..About Us..
Rustic Empire was created in the late 1990's with the aim of supplying high quality gift, home and garden-wares to the Australian market.
Our intention was to create products that would suit a modern apartment overlooking Sydney Harbour, but would belong equally as well in a rambling homestead out in the Mulga!
Our emphasis is on products with a rustic appearance which will work as well outdoors as they do indoors.
Our designs are mostly in house, although we do source products and materials from many eras and times with the original manufacturers still producing their goods in the age old manner. We travel to the countries where we can locate the best expertise in a particular field as we believe compromise in quality makes no economic sense. Our hand forged stainless steel Thai cutlery is famous for its quality and style, and our stoneware Waterballs from far Northern Thailand are a work of art practised by a family of potters. Our antiqued brassware comes from a proud Indian family whose designs are ageless, practical and exceptionally beautiful and our new range of 19th century French Wire-ware is still made in the same manner as it was in 1901 looking as if it is straight out of a Parisian Bistro Café.
We introduce our new designs every February at the Sydney Trade Fair in Homebush and carry them in stock throughout the year. We like to drop older lines in favour of fresh designs, but sometimes we just can't let a product go as they have become perennial bestsellers for example our Birdcages, or our stunning Basketware.
our "Green" credentials...
Our business takes the approach of reduce – reuse - recycle seriously. Most weeks we can contain our commercial waste to a half a green domestic bin and one full recycle domestic bin per fortnight. Our boxes and cardboard are stored, rebuilt and reused, along with our plastic wrapping and where possible our bubble wrap. We shred our paper and reuse it for packing. Once a week we go and collect shredded paper from a Not For Profit community organization in Western Australia to store and use. This is a labour intensive approach to business though counteracted by some small cost savings along the way, however the philosophy of reducing our carbon footprint where we can, sits well with us both personally and commercially.
Our new warehouse has been built to maximize energy efficiency. We have located the skylights to maximize light and control solar heat and our main entrance points maximize air flow through the building that means our energy consumption is negligible. Even the layout of the pallet racking that dictates the use of our plant and equipment has been designed to minimize our emphasis on machinery.
That is not to say we are always functioning in a perfect minimalist manner. We of course rely on consumerism to function so we can maintain business. We like nice things, we like cosmetically appealing things that not always have an obvious function. Hence we are striving to balance our choices, operate a successful business and reduce our carbon footprint. If you have any feedback and hints as to how we can operate even more “green” than we are we would sincerely love to hear from you. Until then we will continue to strive for the ultimate balance…
