Good Juju was launched last September after founder Julia Condon decided that a corporate job wasn’t ticking all the boxes anymore.
“I’m quite creative, I studied fashion, so when I came home after work I started drawing and developing my ideas,” she explains.
“I realised there was something in this and after about two years I had saved enough money to pursue this full-time and give it the go it deserves.”
Good Juju designs are inspired by Condon’s family Italian heritage.
“I’ve grown up with a mediterranean family and we love food, love being together, love sharing wine, so I created a collection that reflected those shared tables. I also wanted to make products that could be modern heirlooms.
“My mum still has napkins and tea towels from her grandmother that were passed down through generations, so I wanted to recreate that through my brand and designs—great pieces that aren’t just fashionable but also practical and you want to keep them, take care of them, give them to people you love and make you happy i.e. good juju.”
Juju was actually Condon’s childhood nickname and so everything she does with the brand is very personal to her. She designs all pieces herself while the products are made locally in Melbourne.
“Me and mum actually sow everything up, so it’s all really personal and family based.
“It also came from a lot of living in share houses, where you just have your room and you want to make it feel like home. So that’s another thing that really inspired me.”
Good Juju’s products make for great gifts but will also look great in any homewares store. They are pairable with other products as well.
“My customer base is definitely diverse and I want to create something that fits into every home. I’ve had teenagers wanting to buy cushions for their bedroom but also older women looking for gifts for their kids or friends.”
Exhibiting for the first time at Life Instyle, it has been a big learning curve for Condon.
“I just wanted to be a sponge and suck it all up,” she laughs. “I’ve been very lucky with the people I’m surrounded by at the fair, we got on very well and we support each other.
“The events they had at Life Instyle were really informative and I had a one-on-one coaching session at the Business Couch as well. She was so helpful. When you’re a small business and just on your own, you go, oh my god, how do I do this? She gave me some great advice.”
