Right time to create spaces
Woman uses her passion to create new business
JO Donaldson loves helping people create spaces they dream of, but who do not know how to go about it.
Ms Donaldson opened Thibault and Donaldson three months ago in Toowoomba, a business that provides two services in one.
“Our business is a little different to what is generally done,” she said.
“People either operate an interior design business or a furniture and decor business. We are doing both.”
Ms Donaldson has an array of pieces on the show room floor that cover a range of styles from Hollywood regency to English classic and coastal Hamptons.
“The pieces that are in here we are trying to meet a variety in style and budget,” she said.
“So you can access designer-style pieces from Australian and international brands like Greg Natale, who is a highly acclaimed Australian designer.
“Of course they are going to have that more elite price tag, however we are also very concious that we like to provide service and we can do our best to source pieces within people’s budgets.”
Ms Donaldson said what the business was doing was offering a very metropolitan shopping experience in Toowoomba as well as access to pieces that usually only interior designers would see.
“As well as providing that retail experience we are also offering an interior design service from the show room,” she said.
“We offer everything from sourcing a particular item right through to a complete renovation including bathrooms, kitchens and cabinetry.
“We believe most people have a really good eye or a really good knowledge of what they want to do in their homes but don’t have ability to access it.
“We help and assist them rather than telling them what they should have. However if there are people who have no idea where to start we can do a full and comprehensive service.”
Ms Donaldson and her husband had spent six years living in Toowoomba several years ago before returning recently.
Since 2003, the couple have been building, renovating, decorating and selling homes, mostly on the Sunshine Coast. However, Ms Donaldson wanted to wait until her daughter, now four, was in school to open a business.
Originally they wanted to conduct a work from home business, but given the amount of interior designers doing that, they wanted a point of difference.
“We were also completely frustrated and aware of the lack of choice with furniture and decor on the Darling Downs,” she said.
“While we do have some really good furniture stores, they are limited.
“I think what we are really tyring to do is bring a point of difference for people when they do their interiors they have choice or the ability to see what is out there.”
Ms Donaldson said because it was such a service-providing industry, she wanted the shop to be a destination.
“This is a really important reason why we opened the retail show room is we wanted people to walk in without any obligation to purchase a product or a service,” she said.
“Where if we had an interior design business studio without the retail component, people would feel obligated the minute they walk through the door to buy a service or product and we didn’t want people to feel that way.”