Portrait: Hank Cravey and Dhaval Lodhavia, Home Trends & Design

Susan Dickenson -- Home Accents Today, 5/16/2011 10:55:01 AM

Hank Cravey and Dhaval Lodhavia grew up on opposite sides of the globe. Cravey, from Texas, is descended from a long line of cowboys and ranchers and began his career as a CPA. Lodhavia, from India, comes from a family of skilled craftsmen and marketers, and began his career as a sourcing agent/exporter of Indian handicrafts and home décor. Their backgrounds, along with the passion the two share for furniture design and sustainable manufacturing practices, are driving the double-digit growth of their company, Home Trends & Design.

Based in Austin, Texas, HTD designs, manufactures and imports creative, "heirloom-quality with an eclectic edge" furnishings from India, China and Thailand - solid wood case goods, accent furniture, dining tables, leather upholstery, lamps, Chinese antiques and a vibrant mix of accessories and textiles.

HTD has averaged close to 40% annual growth each year since its debut at the 2005 summer Las Vegas Market. Last year the company expanded its warehousing operation and stock levels, and was named to the number six spot on The Austin Business Journal's FAST 50, Central Texas' 50 fastest-growing companies of 2010.

A founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, HTD's designs, often inspired by nature, are crafted from environmentally-friendly materials using water-based finishes and sustainable practices. Cravey and Lodhavia specialize in the design and manufacture of solid wood furniture made from mango, and have initiated several projects overseas to train and oversee replanting of mango plantations. "It has become an important part of our brand, and we continue to use mango wood for about 80% of all our production," Cravey said. "We've also been working a lot in reclaimed woods and other recycled materials."

The company is also known for maintaining strong operations both overseas (directed by Lodhavia) and domestically (overseen by Cravey), which the partners feel gives them a unique ability to provide a design-savvy product line and better customer service than typically offered by foreign-based importers. HTD's customers, which include mid- to high-end regional and national retailers and catalogers, can combine all product lines (from India, China and Thailand) in the same warehouse shipment to keep costs down.

"You can get one (product) from India and one from China and you can put together an entire showroom of an eclectic look," Cravey said. "We give retailers a lot of flexibility and competitive pricing in placing container orders that a lot of manufacturers don't have the ability to do."

Despite the distance, the men are in close contact on a daily basis. "The two of us work more like brothers than business associates -- we can communicate effectively with few words, and each understands the other's perspective well enough to make the calls on a day to day basis," Cravey said. "We spend a lot of time on the phone in the mornings and evenings to make sure we are keeping our efforts aligned on both sides of the pond."

Background: Cravey grew up in Red Mud, Texas, received a BBA in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin, earned his CPA certification, and spent 10 years in the corporate world as vice president of acquisitions for a large independent financial firm. He began designing furniture in 1999 and has designed several lifestyle collections for Arhaus, Gallery Furniture, Crate & Barrel and Z Gallerie.

Lodhavia grew up in Mumbai, in a family that helped pioneer the Indian handicrafts and home décor industry in India. His father was a founding member of the India Handicraft Promotion Council and National Center for Design and Product Development, and some of his grandfather's work, carved masterpieces in ivory and sandalwood, is on display in several art galleries and museums today. Lodhavia received a degree in international marketing and business management from Narsee Monjee College in 1996. After graduation, he went on a 100-day world tour in search of a suitable market for his country's handicrafts and home furnishings, and decided to focus on the U.S. market. From 1997 to 1999, he worked as a sole sourcing agent, supplier, exporter and designer for Monday Wholesales & Somerset Auctions in California.

Where/how did you two meet? In India. We worked on several projects together and finally decided to start the company. Dhaval came up with the name, which has a dual meaning. My initial is H, his is D, and our wives' names start with T (Terri and Tanvi). We could not do this work without the strong support of our families and when we started the company we started it as one extended family.

Biggest challenge you face on a daily basis: Our biggest challenge is to maintain alignment and ensure efficiency in our supply chain. We have a warehouse in Austin and have recently opened up distribution in Los Angeles. In each of the past two years, we have seen turns on our inventory that have averaged close to ten times. This is stretching the industry average to a new level, but really helps with the cash flow and working capital. It also ensures that inventory is fresh and ready for delivery.

