Hunter Douglas’ 70 year legacy holds steady as the company looks ahead to a strong FY24

“This year is a very special year for Hunter Douglas as we celebrate 70 years since launching in Australia,” says Damon Gardner. 

Hunter Douglas’ Managing Director is reflecting on a long and eventful journey for the business since its establishment in Australia in 1953 – following its success in North America – which was part of a wider, global expansion during that era. Its operation in Rydalmere, NSW, was established in 1956, where it still stands today, representing the Australian presence of a world market leader in window coverings.

Gardner, who has been with the business for more than 15 years prior to being made Managing Director earlier this year, has been a part of many key decisions made within the organisation to ensure the company remains at the forefront of delivering the best quality products and superior customer service.

“I’ve witnessed a lot of change over the past 15 years but what remains constant is our willingness to make significant investments in our operations, our people, our customers and our future marketplace opportunities. We’re excited for what’s to come,” he says.

21st Century window covering solutions

In an increasingly fast-moving industry, Gardner says innovation is still paramount, and has been a key contributor to the success of Hunter Douglas. Over the years, the innovative spirit of the company has led to the development of revolutionary new products to meet the increasing demand for Australian window fashion, quality and functionality.

“Our commercial window covering solutions help manage light, heat and energy at the building envelope, reducing the need for artificial lighting, cooling and heating. With world-class engineering, versatility, durability and style, Hunter Douglas is at the forefront of advanced motorisation technology.”

Hunter Douglas’ flagship brand, Luxaflex Window Fashions, is one of the most widely known and respected window covering brands in the world, and has close to a 70 year history in Australia. 

“Ever since we created the Aluminium Venetian Blind, the Luxaflex brand has defined the industry with proprietary products that deliver revolutionary style and functionality.  Our strength is our ability to develop and market innovative, high quality, proprietary products that appeal to consumers,” says Gardner. “We continue to expand the Australian product range, combining the best of international and local innovations.”

In more recent years innovation has focused on acoustic performance, technology, and sustainability, as well as offering a range of aesthetic options. Examples include the advanced home automation system, PowerView motorisation being launched in the Luxaflex Window Fashions range; and most recently the launch of the Equascreen fabric range using ocean-bound plastic waste to create an eco-friendly fabric collection. 

Unique designs and quality craftmanship

Vera Meharg, Group Marketing Executive, tells WFA that while innovation is part of the Hunter Douglas DNA, the range of products on offer has always been the company’s crowning glory. The Luxaflex range in Australia is unique, in addition to designing and developing local products. 

“Our products have been customised over the years to suit the climate and architectural styles unique to Australia,” says Meharg. “Throughout its Designer, Classic and Living series, Hunter Douglas is continually developing Australian window coverings for inside and outside the home with the Luxaflex Product Series. Each product type draws on the best of the worldwide group’s range of styles, fabrics and finishes. The broad range ensures Australian home owners have even more choice from the brand they know and trust.”

A proud part of the Hunter Douglas Group is the Turnils brand which engineers superior internal and external window covering systems and componentry. Under Turnils, the Alpha M Awning System was launched and remains the next evolution in external awnings. Australia’s first and only magnetic retention system, delivering 200kg of pull force keeping fabric taut and neat inside channels, the Alpha M was developed for diverse weather conditions and adapted locally for Australia’s harsh climate, offering unparalleled strength and performance.

Also, part of the Hunter Douglas Group, the Turnils Collage brand brings to market the best available fabrics for window coverings. For over 30 years, the Hunter Douglas textiles division has continued to meticulously craft fabric collections for Australia’s window covering market, giving the brand the opportunity to feature some of the most innovative and technologically advanced fabrics in the world.

Power in the people

According to Gardner, “Business is people” is the company’s core guiding principle. “We consider our culture of professional entrepreneurship a key competitive advantage that drives our organisation. We are a decentralised federation of specialised companies, run by people who manage our companies as their own. This enables fast decision making with organisations that respond quickly to fast changing design trends. We run these businesses with a minimum of staff based on a second core principle of ‘minimum interference, maximum accountability’.”

Developing a local focus through a national acquisition strategy 

Hunter Douglas Australia has a strong commitment to enhancing the window covering industry by offering comprehensive solutions to customers. “Over the past seven years, it has acquired several businesses to further strengthen our position in the market by expanding our product offerings and providing an even wider range of options to our valued customers,” says Gardner.

