HIP FURNITURE GIVES ADDED SUPPORT TO THE GUS* MODERN FOOD DRIVE

During this very special event, Hip Furniture will be matching Gus Modern’s offer with an additional 15% off special orders during this event. As an added bonus, a broad selection of other in-stock and special order offers will be in effect, making this the best event ever at hip to kick off 2009.

Gus* Design Group Inc. (http://www.gusmodern.com), a seven year old Toronto-based home furnishings manufacturer, today announced the launch of its “Keep On Giving!” promotion, which will offer North American consumers a discount on modern furniture when they donate to local food banks.

From January 15 to February 15, consumers that bring 3 non-perishable food items into a participating Gus* retailer will receive 15% off the regular price on Gus* Modern Essentials upholstery, dining, storage, lighting, and accessories. Collected food will be distributed by the participating retailers to local food banks in their respective communities.

The Gus* Modern furniture collection is characterized by clean-lined upholstery and functional dining, lighting, and accent pieces, all inspired by mid-century classics. The promotion will apply to all pieces in the Essentials line, including the new Jane Bi-Sectional and the faux-bois Timber Table.

Gus Modern will air this Saturday in Divine Design. Featured in this episode: A Total Main Floor Makeover ~ “Candice thanks her design supervisor by giving him a total main floor makeover in his home.” Carter Sofa - in Urban Tweed- Banff Carter Chair - in Urban Tweed- Banff Return Bench - in Macassa http://www.hgtv.com/divine-design/show/index.html

I can't say enough about this company. They are young happy and full of great design. Gus uses simple fabrics on strong forms that all come together to create a look that will be hard to beat. I feel fortunate to be a partner with Gus, able to present their designs just as you would expect. Their keen urban design sense fits right in here at hip.

One item I love, the "Delano" chair, it's a really great and affordable steel and leather chair that can set a room re-do off in a multitude of directions.

While at the furniture market in 2007, Gus just sort of appeared to us in space on the 5th floor of the Design Center. It's great when that happens. I thought, I wonder who was in this space before. Who cares? Look at this line. This is where we often encounter the best of new modern designers and their furniture and what a find it turned out to be. Add a great Canadian demeanor, and enthusiasm and "click" add one more great company to hip. I'm very selective, when it comes to adding a supplier to our mix. Although our showroom is plenty big, I believe in giving a proper amount of space to tell the story. In this case, Gus has a great story to tell.

This lamp below gives a good idea, of where the heads at Gus reside. Take an element in it's most basic form and keep it simple. Just the bulb, but a very cool bulb however.

This table, with it's transparency and etched wood grain really makes me smile. Do you think it needs watering? Probably just my favorite beverage at the side of my "Delano" chair will suffice.

We had an interview with the designers at Gus today. Since what we come from this creative company is always inspiring and never too much, I wanted to dig a little deeper and find out what's really going on there. I also found out they are a little shy and preferred to be anonymous, so feel free to read what they had to say.

How much time passes between a design concept and the decision to roll out a new item?

Gus: It really varies from one product to the next. Some concepts get worked and reworked for several years before resulting in a finished product, while other designs come together very quickly. Very quickly still typically means 6-12 months from concept to finished product.

hip: Do you get some resistance to new ideas at Gusthere?

Gus: We always start off with an open mind to new design ideas. Every good design usually involves a healthy debate at some point in the process. That’s a good thing.

hip: Who and or poses the most challenges to creating a new product?

hip: Are you the only person responsible to come up with designs?

Gus: Most of our concepts originate from the design team, but ideas come from other departments at Gus* as well. We always start the process by asking ourselves what furniture we’d like to see in our own homes.

hip: How do you determine the final price, or do you work backwards from what you believe the item might sell for at retail?

Gus: We?ll have a price in mind for a certain product category, and that price informs the design process to some extent. It?s helpful to have a final price in mind because it gives us some parameters to work within.

hip: I know Gus is about form and simplicity. Are there other factors involved when deciding what to create for the market? Materials is another important factor ? fabrics, surfaces, and finishes. A simple form finished in a beautiful material is what makes a product truly modern. We definitely try to listen to our customers and our retailers to see what kind of products they?d like to see.

hip: What was your biggest design success?

Gus: The Delano Chair was the product that was embraced by architects and designers and really got us noticed in the beginning.

hip: Was the success measured monitarily or by some other means?

Gus: That success was measured by accolades from the modern design community.

hip: Do you have samples shipped to your offices and or warehouse for review, or do you go directly to the factory?

Gus: We have samples coming and going all the time, but we spend as much time as possible on the factory floor, working on ways to improve existing products and developing new ones. The factory is where a lot of the inspiration for new designs comes from. You see a certain process or material and realize that it could be applied in a different context to create something new.