With heavy hearts, the Fanuli family and design community bids farewell to Giuseppe and Maria Fanuli, the esteemed founders of Fanuli Furniture.
Giuseppe’s artistic genius transformed countless lives and homes with his exquisite craftsmanship. His unwavering commitment to quality and visionary approach established the foundation of a family furniture business, leaving a lasting legacy in the hearts of those he touched.
The story of Fanuli – an excerpt from INDESIGN Magazine
In an interview published in , Giuseppe recalled: “When I first arrived in Australia 61 years ago, my ship docked in Melbourne and I had next to nothing – only dreams and ambition.”
His story is one oft repeated among Italians immigrants, who, armed with courage and hope, crossed oceans to build better lives for their families.
Whilst he may have had few possessions, Giuseppe, like many of his countrymen, carried an artisanal tradition and aesthetic sensibility prized in his young, new homeland – cabinetry. “I started off as a cabinet maker, lending my craft to established furniture companies,” Giuseppe said, “and the goal was always to open a business of my own, with the hope that my family would someday join me to help create my vision.”
At that time, the Australian furniture industry was made up of companies that were firmly entrenched in the market, and there was very little imported product. When Giuseppe realised his dream and opened the first Fanuli store in 1976, the company stocked many of the major, established Australian brands.
“I was very familiar with these craftsmen as I had worked with many of them as a cabinetmaker and due to my expertise and experience, I had a unique insight and understanding into the product I was selling,” he recalled.
Guided by Giuseppe’s core values of selling only the highest quality furniture, providing excellent customer service and never becoming complacent, Fanuli grew steadily, with (like so many cultural stereotypes) Giuseppe’s sons helping out with deliveries and odd jobs on the weekends. In 1995 Giuseppe handed the reins to the next generation, and brothers Fabio, Sandro and Carlo took over the company’s direction.
A business empire founded in family
Giuseppe’s empire lives on through his sons and grandchildren, ensuring his extraordinary vision continues.
The first flagship store in Sydney that Giuseppe opened in 1976 continues to thrive, while his profound dedication to family and business will be a bedrock of the Fanuli brand for generations to come.
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, Thicker than water: The story of Fanuli, published in INDESIGN Issue #62 (2015).
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