Apr 3, 2008

For Retailers, ‘Kakadu’ Translates to Profits

From Alaska to Maine, and nearly every state in between, more than 300 retailers in the U.S. have discovered the profitability of the Kakadu product line from Israel. Hundreds more throughout the world have experienced the unmatched quality and craftsmanship of Kakadu’s hand-painted on wood accessories and furnishings for home and office.

(A “kakadu” is actually a large Australian bird similar to the cockatoo. It also is a region in the Northern Territory of Australia).

Founded in 1990 by husband and wife Reut and Aharon Shahar, Kakadu Design in Wood, Ltd. is headquartered in Israel, with a network of distribution and sales affiliates throughout Europe and North America. From a small gallery in Jerusalem, the company has expanded to create a line of approximately 50 products, each one available in a choice of nearly 50 design motifs. While others are moving their manufacturing to China, India, etc. Kakadu has chosen to preserve the integrity of their products by retaining all facets of the company in Israel.

Included in Kakadu’s extensive catalog are: Placemats (the #1 seller), Serving Trays, Lazy Susans, Mirrors, Clocks, Vases, Table Runners, Stools, Tables and a line of Judaica, all hand-painted and crafted in Israel from high quality wood.

AND Carpets! Kakadu’s most inventive piece of functional artwork is their wooden carpet, and the company has garnered worldwide renown for the innovative design. Brightly colored, durable and perfectly suited for high-traffic areas, the carpets are available in a number of sizes and may be used as a floor covering or wall hanging.

Durability and functionality are key elements in all Kakadu products. When the artists complete painting the items, two coats of acrylic elastic lacquer are applied to ensure superior hardness and resistance to scratches and moisture. The carpets are coated with high-grade marine varnish for ultimate protection and long term use.

From multi-unit operations to museum and specialty shops, buyers have been drawn to the profitability of Kakadu.

For the past three years, Seattle-based Fireworks Gallery has been selling Kakadu in their five retail locations, including the store in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. “The color, figures and images are an ideal fit for our discerning customers,” says Michele Manasse, Chief Firecracker (buyer). “We offer an eclectic array of housewares and gifts, and Kakadu meets our criteria for a line of quality, functional items with appealing, contemporary designs.”

Environmentally Friendly – With the increased attention and consumer awareness of seeking out “Green” Products, Kakadu has always been ahead of the curve. “Protecting the earth is essential for us at Kakadu, and we take it into consideration at every phase of the process,” says Reut. “The wood we use comes from fast-growing timber that has been planted specifically for harvesting. We never use timber from the Rain Forest, which means that we never exploit old-growth forests for our products.”

Quality control is paramount at Kakadu, and each item undergoes a rigorous, twelve-stage production process, from hand-selecting the wood to the final step of packing and shipping. The artisans respect the quality of the wood, working with colors to enhance the natural grain.

Wholesale price points for the wide range of products begin at $9.50 for the bestselling placemats, to $155 for the 3-foot x 5-foot carpet.

The cornerstone of Kakadu’s success lies in its dedication to the design process and its unwavering commitment to quality. The result is a melding of Art and Design that combines industrial techniques with the authenticity of hand painting; the result is “Functional items that are Art.”

Hamsa Enterprises, based in Livermore, California, is the exclusive distributor for Kakadu products in U.S. For further information, please contact David Jonas at 1-877-428-3886. Further information is available at Kakadu-Design.com.