Oussoren, Velvet Piecegoods Guru, Chen Launch The VelvetLab®
August 5, 2013
HELMOND, The Netherlands — Richard Oussoren and Nick Chen have become partners in a new venture under the name of The VelvetLab® in order to make finished textiles and upholstered furniture from velvet.
Oussoren is the managing director of Raymakers Velvet here while Nick Chen is involved in other businesses in Taiwan.
“VelvetLab’s initial collection will be made from Raymakers, Royal Dutch Velvets,” Oussoren says. It consists of velvet covered stools, throw pillows and cushions, low loungers and fashion bags. “The collection is specially developed for TheVelvetLab, and will not overlap with existing Raymakers ranges,” he adds. “In the future TheVelvetLab can also source velvets from other makers.”
Oussoren will continue as the principal of Raymakers since it is his main business. “From Raymakers, we see TheVelvetLab as a good promotion for velvets in general. VelvetLab is a slower turnover business than velvet piecegoods.”
“I think we will need two years to get it into profits; that is why we only start in these three countries: Holland, Taiwan and UK. After the initial introduction, we intend to roll out the concept further in Europe and Asia and possibly in the US.”
“It is a build up of awareness on the Web and also a process to build a retail/designer partner network. All profits we make will be re-invested in the marketing of the brand and the extension of the distribution to other countries. Nick and I do not have to generate income from TheVelvetLab since we both have our other businesses.
According to Oussoren, Nick’s family from his father’s side, own a private hospital and beauty clinic chain in Taiwan. Nick is running the beauty clinics out of Taiwan. His father also has started many years ago a wallpaper business , which is now the biggest wallpaper manufacturer in China; Uniwall. From his mother’s side, they are active in the textile business, mainly apparel.
In addition to the velvet home textiles line, The VelvetLab has also developed a range of furniture, which can also be customized like the other products. The furniture (Miss Velvet chair, Miss Love chair and Velvet Chester sofa’s) have been introduced in Taiwan and will be introduced in Holland and the UK in September. “We also recently have started to build a network of retail partners in all three countries.” Oussoren remarks.
The VelvetLab relies heavily on its website, thevelvetlab.com for business since it links the concept directly to the consumer who will be able to customize their order using the site.