The Grand Interior (TGI) was founded in 2009 by Frank Versteeg, with the aim of making exclusive and high-quality interior collections accessible to consumers. Frank started with furniture trading and designing interiors and saw a gap in the market from a passion for Italian design, which is often known for its high price and inaccessibility to a wider audience. Margins for interior designers are under pressure and delivery times are long. Therefore, he decided to offer luxury products largely available from stock. 'We have always been about picking up trends quickly and combining the beauty of Italian design with a unique twist that offers the customer something extra. Our style could best be described as a mix of sleek Italian design with a touch of midcentury, a combination of the modern, elegant Italian with the warm, cosy style of the 50s and 60s.'
As inset, founder Frank Versteeg.
Unique position
The Grand Interior distinguishes itself from traditional Italian brands not only by delivering high-quality products, but also by speed and flexibility. 'We offer exclusive designs without the usual long delivery times. That gives us a unique advantage in the market,' says Versteeg. The collection is now available across Europe and beyond, with renowned interior designers relying on TGI's products.
Besides furniture, TGI has also developed strongly in the field of lighting. 'We noticed a shortage of high-quality, technical recessed lighting within the design segment. Therefore, we decided to develop these products ourselves. This enables us to offer a complete interior design concept.'
Challenges and growth
Like any growing company, TGI has faced its challenges. 'In the beginning, we had little brand awareness and had to build our collection piece by piece. Product development and stock management required hefty investments, so liquidity was a challenge,' Frank explains.
Quality control was also a learning process: 'We invested a lot of time in finding the right suppliers and educating producers to meet our high standards.' Meanwhile, TGI has a robust production process and the brand can respond quickly to interior design trends.
Another key challenge was logistics: 'As the collection and orders grew, we had to completely overhaul our operational processes. That was a big job, but in the end we managed to establish an efficient structure.'
Future of interior design
According to Frank, interior design will increasingly revolve around sustainability and innovation in the coming years. 'Consumers change their interiors faster these days and look for timeless designs that last longer. We respond to this by adopting sustainable production processes and creating flexible, modular designs.'
He expects ethical production and quick adaptability to remain key focal points. 'Trends are changing faster than ever due to social media. We ensure that our customers can easily update their interiors with new collection pieces, without having to replace their entire furnishings.'
Ambitions for the coming years
TGI has ambitious plans. 'In the short term, we want to expand our collection to 1,500 products so that customers can come to us for a complete interior design concept. We also want to further strengthen our brand through physical showrooms and collaborations with partners in various regions.'
In the long term, TGI aims to become the reference in luxury interior design, with a strong focus on total experience, sustainability and service. 'We will continue to invest in innovative materials and techniques so that we are always at the forefront of the market.'
Scoop
Finally, Frank has a scoop: 'We recently started a collaboration with an Italian designer from Rome. We are incredibly excited about this new collaboration, and we can't wait to soon share more information about the unique designs we will be developing together. It is an important step for TGI, and we believe it will offer our customers something truly special.'
Beyond product development, Frank stresses that TGI's success is not just about the collection. 'Our team is our greatest strength. Their passion and dedication ensure that customers always get the best experience. We are proud of the strong relationships we have built with our suppliers and resellers, who share our vision and help us create the finest products. It is an exciting time for TGI, and we look forward to continuing to innovate and inspire our customers in the years to come.'
More information:
The Grand Interior
[email protected]
www.thegrandinterior.com
The Netherlands