Sarah and Samuel, both of whom are design enthusiasts, started Mocha as a niche online store selling creative home accessories, modern furniture and gift ideas that they felt would bring a smile to the viewers face and liven their moment. They go about collecting products from various trade fairs and by approaching or being approached by other designers. As Sarah explains in the interview the product must a visually attractive and at the same time perfectly functional and useful.Another way of interpreting Mocha's philosophy in the their own words is "Gift ideas need not be extravagant and stunning interiors don't have to be expensive. Sometimes a few simple touches can make all the difference".
The duo likes to work with young budding artists and as far as the buyers are concerned they strive to offer them good customer service with a personal touch. Talking about the products that they sell, some of their products make my mind scream out loud-"How come I did not think up of something like this?"; say for eg. the dunk mocha cup, it is a well known tradition that in a lot of countries tea or coffee is enjoyed with some form of biscuits or cookie; So by adding a rack, if you will, to the mug the products usability is enhanced and it fulfills an innate desire.
Apart from sourcing their products from others they indulge in their own creative journey and have designed some products and furniture on their own too. On their Design blog they write about ideas to enhance the functionality of the living space in a house and also talk to other designers to get an understanding of the designers aspiration and thought process in coming up with that product. In spite of their busy schedule,
Sarah was good enough to take some time out and do an interview with us. Read along to find out more about their creative journey.
Sarah please introduce yourself and Mocha to our readers.
Hi, I'm Sarah co-founder of Mocha. Mocha is an online home furnishings store that features a selected range of modern home accessories, furniture and gifts. We specialise in products with a twist; and particularly like working with up and coming designers.
What was the inspiration behind starting an online store like Mocha?
I've always loved design and interiors and my husband Samuel - who co-founded Mocha with me - is a furniture designer/maker. So it's almost something that happened organically. It seemed the ideal thing to work on together.
You have so many quaint but incredibly practical products in your store. Please explain to our readers how you decide whether a product gets sold on Mocha or not? What is the criteria that you use? And how do you manage to source such incredible variety?
Our philosophy is very much that of the 19th Century British Architect William Morris, 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.' That is very much the starting point. In addition, we look for simple modern lines in the design, and affordable prices for our customers. To source our products we visit various trade fairs, or designers approach us directly, and some of items are designed in-house.
Mocha has a very clean and appealing user interface. I personally love the “Recently Viewed Product” feature. So on what aspects of design did you concentrate on, when redesigning the site?
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said clean and appealing. Like the product range, the Mocha site was designed to have a clean, inviting look and be both simple and enjoyable to use.
How have you promoted the store in the past and what are your ongoing promotions like? Do you think that the advent of social media platforms has helped?
I've used PR and news releases; and word of mouth has also helped. Social media is definitely useful too. I'm on Twitter quite a bit (@mochasarah). But I've actually only just launched my Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/MochaUKCom) so we'll see how that goes.
What designers do you look up to and why? If you could peek inside the studio/toolbox of any designer or crafts person, whose would it be and why?
Quite a few. Firstly, I'd have to say all the designers we currently work with as they come up with some really inspired ideas. In addition, other designers / architects I really admire include Antonio Citterio, John Pawson, Santiago Calatrava, Sir Terence Conran, Sir Jonathan Ive and (the late) Arne Jacobsen. Each one of them has been ground-breaking in their own way. I wouldn't mind looking into the studio/toolbox of any of them! Many of their designs look deceptively simple, but are in reality quite complex - so much thought has gone into their work. Watching their processes would be fascinating.
What activities do you like to participate in when you are not working on stuff related to the store?
Spending time with family and good friends. Being with people you love is the best thing of all. I also enjoy reading, and actually read a lot of design magazines and books. It's not just work, it's also a real passion of mine. I enjoy practising Pilates, going for long walks with friends or while listening to music, and watching a good film. I also love to discover new things.
What are your future plans for Mocha? Do you plan to expand your product portfolio as well as the product types?
Yes, definitely to expand the product range as well as types. We just recently introduced a range of travel accessories. We also want to work on more in-house designs.
Firstly sell something you like or enjoy yourself. If you do, you'll love the process, and you'll stay motivated even when you have to do the inevitable boring tasks. In addition, if you're not enthusiastic about the products you sell, why would your customers want to buy them?
Also try to carve out a little niche for yourself. That doesn't necessarily mean selling something that no one else has. Just try to position yourself in some original way. In other words, ask yourself, why would someone want to become your customer? What can you offer them that is a little bit different or special?
Thank you Sarah for taking the time for this interview, your products truly are creative with a unique style. We wish you and Mocha the very best for the future.
You can read more about Mocha at:
Mocha
Design blog
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