The first Jimmy Possum lived in Tasmania around the turn of the 20th Century and is Australia's best-known primitive furniture maker. Using simple, but sturdy and reliable construction methods, his chairs have stood the test of time and today are valuable collectors’ pieces. It is said that Jimmy Possum gained his name because he lived in a hollow tree! Following the true Possum tradition, this Jimmy Possum has a great story too…
IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR
It’s a convoluted, yet endearing story and, to a large degree, it’s difficult not to get caught up in its charms. In fact, getting caught up in the charm is sort of the whole idea at Jimmy Possum, or JP as it is fondly dubbed by those in the know.
The folks at JP are not particularly interested in the ‘us and them’ mentality. They’re far more interested in you feeling comfortable and content as you wander through the myriad of products, which they design and manufacture here in Australia. What’s more, when you walk in to one of their stores, chances are you’ll meet a mother or a brother, a chair maker, a delivery person, a sales woman, a retail co-ordinator, a merchandiser, a father, a sister and an in-law, or any of the other Possums that we’ve failed to mention.
Jimmy Possum designs, manufactures, promotes and sells its own product, and it’s not uncommon to find the Directors of the company (Mr and Mrs Possum) offering you an espresso or a glass of wine on the showroom floor. And, why not? After all, they’re people too and, at JP, it’s a family affair! This alone, immediately sets Jimmy Possum apart, providing a refreshing change from the world of mass production and imported product.
As for the family, they’re not quite the Brady Bunch, although that reference is often bandied about. If you can visualise a slightly less conventional, ‘naughties’ version, then you’re getting closer. Husband and wife team, Alan and Margot Spalding, are Jimmy Possum’s owners and directors, although Margot admits she’s not fond of the title and is convinced someone should be able to come up with a clever alternative, The Possum Parents, perhaps? They’re both qualified teachers and worked in education many moons ago. Alan trained as an Industrial Designer and Margot trained as a Graphic Designer before they ventured into furniture manufacturing, so creativity comes easily to this team. Over the years, there have been various incarnations of successful business venture for both of them, but 1995 was the year that saw the birth of Jimmy Possum and, for many discerning readers, it’s now a household name.
As for the kids, collectively there are seven - mostly girls with a couple of boys thrown in for good measure, although, with the addition of in-laws and grandkids, that number continues to grow. Of the seven kids (or eight, if you count the in-laws), five of them currently work in integral roles within the company and the youngest recently sold a piece off the floor during a clearance weekend, so if we include her, that takes the numbers to six! Their various areas of expertise have proved a considerable asset to Jimmy Possum, keeping the interests of both the company and the family at the forefront, and providing the JP clientele with valuable insight that comes from having a finger just that little bit closer to the pulse.
