interaction with our team and our products. Tell us about your store. What are the product offering and customer experience like? ST: Our store is in a 100-year-old warehouse in Sydney that used to be a Rosella canning plant. We have a great edit of Australian-made homewares, art, furniture and rugs and great customer service. We think it’s the only way for physical retail stores to thrive. How would you describe the Australian aesthetic? RK: I think it has a casual simplicity with sometimes a bit of a cheeky twist. Often natural fibres and textures are used as well. Finish this sentence. Working with your partner is like… ST: …having your best buddy around. RK: …not being without your right arm! Where are your favourite places to shop in the world? ST: Local markets. There’s nothing more exciting than the sights, smells and sounds in these often crazy and bustling places. RK: I find it hard to go past a beautifully designed Scandinavian design store. Everything is so considered. What do you read/listen to/watch to stay informed? ST: Lots of things. The How I Built This podcast is a favourite of both of ours. We look at a lot of social media – Instagram, Pinterest, Dezeen. Who are your business and/or retail heroes? ST: Patagonia – for being such an ethical brand that is willing to stand for something. Everlane – for providing transparency around their manufacturing chain. And as far as pure retail goes, Harris Farm – for reading their customers so well and offering a different model to all the other food retailers. How do you get the creative juices flowing? ST: Get out in the natural environment. There’s no better way to help you to reset and change your perspective. I also love working collaboratively – there’s so much to be gained in getting other people’s perspectives. RK: I get the best results visiting factories and talking to clients. I also love exploring new materials and talking to clients about what they are looking for or need. Why did you decide to become a B Corp? ST: We have wanted to do it for some time. It means a lot to us to be independently assessed and given a tick for our values and the way we do business. If you could change one thing about Koskela, what would it be? ST: I’d love to have more time to create more products with Indigenous art centres. This is an area where we can have a great impact. RK: I’d like to see our products available overseas. What’s your biggest design pet peeve? ST: The way smartphones are not designed to be fit for purpose. It’s crazy that you need to buy screen protectors and cases in order to use them. I don’t know anyone who has not dropped their phone and cracked their screen. RK: Companies that design products that can’t be repaired. Describe your ideal weekend. ST: Spending some time with our kids, getting out in nature and catching up with friends. RK: Eating, exercising and taking time out to relax and smell the roses. Or frangipanis in our case!