Sat 19 Feb
Small Stories: NIKAU.
Nicole Steele and Nikki Ogilvy created Nikau by trusting their own taste and following their passion for finding, and sharing, unique and individually crafted products from around the world.
The brand.
It’s difficult to pin down exactly what Nikau is. And that’s part of the success of the business, and the thrill for founders and friends Nicole and Nikki. On paper, Nikau is a botanical and clay emporium based out of beautiful Byron Bay in northern New South Wales. But in essence, the brand is about harnessing the talents of global artists and sharing those finds on a local level.
The pair deal in hand-made and artisanal products sourced from around the world, as well as designing and producing their own ceramics. ‘We also have Nikau Flora incorporated in our business, offering bespoke floral bouquets and arrangements for wedding, corporate and business events,’ says Nikki.
But the business is about more than just the products. If you’re unfamiliar with the term slow buying, it’s a belief in a paced retail experience, offering customers a slow and considered pathway to purchase. And it’s this kind of attention to detail and originality that touches every part of Nikau – even their origin story.
‘We believe in good vibes, the transformative power of plants, functional and sustainable design, supporting good humans on their artistic journeys, and original handmade product, with a focus on slow buying.’
The beginning.
Five years ago, designer and ceramicist Nicole had a store in Newrybar, in the Byron Bay hinterland region. Looking to expand her business, she began her search for a new partner, a journey that led her to Nikki, an established and successful florist who had experience running stores in New Zealand.
‘We realised we had creative backgrounds that would blend really well together,’ says Nikki. ‘Nicole approached me and said she was looking for a new business partner to open a space in Byron Bay, and that I had a week to say yes!’
And the combining of two creative minds with similar interests and business ideas is how Nikau came to be. While a lot of people think Nikau is a combination of their names, you’d be wrong. It’s actually a botanical name; the Māori name for a palm tree indigenous to New Zealand, where Nikki is from, and the strongest palm tree in the world. There’s a uniqueness to everything with this brand.
Ceramics by global artists are available at Nikau.
A global creative community.
Passion for originality is at the very core of Nikau. Unlike a typical supply and demand business model, the team at Nikau create their own demand by always being on the lookout for new trends and talents from around the world. It’s their eye for unique talent and artistry that makes this business so successful.
They scour the world looking for new ideas. ‘We bring in lots of different artists and makers from around the world and around Australia and put them into a cauldron of creativity. It’s unique and unseen anywhere else because a lot of pieces are bespoke and made for us,’ says Nikki. ‘Our store is 90 per cent handmade. And if it’s not handmade, it’s hand-finished.’
There are a few other important qualities that are integral to the pieces they select for their store. ‘We’re really passionate about what we do, what we curate and what we source,’ says Nicole. ‘We like to work with brands that ethically align with what we believe in and meet that criteria to come into the store.’
In particular, the pair look for qualities like originality, sustainability and support for the community.
Nikau Mexican buff clay pots.
‘We’re fiercely determined to be a brand that’s individual. We don’t want to be like everyone else,’ explains Nikki. ‘If something’s in lots of other stores, we won’t even look at it. If it’s mass produced, or manufactured, we won’t look at it… Original product is super important. People who are making original items, that aren’t being inspired anywhere else – that’s what we’re looking for.’
A respect for the environment and the world is another important element for the Nikau brand. ‘We look for artists that are sustainable and do all the right things.’
When it comes to finding creators, Nicole and Nikki love being part of a global creative community, but they always start at home. ‘We like to support locals first, of course. We work with a lot of artists and painters and sculptors from around Australia, and then we have makers in Japan, the United States and lots of special creators in New Zealand, too.’
Nikau’s own ceramics are extremely popular.
Artists at heart.
But what about their own range? In addition to the pieces that are sourced from around the world, the pair are also creators of their own. Nikki’s background in floristry and Nicole’s experience in ceramics makes them a formidable team, one that can play to each other’s strengths.
‘Nicole’s been making ceramics for six or seven years, and our in-house ceramics range sells straight away, so we have to try and keep up! We’re always developing new ranges of glazes and shapes and vessels,’ says Nikki. And Nikki’s passion for floral design is also a huge part of Nikau, connecting them with other businesses in the area.
At the end of the day, the pair agree that being creators alongside the artists they work with gives them a level of authenticity that can’t be beaten. ‘When you make something yourself, you have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the artists as well. Like if someone has kiln issues, we totally get it, because guaranteed we’ve had those issues before too.’
Beautiful homewares at Nikau.
The business of evolving.
There’s no time to sit still in this business. Nicole and Nikki are always trying to get into fresh artists and new ideas to keep the brand evolving. ‘Different products, new makers, new things, just changing it up – constantly,’ says Nicole. But there’s more to it than that.
Right now, the pair are also looking inwards to grow their business. ‘We’re developing our online presence, looking for better engagement with our customers, and doing blogs and more behind-the-scenes content. Plus refining some procedures – we’re a two-man band, we do it all!’
The responsibility they feel to themselves, their customers and their co-artists is inspiring. ‘We feel like we’re a portal of sorts for all of our artists and makers, and it’s really important for us to be able to share their work to a greater audience, our audience. We have to support each other.’
Nikki and Nicole’s quick-fire questions:
- What’s the most popular product you’ve had in store?
Funnily enough, our own in-house Nikau ceramics do really well; we sell them faster than we can make them. That's how half our business started, and was one of the founding blocks of the business.
- Where’s your favourite spot to relax in Byron Bay?
We don't understand the question! Honestly, our little home sanctuaries with our family and friends are our favourite spaces.
- What’s your favourite Nikau piece?
It's the one-off pieces that really steal our hearts. Occasionally a piece or two will find its way into our personal collections!
- What inspires your creative process?
The incredible melting pot of creativity that we are surrounded by is hugely inspiring. We are also hugely inspired by our travels. Our favourite places are Japan and California for their incredible aesthetic and design.
- How integral is Byron Bay to Nikau?
Byron has its own special life force. We feel very grateful to be in such a collaborative, creative and vibrant community.
