Splinter Sell

On Eagle Heights Road, just short of Gallery Walk, is the site of one of Tamborine Mountain’s most fascinating developments yet. Splinter is an effort between four of the area’s brightest and most creative minds to create a space where upcoming artisans can showcase, and sell, their creations. Natalie Haskell, Kaecee Fitzgerald, and Sam Canning, three of the masterminds behind this exciting non-profit collaborative storefront, were more than happy to share the story behind their inspirationally innovative idea.

by Kyle Hitchmough

Can you explain what Splinter is all about? What is it you do here?

The four of us, along with Natasha Dennis, came up with the idea. We all teach industrial and product design at Griffith University and, for years, we’ve seen a lot of students come through with a really high quality of work. We wanted to set up a platform for them to be able to sell their stuff with a very low or no commission. We set Splinter up as a not-for-profit, so all of the sales go back to the designer. It was a way of trying to support emerging designers when they’re just starting out. We also have an emphasis on digital fabrication, so there’s a lot of 3D printing, CNC laser cutting, and things like that as well. Digital fabrication comes first, but anyone who is sustainably minded who comes through wanting to experiment with novel materials, which can be a big game changer when it comes to getting your ideas out there, those are the kinds of things we want to support.

Where did the name come from?

We just thought it was a name that had multiple meanings. It had connotations with wood, but also something that was a breakaway organisation, doing things differently, a non-profit. It was never about the money. It’s more about the support of local design and giving other people and ourselves space to experiment with technology and materials.

Are there any bestselling kinds of items among what your designers offer in the store?

Jewellery seems to be popular! It might be because people do just pop in and it’s an object you can just pick up and take away for an accessible price. Anything else that’s a small-ticket item. And lighting, we have a designer who does beautiful wooden light work.

How do you acquire more designers to stock here?

If we see that a designer is doing something interesting, we will ask if they’re interested in being stocked in the store, but designers can also apply. We’ve got a form on the website where they can submit interest and we can review.

What goes into an average day here for you?

A typical day is us just trying to build up stock, experiment with designs, see what takes. We’ll usually get a visit from a few locals most weeks, which is nice. And in the coming year, we are probably going to start getting a little bit more studio-based, we’re going to start a couple of different projects we’re really excited about.

Are you locals? What are your opinions on the Tamborine Mountain area and community?

Sam is local and Natalie lives down the bottom of the mountain. It’s pretty amazing, it’s a beautiful location. Everyone in Tamborine has been so supportive. We’ve had locals swing by and ask us how we’re doing. It’s very close-knit. Everyone’s very friendly, the climate is perfect, it’s beautiful. It’s just a really good balance. It’s like going on holiday when you drive home from work.

Do you have any favourite things to do or places to go on the mountain?

Picnic Real Food Bar is quite nice. There’s the Treehouse Café, the Forest Café, and the waterfall walk down the road is really lovely… Kaecee enjoys the drive up for the scenery. Sometimes she’ll just stop at one of the lookouts to calm her mind. It’s amazing to live so close near by to so many amazing things. And we’ve had a lot of visits to Mitre 10!

What do you think Splinter really provides to the area?

It’s a way to showcase new and emerging designers and there’s that real emphasis on local design, and bringing in access to those new technologies, like 3D printing. It’s a shunning of traditional big corporate or commercial style stores. We do tend to focus very heavily on quality design, making sure that it’s local, that it’s supportive. We’re not too concerned with turning a profit for the sake of it. We’re very much about fostering that kind of environment that we really want to see other people take onboard. Also, you can’t buy this stuff anywhere else. When you’re just starting out, it’s difficult to try and get your stuff sold, you might end up paying as much as 60% commission in some places in Brisbane. To showcase this stuff to the broader public is definitely important.

What do you enjoy most about doing this?

All of us enjoy working together and supporting that local design community. We also get a chance to meet other creatives as well. As designers, it is fascinating to try a different design, a different idea and ask people “How do you feel about this?” It’s fun to experiment! To sit here spending time with your friends in a space where you can experiment, fail, and try again… we’ve laughed a lot, had a lot of coffees sat on the deck.

What’s been your most memorable moment during your time here?

We all vetted each other’s work when we were doing the place up. Kaecee put the front door handles on and they were a little bit askew, and Natalie and Sam said “No, it has to be changed”. We were divided! Heels were dug in, but there’s nothing that we can’t resolve. And we don’t ask Kaecee’s partner, an architect, for his feedback anymore because he’s a bit too honest!

Do you have any plans to expand further in the future?

It’s our intention to run classes as well, in all different things from flower arranging to ceramics to 3D printing. People are screaming for it, but we don’t have the time or resources yet. They will probably start early next year.

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