“These acquisitions, which include Blindware, Vertilux and Victory Curtains and Blinds, and most recently, Curtain Hardware Australia, are in line with Hunter Douglas’ strategy for expansion in major geographical centres in Australia to enhance the window covering industry by offering comprehensive solutions to customers, and are a fundamental component of our strategy for growth.”

“Our recent acquisition of Curtain Hardware Australia, a trusted supplier of high-quality curtain accessories and hardware, demonstrates Hunter Douglas’commitment to maintaining a strong local focus, while having the ability to expand our reach and capability on a national scale,” says Gardner.

Remaining agile through the strength of a diversified product portfolio

Hunter Douglas’ expanded product offerings meet the diverse needs of customers across a range of markets including, architectural, residential housing, alterations & additions and commercial building.  Hunter Douglas’ commitment to research and development will continue into FY24, focussing on high value specialist manufactured products, innovation that will provide customers with improved functionality, durability, energy efficiency and sustainability.

“The market is evolving and customer preferences are becoming more complex,” says Gardner.  “Hunter Douglas was historically a manufacturing business, however, the business we see today is vastly different.  By identifying complementary businesses and services, and seamlessly integrating those services, we can strengthen our offering and provide a comprehensive solution that meets our customers’ evolving needs and expectations.”

Hunter Douglas has built a robust and diverse supply chain that leverages key local suppliers and in conjunction with established partnerships with international suppliers, the company is able to offer customers access to the best materials and products. 

“Hunter Douglas made material investments to position the business to capitalise on the production and supply chain challenges during the period of Covid-19,” Gardner explains.  “With our product range expansion over the years, we’ve also focussed on diversifying our supply chain.  As part of these efforts, we invested in manufacturing, international supply chain and partnered with local major suppliers. This diversity has helped us to navigate through recent supply chain challenges and meet the ever-evolving demands of the marketplace.”

Delivering a sustainable future 

In 2018, Hunter Douglas led the charge in Australia with the largest solar panel installation of its kind. The major project included a 2,080 strong solar panel installation on the roof of its Sydney manufacturing facility, which at the time was the largest install of Sunpower P19 panels in the world, and the first of its kind for the window covering industry in Australia.

Across its 30-year project life, the solar panel installation will see the company generate more than 29 million kWh of energy. This is the equivalent of powering over 4,600 homes; planting over 600,000 trees; saving over 24,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and over 8,000 tons of waste from landfill. 

Meharg says: “This significant investment in green energy is yet another step in our commitment to sustainability, and responsible development is evidenced by our continuous efforts to address environmental concerns, improve production processes, eliminate waste and reduce maintenance.”

“We are strongly committed to a sustainable future through initiatives that support the environment and local economy. This install is notable for the cutting-edge technology and the exceptional return on investmentit will yield within five years.” 

Hunter Douglas consistently plays to its unique strengths of rich heritage and superior quality Luxaflex products, while constantly innovating to ensure it stays ahead of trends. For over 70 years the brand’s window treatments and advanced operating systems have been designed to help reduce energy loss, save on heating and cooling costs to create more energy efficient and comfortable homes and offices.

“Developed in response to the energy crisis of the late 1970s, our Duette Honeycomb Shades were an industry innovation and the first product of their kind. The latest model of the design, Luxaflex Duette Architella Shades, is a chic window covering that provides more insulation than any other window covering on the market. The unique design features a patented cell-within-a-cell construction, with four layers of fabric creating three insulating air pockets to trap air for superior energy efficiency. Independent modelling has shown that these particular Shades can reduce an average home’s heating costs by up to 43 per cent ,” Meharg says. 

Continued growth
in FY24

“We’re proud of the outcomes we’ve delivered over the past decades.  Our momentum is driven by strong teams, customer-focused offerings, and strategic clarity.  We remain committed to creating value for all stakeholders, including our employees, customers, and independent specialist stores,” says Gardner.

For Hunter Douglas, the market outlook remains positive with a robust pipeline across the customer segments. “Our ever-expanding product and service offering and growing networks deepen our opportunities with customers. There’s strength in local knowledge, service and flexibility while leveraging scale, and that’s a winning combination for everyone.”