We visited the company SPOONFLOWER. Here is the interview – have a look at the team, their creative office and production site in Berlin.
Tell us something about your company. When was your company founded? Where is your location?
Spoonflower was founded in May 2008 by two Internet geeks, Gart Davis and Stephen Fraser, whose creative wives asked why there wasn’t anywhere to design custom fabric for their home décor.
The first company of its kind, Spoonflower was launched in Durham, N.C., on that dream of empowering the individual to create on-demand, custom-designed textiles.
Eight years later, the Spoonflower community has grown to over 3.5 million individuals who use their own designs and our Marketplace to make curtains, quilts, clothes, bags, furniture, pillows, costumes, banners and much, much more.
In 2015 we opened our first factory outside of the US in Berlin, Germany. Spoonflower’s digital print process uses eco-friendly, water-based pigment inks and dyes which produce very little waste.
And with over 350,000 designs (plus more added every day), the Spoonflower Marketplace is the largest collection of independent designers in the world.
Your Business
What is your core business?
Spoonflower is the world’s first web-based service for custom, on-demand fabric creation, making it possible for individuals to design, print and sell their own fabric, wallpaper and gift wrap.
Digital textile printers are large-format inkjet printers specially modified to run fabric.
Unlike conventional textile manufacturing, digital printing has the added advantages of showing greater design detail than screen printing, as well as allowing designers the ability to use as many colors as they like in their designs.
All Spoonflower fabric gets printed in Durham, North Carolina or in Berlin, Germany by a merry band of fabric lovers.
“Spoonflower’s growth has been made possible by the enthusiasm of a worldwide community of people who are passionate about fabric, design and making things.”
How did you get to your business idea and when was your company established?
Spoonflower was founded in May 2008 by two Internet geeks, Gart Davis and Stephen Fraser, whose creative wives asked why there wasn’t anywhere to design custom fabric for their home décor.
The first company of its kind, Spoonflower was launched in Durham, N.C., on that dream of empowering the individual to create on-demand, custom-designed textiles.
Are you using Venture Capital? And if so – who are your Venture Partners?
In 2015 we landed $25 million in funding from North Bridge Growth Equity, a leading growth equity firm based in Boston, with participation by Durham-based Bull City Venture Partners.
We have since been using the infusion of capital to increase the pace of innovation and introduction of new product offerings, and to fuel international expansion.
In which countries are you active? Are you planing to expand your venture in other countries? And if so – where?
Currently we have offices and factories in Durham, North Carolina, USA and Berlin, Germany.
“We ship globally and have served customers worldwide.”
Right now, we don’t have any concrete plans for further expansion but it is something we will consider once the time is right.
Where do you see the company in 5 years?
In five years we hope to continue to revolutionize the textile printing industry.
We hope to encourage the growth of digital printed fabrics and increase use of such products in everyday items given their low environmental impact and ease of customization.
By releasing an API to the public we hope to see more companies built using our technology to bring more unique and eco-friendly products to the market.
And perhaps in 5 years we’ll be thinking about another location somewhere else in the world!
Your Team
How many employees work at your company right now?
Berlin office: 20 Durham office: 116
What is the average age of your team members ?
29 years.
What kind of attitude should new employees have in order to work at your company?
When looking for new employees, we look for fabric lovers or internet geeks with a passion for the DIY ethos.
Our mission is to help improve people’s power to express themselves and our employees have a drive and interest in making that possible.
We look for well-organized, exceptional people to join our hardworking Internet start-up dedicated to the idea of using technology to help people share their creativity.
Why is it fun to work at your company? Do you offer any employee benefits?
At Spoonflower we offer employees a casual, family-friendly office space full of creative, passionate people. Employees are eligible for generous vacation time and paid holidays.
We offer a monthly allowance to purchase fabric, wallpaper or gift wrap and a casual dress code.
Periodically we host Spoonfun Events such as spirit days, monthly staff lunch, special events and much more.
Our staff kitchen is stocked with snacks, soda, coffee, tea, and we offer monthly company-wide meals.
Do you offer new employees a relocation service or help to relocate?
We do not currently office relocation services.
Your Office
How big is your Office?
Our Berlin office and factory are all together in one bright and airy office in Neukölln.
We occupy the whole 1st floor of a historic building once used to manufacture cash registers.
The space is just over 1000 square meters and houses our bustling fabric printing factory and offices.
Did you get help from an interior designer by designing the office?
And if so – who did you work together with?
We did not get help from an interior designer for designing the office. Our Berlin office design was a team effort of our crafty Berlin team led by Marketing and Customer Service Manager Allie Tate.
Thank you Team Spoonflower for this interview & the photoshooting!
Location: Berlin, Germany Website: SPOONFLOWER
Photos: copyright by the photographer Andreas Lukoschek
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