Shademakers wins Emerging Exporter of the Year Award
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Michael Cullen presented Shademakers NZ Ltd. with the Export New Zealand Ullrich Aluminium
Emerging Exporter of the Year Award at a gala dinner function at Sky City Convention center in Auckland last Friday
night.
“We are very proud of this prize and appreciate the recognition for exporting our high quality shademaker patio
umbrellas into residential and commercial projects to more than 20 countries so far”, says Sales & Marketing Manager David Jesze.
“Shademakers has taken outdoor shade design to a new level and grown over 30% last year; most of this growth has come
through exporting. Due to our fairly small market size and population in New Zealand, as well as huge distances to other
markets, export is not an option but a necessity.
Like most other smaller New Zealand exporters we are competing with big international companies that have superior
technology and financial capabilities. However, our exceptional design, superior craftsmanship, manufacturing
flexibility and excellent customer service allow us to “steal” some projects of big European and US manufacturing
giants”, adds Jesze.
Founded in 1998 by Russell Bond, Shademakers NZ Ltd. was created for the purpose of designing, manufacturing and
supplying the world’s finest outdoor umbrellas.
New Zealand is renowned for superior quality boat building, and this knowledge was applied to the original shademaker
designs," says Russell. "We took aluminium and created proprietary shapes all exclusive to our umbrella components,
making them well suited for a commercial marine environment and ultimately creating Shademakers, a product of longevity,
beauty and low maintenance."
A few years before founding Shademakers, Russell identified a worldwide need for superior crafted, elegant and
functional outdoor shade solutions. Combining this niche identification with a love of sailing, entrepreneurial skills
and a penchant for perfection, he pursued his goal.
His passion for sailing was a strong influence on the design: extruded anodised aluminium masts, stainless steel
fittings and marine-grade components and fabrics. With the help of a Kiwi industrial designer and 12 months of sweat and
ingenuity, the Sola umbrella was born in 1999 to rave reviews.
Today the range of original shademakers comprises 8 models, catering for the residential and commercial market. Clients
around the world include thousands of private homes, various 5* hotels, top restaurants and even some well known
celebrities, e.g. Nicole Kidman