IN THE BEGINNING
The idea for starting Abode came, when its creator, Robert Adair had the yearning to provide a stable marketplace with cleverly designed, luxury products for the home at a price affordable for mainstream shopping. The marketplace only offered conventional, low quality designs or high end unaffordable luxury designer products.
After leaving Adair's Robert set up Abode's first retail store in the illustrious Chapel Street shopping precinct in 1991. The store was situated at 550 Chapel Street to appeal to clientele who were searching for products not available in major department stores. Abode started to manufacture, paying close attention to the quality and design of the products. To start with there were only 5 staff, including Robert. Today, 17 years on, the team has grown to almost 20 including 2 original, very knowledgeable, staff in store.
THE CONCEPT
The first product line Abode produced was the "Denim Bed Jeans". Sewn in a garage in Elsternwick, Robert had to sew all the buttons on by hand for the first production run until Abode purchased its first button machine. Bed jeans are still available today, however they are made using more efficient techniques. Egyptian Cotton was the next big development for Abode. The first shipment of Egyptian Cotton from Egypt included rust marks and squashed flies! This prompted Robert to search for a higher quality fabric from Italy, and this was a turning point in quality for the luxury brand.
SPREADING THE WORD
When Abode first opened, leaflet drops were made around the surrounding neighbourhoods of South Yarra to promote the business. Once the Abode brand grew synonymous with affordable quality, the mailing list grew. Robert photographed and made the first 8 page mail-order catalogue in 1998 and it has grown to a bi-annual 60 plus page catalogue today, with a large client base throughout Australia and overseas. Editorial in various publications helped Abode spread the word of its affordable luxury linen, even to iconic Australian celebrities who are now loyal customers.
NEW FLAGSHIPS
In 1998 Abode relocated to the current Flagship store located at 331 Camberwell Road, Camberwell. Abode had outgrown the small Chapel Street store and needed a larger premises to display the ever growing range of products and to accommodate the manufacturing space needed to produce all of the fine quality products. Abode brand has become a well known label amongst Melbournites and customers were happy to make the journey to the new store to pick beautiful and essential home wares and bedding.
In 2006 Abode launched it’s much anticipated online store. This meant that Abode was now a multi channel business and from that point on has never looked back.
PRODUCT RANGES
During a trip to Europe in 1985 Robert discovered the warmth and superior quality of Hungarian white goose down. From there, relationships with the first suppliers were born. Initially when Abode opened, Robert imported the high quality quilts and pillows from Hungary to offer something other than the Chinese down products that flooded the marketplace. Abode progressed to producing Australian made, where, Robert’s son originally started stuffing the pillows by hand until Abode bought its first pillow filling machine in 1998. The next step was to make the quilts in-house, in order to offer multiple warmth levels, something done by no other company. Today the pillows and quilts are filled with the finest quality Hungarian white goose down and feather and are manufactured to very strict standards.
The products carried by Abode reflect the lifestyle of their consumers, either in a contemporary setting or country cottage. Products are in classic tones of white, ivory, chocolate, taupes and grays to strengthen their timeless quality. Abode revolves around the bedroom with essential quilts, pillows, European and Italian sheeting. Over the years there have been many new products including knitted blankets, table linen, accessories and more recently lounge wear. All of these products are carefully sourced from the best suppliers around the world or made in-house (in order offer the highest quality product at the most affordable price).
Abode offer so many great products to compliment every room in the house, from the bedroom, bathroom, dining room and kitchen. Abode presents an opportunity to build a beautiful serene home without compromising enduring elegance.
CORE VALUES
Over the years Abode has strived and been proud of providing a portfolio of the highest quality products from around the world at the most affordable price. In addition, levels of service and knowledge across all channels of sale are second to none in order to provide a shopping experience that has satisfied our customers our 17 years. Abode will continue to be dedicated to customer requirements.