Bringing the best of the city to a regional town, Jumbled is a place of inspiration, colour and Australian design and this amazing store will be representing Australia at the gia awards in Chicago this March.
gia was launched in January 2000 by the International Housewares Association with the goal of honouring excellence in home goods retailing around the world. Including this year’s 30 national gia award-winning stores from 29 countries, there have been over 430 gia retail award winners, from 47 countries on six continents.
Jumbled founder Pip Brett―who says she is absolutely stoked to have been chosen as gia Australia winner―launched the store in 2012 as a small bricks and mortar store in Orange, and not much later added an online store, which with the power of social media has continued to grow in leaps and bounds.
In 2016 Brett purchased and renovated an old Masonic Hall which is still Jumbled’s home today.
“The Sonic consists of three separate stores―Jumbled, my clothing store iglou and a coffee shop,” explains Brett.
“There are no physical barriers between spaces but through our store design we have created distinct zones. The front doors open into Jumbled, customers can weave across into the clothing store or wander through to the cafe.”
Each zone has a designated counter space which anchors the customer’s focus, as well as subtle signage to reinforce the identity of the space. Each space has a distinct feel, but is cohesive. Exposed raw materials show the history of the building.
There are several bedroom and living spaces throughout the store that are styled for a lived-in feeling. This helps customers envision the products in their own spaces. The relevant product categories are presented alongside these display zones, for the customer’s convenience and increase sales.
Products that require more assistance, such as bedding, are placed near the counter so staff can easily help, says Brett.
“The point of sale is wireless so there is no restriction at the counter. Staff can take the iPad around the store to assist customers with product enquiries. Also, to improve the shopping experience, customers have access to iPads that are connected to our online store.”
Brett adds that Jumbled is more than just a store. “We are a multi-faceted business that offers workshops, travel experiences and styling. We have created a community of like-minded people.
“Having multi-skilled staff members means we can offer our customers an enriched experience that goes above and beyond. We have the knowledge and skill to offer an interior stylist service and pull together a room that suits the customer’s needs and taste.
“We are passionate about finding emerging artists and designers, who aren’t currently represented, and helping to launch their career.
“Our use of social media sets us apart from our competitors. We want people to know who we are and our story as well as what we sell, what we stand for, what we believe in and what we love.
“Our e-magazine, the Jumbled Journal, has elevated our brand and is filled with the stories behind our products and creatives, and links to our online store in a thoughtful way. The idea is to inspire, educate and give back.”
By Marion Gerritsen
