46. Why Furniture Hire Matters More Than You Think | Huntley + Co

<p>When people think about preparing a home for sale, they usually picture the finished styling. What they don't see is everything happening behind the scenes to make that transformation possible.</p><p><br /></p><p>In this episode of <strong>Behind the Design</strong>, I sit down with <strong>Amy Smith</strong>, founder of <strong>Huntley + Co</strong>, a Sydney-based furniture hire business created specifically to support property stylists, interior designers and creative professionals.</p><p><br /></p><p>After spending more than a decade as a senior stylist, Amy recognised a growing gap in the industry. Independent stylists needed access to beautiful furniture, reliable logistics and an easier way to hire pieces without managing their own warehouse. That insight became Huntley + Co.</p><p><br /></p><p>We talk about the evolution of the property styling industry, what it takes to build a business that supports other creatives, and why furniture hire has become such an important part of preparing homes for sale.</p><p><br /></p><p>Whether you're a property stylist, interior designer, supplier or creative business owner, this conversation offers an honest look at what happens behind one of the industry's most essential businesses.</p><p><br /></p><p>In this episode we cover:</p><p>·  Why Amy founded Huntley + Co after 13 years in property styling</p><p>·  The difference between furniture hire and property styling</p><p>·  How Huntley + Co supports independent stylists and designers</p><p>·  Building a business around solving industry pain points</p><p>·  Designing a furniture collection that balances timeless pieces with current trends</p><p>·  The role technology plays in simplifying furniture hire</p><p>·  Growing through uncertainty during COVID</p><p>·  Supporting creatives beyond furniture through the Style Minds community</p><p>·  Building long-term client relationships through reliability and trust</p><p>·  What success looks like after building a thriving creative business</p><p><br /></p><p>If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to <strong>Behind the Design</strong> for more conversations with the people shaping Australia's design industry.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Follow Amy Smith and Huntley + Co</strong></p><p><a href="https://huntleyandco.com.au/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>https://huntleyandco.com.au/about-us/</em></a><em> </em></p><p><em></em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/huntley_and_co/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>https://www.instagram.com/huntley_and_co/</em></a></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090875392637" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090875392637</em></a><em> </em></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Follow Unfolded:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.unfolded.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>https://www.unfolded.com.au/</em></a></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_</em></a> </p><p><br /></p><p>—------<br /></p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:59 - Behind the Design with Amy Smith</p><p>02:47 - The Evolution of Property Styling</p><p>05:33 - Finding a Gap in the Property Styling Industry</p><p>08:03 - The Reality of Starting a Creative Business</p><p>11:07 - What a Furniture Hire Company Really Does</p><p>15:00 - How Technology Is Changing Property Styling</p><p>17:16 - Choosing Furniture That Appeals to Buyers</p><p>20:42 - Design Trends vs Timeless Interiors</p><p>22:47 - Building a Community Around Your Business</p><p>25:36 - Using Social Media to Grow a Design Business</p><p>29:07 - Why Trust Matters More Than Talent</p><p>32:43 - The Biggest Challenge of Growing Huntley &amp; Co</p><p>35:04 - Redefining Success as a Business Owner</p><p>36:50 - Quickfire Questions with Amy Smith</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Keywords