Hey Lovers,
About two weeks ago, I finally stepped into the beautiful Plaisir du Jardin, a stylish one-stop-shop for outdoor furniture based in Bryanston, Johannesburg. I had the pleasure of chatting to Gillian from PDJ and she kindly took the time to share some interesting information about PDJ with me, as well as some outdoor furniture trends which we can all incorporate into your own homes.
How would you say the landscape for outdoor furniture stores has evolved in the past 20 years?
Gillian: We have been fortunate enough to be in business for 39 years in South Africa, in the Garden furniture retail market. When we started out there was no competition to be found in our sector.
Slowly over the years we have seen an increase in Outdoor furniture retailers, all catering to different market niches.
As we head towards 2020 we have seen a marked rise in internet based trade. The younger market definitely does their research.
One could almost feel the era of the showroom is over, but we have found that our clients still wish to visit our showrooms to sit on the furniture, feel the cushions and interact with us about their design ideas.
It is for this reason that we strive to maintain beautiful, well-located showrooms that reflect the standard of our products and service.
How do you go about deciding which brands to House under Plaisir du Jardin? And do you house any local brands?
Gillian: We have always showcased the best of local and international brands. Companies that have proved their customer service and quality products to us. We have developed partnerships with these supplier, some have been with us for 30 years and we have grown together. Our suppliers are trail blazers in their own right and we are proud to be their suppliers. We have found over the years that to stay ahead of décor trends and colours we have to purchase most of our items from Europe although we do showcase South African brands, who themselves are exporters to Europe.
With the huge move to sustainable production and environmentally friendly practices, how do you as Plaisir du Jardin ensure you’re also actively participating in this great movement?
Gillian: PDJ suppliers must have a strong ethical sense, towards their workers and their environment. our management teams visit every factory and make sure all our natural products are sourced from renewable and sustainable sources. European manufacturers are so aware when it comes to eco-friendly manufacturing techniques. Powder coating is done in Zero-gravity conditions, Our material are non-toxic and our Teak wood is, either reclaimed or sourced from forests approved by the Forestry Stewardship Council. A lot of our suppliers have packaging made from recycled products.
What is the current trend with outdoor furniture?
Gillian: Today our Indoor spaces flow into outdoor spaces and outdoor furniture blurs the lines between the two.
Outdoor sofa sets look just as good indoors and ceramic, teak and glass dining tables are quite at home in the dining room and kitchen. Outdoor fabrics are plush, hard-wearing and easy on the eye. Multi-functional furniture pieces for smaller urban spaces are also trending as some South Africans embrace a more urban lifestyle, closer to work, entertainment and shopping meccas. Coffee Tables that double up as a work space or eating spot.
Athracite, Charcoal and Grey remain the most popular colour option, with white coming in not far behind. Neutral colours are usually chosen for seat cushions whilst our very colorful Jacquard Scatter Cushions from France are snapped up to brighten up the look. Daybeds are trending right now. The oversized seating options allows for family fun in the sun.
Which is your current favourite piece available at Plaisir du Jardin?
Gillian: That’s a very hard choice but if I have to narrow it down it would be The Air Collection from Manutti Belgium, The Marguerite Ceramic Table from Belgium and our Fermob colourful range from France.
What customization features are available when purchasing at Plaisir du Jardin?
Gillian: As most of our items are manufactured overseas it makes customization of products difficult. We have gained a lot of experience over the decades and know which table sizes are the most popular. However should a customer want a different size to what we have in stock we can order for them on the next container from our supplier. If customers are prepared to wait for just the right item to arrive we can certainly try to import it for them.
To find out more, visit Plaisirdujardin.co.za or one of their stores and showrooms in Bryanston, Rosebank ( JHB ) or in Cape Town.
