About-UsWho are we? This section tell you a bit about-us. John and Renske are a husband and wife team that have worked together since 2000. Before that John worked for a large electrical company in Western Australia and although he loved working there, duty called when his wife pulled him into the business she'd been running since 1991. Renske's background is textile artist and she's been involved with creative work since landing in Australia in 1981. Together they make a great team: John is in charge of logistics, the warehouse and the trade show organizing, while Renske keeps busy designing new products, keeping up with the various websites, answering the emails. They do a variety of shows during the year, both retail and wholesale. (In Australia they do the GHA Gift Shows, one in Melbourne in August and one in Sydney in February. They also are involved with the fantastic Melbourne Flower and Garden Show, held annually in the beautiful Carlton Garden, usually the first week of April. You can also find them at some of the ABC Garden Shows and a new show for 2008 is the Stitches and Craft Show.Overseas they have been attending Ambiente and Tendence, both held annually in Frankfurt, Germany.) The great thing about working away together is you only need to book one hotel room! Actually, the traveling is a part they both enjoy as a large part of their social life is conducted during trade show time. The shows are a great way to be in touch with customers and the direct feedback on the products is invaluable. And, the other thing about working away at shows is that you get to eat out a lot, which is great fun for a short time. Then there's nothing better than going home and having home cooking again, this way you get the best of both worlds! John likes cooking, Sudoku's and pottering around the house, although the last few years there's been very little time for that kind of work. He also loves taking Pepe, the dog, out for a walk on the beach and then having a relaxing sitdown in front of the telly. Renske loves reading, going to the movies and trying out new things. A highlight recently was the white water rafting they did during the last trip to Nepal. It was John's first trip and so some sight seeing was in order and they decided to spend a couple of days in a wildlife park, rafting their way down to it by way of the Trisuli River. When they are home, they live a simple life; working, cooking and eating, sometimes going out with friends or going to the movies and relaxing at home. They have two elderly pets; Chubby the cat, who's just turned 18 and Pepe, a Dalmatian cross who's turned 12. Although they are relative newcomers to Melbourne and don't have much family here, they have regular visitors; friends and family love staying at their home in Williamstown. It is close to the beach, easy to get to the city and plenty of places to have a nice lunch or dinner. Back from About-us to Papoose Home Page
|
