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Thomas Crucifix from Nandrin and Olivier Collette from Neupré are making a big splash with Bandi, a design table and bench 100% made in Belgium. In two years, they’ve already made and sold a hundred of them. The success story is just beginning.
He’s a sales engineer. He trained as an architect. They’re cousins and complementary. That’s why Thomas Crucifix, 42, from Villers-le-Temple, and Olivier Collette, 44, from Plainevaux, decided to take on a crazy challenge: to manufacture designer furniture made in Belgium, in large series, and at a reasonable price. Their Bandi brand is only two years old, but it’s already making quite a name for itself. When I was looking for a design bench for my dining room and couldn’t find anything, I decided to design one myself and have it made by a local metal workshop,” explains Thomas. I ordered a second one. The idea was born to mass-produce them.” Via the WADD company, they came up with this table and two benches with clean aluminum lines, which can be used both indoors and outdoors, in keeping with an ethical, sustainable and local philosophy. “It’s essential to us that this is our common thread.” To manufacture their furniture, they have surrounded themselves with the region’s know-how: pre-machining in Romsée, welding in Seraing, painting in Ouffet and storage in Awans. “It’s industrial craftsmanship, and we’re proud of it. And, they are the first to be surprised, the success is dazzling. In 2017, nearly 50 tables were ordered. For 2018, they hope to reach 100 units. “And we haven’t even turned up our noses at Flanders or abroad yet.”
Points of view, not points of sale
What makes “Bandi” so special is its distribution circuit, which… doesn’t exist! “We really want to break with the usual patterns by going for the short circuit, without intermediaries, which allows us to produce locally while remaining competitive on price. Through direct sales, we can avoid the 30 to 40% extra margin demanded by conventional in-store distribution.” The WADD company therefore favors “points of view” and not “points of sale.” “We currently have eight drop-off locations in Wallonia, in stores, public places, businesses where it’s possible to come and see, touch, our furniture.” All other communication is by word-of-mouth and via Facebook. A slightly offbeat form of communication. That’s also the brand’s personality. “We like to have fun, to be offbeat and creative. The two cousins regularly slip in touches of humor during their photo shoots. Most recently, they turned up unannounced in front of the Guillemins in Liège for an impromptu barbecue with their table and benches.www.bandidesign
Sleek design, hard-wearing furniture
It’s the sleek design that makes the product so strong. “ We kept bending and welding to a minimum. It’s a monolithic part, without any bolts in the spirit of less is more.” The table and benches can be sold separately, and the color scheme is infinitely customizable. “We have a classic color palette, but you can ask us for any RAL. So the Bandi can be matched to your interior, your frames…” The two cousins also worked on furniture that stands the test of time. “Aluminum is hard-wearing, hyper-resistant and maintenance-free. It’s indestructible!” Although the aim is to focus on this flagship piece, developments are already being considered, such as coffee tables. “We also need to adapt certain details so that we can start exporting,” explains Thomas and Olivier. No doubt we’ll be hearing a lot more about them…
“Bandi is 100% aluminum, a solid, hard-wearing, maintenance-free material that can be used indoors or out. It’s also a very fashionable material…
Pre-machining is carried out by RG Georis in Romsée. The aluminum sheets arrive on site in kit form. The bench and table legs are bent and shaped to create right-angle curves.
The components are sent to Prosoudure in Seraing, where they are welded together. This is a highly precise job, since it’s essential to preserve the monobloc appearance and ensure a perfect, clean line.
At Walhin Cutting & Coating in Ouffet, furniture is powder-coated and painted. The customer determines the color of his “Bandi”. The material undergoes microsandblasting. A coat of epoxy is then applied, after which it is baked in an oven at 200°C. The top coat is applied before another oven run. This technique ensures optimum resistance, particularly against scratches and weathering.
The bench and table are available in three lengths (2.1m, 2.5m and 3m). The duo are looking into the possibility of manufacturing the “Bandi” in a dismountable version. The price of a table starts at €2,400.