture pieces.
Glass or marble can also be added to modernise a piece of furniture… We also reimagine items such as old gates that could potentially be a bedhead and that’s how we intend to market them. It’s all about imagination and how these pieces will look their best in an interior or outdoor space. We often talk about or visualise the kind of interior we see these pieces working in - and that part is really exciting!Â
What are the suppliers you work with like?
We really value all of the suppliers we work with. We have close relationships with each of them and their hospitality is amazing - we’ve shared many homemade lunches! They are always smiling, always friendly and always ready to help and provide excellent service.
I always look forward to the in person conversations about their cultural heritage, family history and deep adoration for their enchanting land. We have such admiration for their businesses that have been run by their families for generations, as well as their appreciation of the centuries old artisanal craft.Â
Making sure all of our suppliers are ethical in their business practices is extremely important to us. So when we visit, we get to walk around their offices, warehouses and showrooms and check the working conditions to ensure their workers are treated and paid fairly and the materials they are using are ethically sourced.
What is the part you enjoy most about sourcing?
I think the most enjoyable part has to be discovering unique finds and imagining how they would look in a beautiful interior (or in our stores!). Danny and I get so excited when we find new and interesting things - we both almost ‘run for it’ - our enthusiasm is high and our minds run wild with ideas!
What is the part you enjoy least about sourcing?
Travelling for work feels like a dream, but the reality is it can be long and tiring - I struggle with the jet lag and being away from family. The hardest part though is finding an item that I fall in love with and am super excited about but then finding out that the price isn’t right or the quantities are too high so I have to walk away…
Otherwise, I really really love it. I don’t think I will ever be able to give it up. It’s one of the main reasons why Danny and I started our business in the first place. To Bring The World Home.
What is the prep work required before a sourcing trip?
When Danny and I started out, the process before we headed on a sourcing trip was rather organic - in the weeks leading up I would trawl through magazines and other sources for inspiration to guide me.
Now the pre-trip prep is a lot more involved and structured. I do the same amount of research, but then pull together a Range Development document where we blend the art and science of buying. The science is pulling information on what our customer is loving (commonalities across our best sellers) and what is required for each of our categories (be that kitchen and dining or textiles). The art is all about researching new trends, colour forecasting and designing a story through the range that is unique and inspiring. We make sure before we go on our sourcing trip that we know exactly what colours, fabrics and shapes we are looking for. This arms us with the structure to buy more efficiently.Â
What is sourcing like in person vs doing it remotely through COVID?
So much easier!!! You can explain things in person, demonstrate your ideas and communicate clearly. Tactility is such an important part of the design process so being able to see and feel each object during our travels was an important part of selecting the perfect collection. It’s also a lot quicker in terms of turnaround for sampling and not having to wait for freight of samples (that arrive incorrect anyway and then you have to go through the entire process again)... It’s way more efficient and also way more inspiring. You learn so much more through experiencing the culture and tradition, production processes and ways of working over there in person.
How do you sift through all of the products to find what is the perfect addition to Few & Far?
I base my selections on what I love, but also what I think will commercially work. I take on board feedback as to what our customers want (price, materials, styles etc). Obviously we need to take into consideration what sells, because that’s ultimately what we’re here to do, but I also have to love what I’m buying/selling and also have to have a vision for how it fits into our brand.
Often things will jump out at me straight away, and other times it requires a certain amount of ‘development’ to get the product to where it needs to be design wise.
I find it easy. I base a lot of my selections on instinct and gut feeling as well as education (using all of the knowledge I have gained over the last 14 years!).
It’s always nice to have someone else to ask though, because sometimes you can be a little unsure and the ‘reassurance’ is always helpful… I’ve always found it interesting to hear other perspectives. Danny and I are constantly asking each others opinions and sometimes our views change after we’ve listened to each other.
