Today we’d like to introduce you to David Bishop.
David, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
For the last 20+ years, I’ve been designing, manufacturing and selling direct import pottery to some of the largest distributors and retailers (Costco, Home Depot, etc.) under our Habitudes® brand. Disenchanted with large retail and a chance meeting with California designer Frank Berry of Southwinds landscaping, we subsequently began envisioning possibilities for a different kind of Landscape and Design center, a place that isn’t driven by target retails, rather aspires to inspire.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
After partnering with Frank, and setting in motion what would become our Nursery and Design center, we immediately began bringing in containers of pottery Nov. of last year in anticipation of a Spring launch…the same year that California would have historical amounts of much needed rainfall. Our plans for an April launch in the rearview, we have worked tirelessly to sculpt and develop our new campus. It has been a labor of love and each day I’m humbled by just how far we have come.
Please tell us about Habitudes®.
My background is product design and development. Just out of college I was hired to design Christmas ornaments for a large manufacturing and import company. I spent months living abroad in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and the Philippines working with factories developing products. We subsequently began developing Home and Garden pottery and decor. I launched my own corporation in 2001, working directly with large distributors and retail. I have always placed an emphasis on design and utility and it is there I found my niche. I have developed ribbon for Godiva Chocolates, worked as a consultant on the Disneyland 50-year anniversary launch, but the greatest joy I get is when I am in the community or at a new acquaintance house and see one of my designs (usually a planter) in their space.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Looking back, I have always been “of-service” to quote the great Jimmy Iovine, working closely with my clients to design and develop well executed pottery programs. However, it wasn’t until recently that I realized how critical knowing the right people changes things. I would have never been able to pull off our latest endeavor without having met Frank Berry, a guy with a like minded commitment to detail. A solid network is worth its weight in gold.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7000 Marine Way,
Irvine, CA 92618 - Website: www.habitudes.com
- Phone: 949-581-2085
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/habitudes
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/habitudespottery
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/habitudes-irvine
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