Highlight of your careers thus far: We have been able to grow our company steadily every year, both in terms of gross sales and profitability, during a period that's been difficult for the furniture industry. A lot of this has been a result of the quality of our products and service, but we have been especially lucky to have partnered with some great customers that have really been enablers for our growth. We consider ourselves to be very loyal to one another, our manufacturers and our customers, and believe in creating positive karma in all that we do. One of our mentors is Jim MacIngvale (owner, Gallery Furniture). He has been a real inspiration on how hard work and perseverance can help you through the tough times and make a huge difference in success.

Hobbies/special interests: Lodhavia - traveling to historic places, nature walks, swimming, designing furniture, lifestyle products and home accents. Cravey - I've been a musician, accountant, actor, artist and have interest in all these things, but now spend any extra time with my wife and three daughters. I also really enjoy designing furniture.

The Values of Home Trends and Design

•    Exceed Customer Expectations, both in terms of products and service
•    Passion for Excellence and Integrity in both business and personal lives
•    Develop and market sustainable and eco-friendly products
•    Empowering employees to achieve new heights; creating a culture of hard work, continuous learning, and commitment

Unsurpassed Quality, Exceptional Value

Industry veterans Hank Cravey and Dhaval Lodhavia founded Home Trends and Design (HTD) in 2005. Based in Austin Texas, HTD has rapidly become the industry’s leading specialist in designing and manufacturing solid Mango furniture, a renewable resource. All products in HTD’s collections are designed in house.

At Home Trends and Design we offer customers compelling designs, often inspired by nature, crafted from environmentally friendly materials. HTD is leading the way in eco-friendly furniture by using sustainable practices and materials. The Mango Tree is a fruit bearing crop that grows naturally throughout India and thrives in humid, warm climates. Once mature, the trees are harvested for timber and replaced with new saplings. Each year Mango plantations replant new trees continuing the cyclical process of renewing and harvesting.

Home Trends and Design is a member of the American Society of Furniture Designers as well as a founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council. Cravey commented, “We are constantly refining our designs to make heirloom grade pieces as well as seeking new ways to make the company greener to ensure a better world for our children”.

Our goal for every design is that it achieves an artistic balance of portion, scale and finish that accentuates the beauty of natural materials. Much of the product design, finishes, sizes, packaging and delivery stems from listening to customers requests. Our key product categories are dining, occasional, bedroom and accent furniture.

HTD is a multi-national company that has integrated the best of both East and West culture and style, with signature collections sold by regional and national retailers across the country.

We're all about. . .

Furniture the Eco-Friendly Way

Each year Mango plantations replant new trees continuing the cyclical process of renewing and harvesting. When the mango tree becomes mature and no longer able to bear fruit, the trees are harvested for timber. New trees are then planted in place, carrying on the annual cycle of planting and harvesting, creating the basis for sustainability and ecological balance.

Agricultural Crop
Water-based lacquer finish
Sustainable business practices
Founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council

Showcasing the beauty of the wood grain

Using solid hardwood to make furniture is a complicated process and requires expert knowledge of the materials and techniques required. The end result can be truly inspiring – an heirloom grade piece that will last for decades if not centuries. As the pioneer in eco-friendly mango furniture, HTD has developed new processes and finishes specifically for mango wood to ensure that each HTD piece will serve beautifully for decades to come.

Solid hardwood
Heirloom grade pieces
Expert knowledge of materials, techniques and finishes

Construction that ensures lasting use

Age old construction methods such as mortise and tenon joinery and dovetailed drawers ensure the durability of each HTD product. Each piece is crafted completely by hand, enhancing the individual character of the item. With the clarity of the finish, all of the natural beauty of the wood – grains and natural features come uniquely alive on each piece.

2” and 3” thick table tops
Imported European stains
Dovetailed drawers, mortise and tenon, butterfly Joinery
Water-based eco-friendly finishes that are durable and moisture resistant
Seven-step finishing process
Hand-planed surfaces
Frame and panel tops
Feathered patina
Deep-cut beveled glass
Antiqued brass hardware