Joel
Owner of Aurora Window Furnishings
I have two young boys, Ted aged 9 and Bertie aged 6. My wife, Gillian, and I live locally and absolutely love Canberra for so many reasons.
You’ll hear a slight twang in my accent. Whilst I’m a proud Canberran, and have been for 15 years, I moved to Australia from England when I was a kid.
Passions
- My family. I live for my boys and spending quality time together, including playing in local parks and ovals.
- Sport. Seriously, any sport. I follow so many but I love cricket, rugby, and league. Please be kind to me when you find out who I support!
- Window Furnishings. Ok, I know this sounds cliche and a marketing spiel – but it’s true! I follow pretty much every window treatment manufacturer/brand I can find from around the world and stay up to date on local, national and global trends. I love the transformation and impact on the ambience, style and my recommendations and product installations provide my clients. The old saying of “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” is very true for me.
Why is sustainability so important to me?
Well, I have two young boys and we want to make the world better for them. I’ve worked in this industry, including in large scale manufacturing or consulting many other manufacturers – I’ve seen the negative impact poor manufacturing practices can have on the environment and our communities.
I don’t think it’s hard, with a little effort and focus, to be the change we want to see and prioritise ethical sourcing. It’s the legacy I’d like to leave my boys, do what we can.
My Professional Experience (Prior to Window Furnishings)
My initial background was in Fintec and eCommerce, but when I moved to Canberra there wasn’t much of an industry for those. I worked for Apple, Coca Cola, two very large fashion brands and a Canberra payments company. I was really lucky, and worked very hard, to be successful at a young age, which meant I could move on to something I’m more passionate about.
Why Aurora Window Furnishings?
Everything in the riotact article was very true. I could have kept on doing the same old same old running my large window furnishings business, or I could step out, and be the change I want to see – in the industry, in the community, for my community and for my family. Simple really. It took guts, but I’ll never look back.
I feel a though there has been a race to the bottom for quality and business priorities since Covid and it’s important that we stand tall and be drive positive change.
What's different about Aurora Window Furnishings?
We may be small, but we’re mighty.
We have the enviable difference of having really low company overheads, which means we can pass those savings on to our customers. You’ll notice we are probably the only window furnishings business in town that relies solely on word of mouth, not TV ads or Radio.
I’m proud that we support so many charities, schools/ELC’s and community organisations through our company profits too, so every order we accept and deliver with care, profits from that order go towards giving back,
Once your products are installed, that’s not the end of us (unless you want it to be). We’ll stay in touch for any servicing or after sales inspections should they be needed, without further charge.
The Aurora Difference
In an industry that often relies on outdated practices and a one-size-fits-all approach, Aurora stands apart by redefining what locally made blinds, shutters, awnings and curtains can be.
We believe in the power of transformation—one of our core values—to create something truly special, but we also believe in offering fair and affordable pricing to provide a transparent approach. For example, we don’t mark-up our curtain fabrics. What we pay, you pay.
This means not just improving on the old ways but revolutionizing every aspect of the journey our customers have with us.
From bespoke product offerings to white-glove service, we are committed to setting a new benchmark for quality, service, and style.