Remarkable Regional Businesses – Episode 29 Guest: Melanie ClarkBusiness Name: FabriqWebsite: https://fabriq.com.au/     Topics Covered / From Family Legacy to Fabriq: Rebuilding a Curtain Business Melanie shares the multigenerational story of her family’s curtain business, originally founded by her parents in 1995. She and her husband Justin officially took over in 2010, transforming it from “Reanne Curtains” into Fabriq—a vertically integrated, design-led business in Bendigo. / A Rebrand with Purpose: Identity, Quality, and Future-Proofing The transition to the name Fabriq, reflected a modern, design-forward ethos. With support from branding agency Studio Ink, the rebrand helped shift customer perception, create independence from the previous name, and lay the groundwork for future business scalability and potential sale. / From London Showrooms to Regional Style Melanie’s time living in London—and admiration for Designers Guild’s aesthetic—inspired her passion for textiles and interiors. This personal design vision continues to influence the style and curation of Fabriq’s offerings and customer experience. / Manufacturing In-House: A Regional Point of Difference Unlike most retailers, Fabriq manufactures its window furnishings in its own workroom, attached to the showroom. Customers can literally see where the product is made, fostering trust, quality control, and flexibility for custom work. / Surviving the Slump: Business Lessons from 2016 and 2024 Melanie reflects on two major downturns in the business: one in 2016 and another in early 2024. She shares how radio advertising, builder outreach, and doubling down on local networking helped them bounce back. Lesson: when sales slow, get on the phone—and the radio. / Expanding Into Upholstery and Home Design With growing demand for more than just curtains and blinds, Fabriq now offers custom upholstery, ottomans, cushions, and bedheads. Their team repurposes old pieces and creates bespoke furnishings, extending their reach into full-home design. / Building a Skilled, Culture-Focused Team The business employs a tight-knit team of eight, including family members and long-standing staff. Melanie prioritises culture and personality fit as much as skills—especially in the workroom—ensuring longevity and collaboration. / Rebuilding Reputation Post-Takeover When Melanie and Justin first bought the business, customers assumed the original owner had left—and quality with it. Reputation management became key. Their mistake? Not telling the story well enough. The fix? Consistent messaging and community engagement. / Systemising vs. Knowing by Heart Melanie admits most operational knowledge still lives in team members’ heads—a risk they’re slowly addressing. With staff retention high, it’s worked so far, but creating documented systems remains a priority for long-term scalability. / Embracing Smart Homes: When Curtains Go Digital Fabriq now installs motorised window treatments integrated with Google or Siri. Melanie stresses the importance of early-stage collaboration with builders and architects to plan for wiring, power, and automation in modern homes. / The Reality of Small Business Ownership Melanie gives a candid account of the ongoing rollercoaster of entrepreneurship: good years, hard years, and everything in between. She emphasises persistence, team loyalty, and remembering why you started—as key to staying in the game.   References Fabriq – https://fabriq.com.au/ Designers Guild – https://www.designersguild.com Studio Ink (Branding Agency) – https://www.studioink.com.au