We started the business in Marbella, Spain, in 1993. When the crisis hit we moved here. For us it was like a new world - a lot of Arabic influences and a very different style of interiors. But we saw the opportunities.
We started very small. We started in a tiny warehouse in Al Quoz with one 40-foot container. We worked with some of the same suppliers that we had worked with in Spain, but we also started with new suppliers.
The response was very good. From the beginning, we were successful. We eventually moved to a bigger warehouse. Then we opened our shop on Umm Suqeim Road. Now we are present in the Home Design store in Mall of the Emirates. We have a huge storage facility and we are trying to open in Abu Dhabi. We are looking at possible locations at the moment. We are also about to extend the Umm Suqeim Road shop by 100 square metres, so we are expanding.
Our style is what I would describe in French as "bric-a-brac". It's new furniture but made to look like French antique.
I will bring in a product - for example a sofa - un-upholstered, and then I'll import fabrics from Holland and upholster it here. We are very successful with that because it means we have things that are totally different.
I do a lot of my buying in Europe, in Holland. One of the main suppliers we work with is a Dutch brand called Kersten.
We get containers every month. We are constantly updating our collection. I have things from Indonesia, natural pieces in rattan and petrified wood, for example, but in general we have more of a European or French look.
One of the latest brands we've started working with is a French furniture company called Montigny. It's a beautiful product. We brought it into the Mall of the Emirates and said we'll see how we get on because it's a little more pricey than the things we usually sell. Within a week, we had sold out.
Trends are changing. During the crisis everything was very sombre in colour. Now people are interested in brighter colours again.
Luz de Luna is located in the Iridium Building, Umm Suqeim Road, Barsha and Home Design, shop F8, first floor, Mall of the Emirates
