We recently connected with Kaj Maloney and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kaj, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.
In our opinion, Corporate America, ie: “big box stores” build their furniture for catalog photoshoots, not for real people.
They do a great job of designing stylish pieces and staging them so they look great in a catalog or online store, but when you actually see and feel these products in person, they are not as advertised. They’re usually made of plywood, wrapped in a lookalike veneer finish, which can look nice in photographs, but doesn’t come close to the real thing. If you want your home to have character and feel quality, there’s no substitute for solid wood furniture, built for real people with real lives.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Kaj Maloney, and I am the owner of Habitat Home & Garden, a third-generation family business. At Habitat, we create timeless furniture and homewares that combine expert craftsmanship, premium materials, and accessible design. Our mission is to inspire people to feel authentically at home in their environments.
We source globally, seeking out unique suppliers, manufacturers, and materials to craft solid, heirloom-quality furniture and décor. Every piece we create reflects our commitment to quality and authenticity.
Our showroom is designed to be more than just a place to shop—it’s an experience. We strive to make it a space where clients can discover beautifully unique pieces and feel inspired by the Habitat style. Unlike many high-end furniture retailers that adopt an art-gallery atmosphere, which can sometimes feel distant and uninviting, we aim to create a welcoming and approachable environment. At Habitat, we want you to be encouraged to share your ideas, express your style, and find what suits your unique needs.
What sets us apart is our dedication to making every client’s vision a reality. Helping our customers bring their dream spaces to life is what we’re most proud of, and it’s at the heart of everything we do.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
Yes, we manufacture our own products. While we now have many established suppliers and factory partners, launching a new product line is always a significant undertaking. Sourcing the right manufacturing partnership to achieve our vision requires careful consideration and effort.
We take a very old-school approach to finding new manufacturing partners. Before working with anyone new, we have a strict rule: we must meet them in person, shake their hand, look them in the eye, and ensure they pass our “gut test.” The gut test is that unexplainable feeling—good or bad—you get when meeting someone new or visiting a new place.
In the world of manufacturing, countless companies will make grand promises and show you long lists of certifications, but the most critical factor in a successful partnership is trust. You can easily find manufacturers with great capabilities, but finding partners with strong character is far more challenging—and far more important.
Over the years, this approach has helped us build lasting relationships with trustworthy and reliable partners, ensuring we can consistently deliver the high-quality, heirloom-worthy products our clients expect from us.
Any advice for managing a team?
In our view, creating a shared vision among all stakeholders and team members is the most crucial component of managing a team and maintaining high morale.
Regardless of the industry or business, challenges will inevitably arise—this is true for all organizations. Once you accept that obstacles and problems are unavoidable, you can shift your focus to how best to address them. This is where the shared vision comes into play. When your entire team understands where you’re heading and how you plan to get there, they are much better equipped to handle the day-to-day problems, questions, and anomalies that arise. Not only will these issues be resolved more efficiently, but morale will also remain high because the team will feel in control and capable of solving problems rather than at the mercy of them.
While this concept is simple to articulate, like many things, it’s challenging to implement and sustain in practice. For us, it’s an ongoing effort, and that has been one of our most important lessons over the years. Your vision and the way you communicate it must evolve with your business. As you introduce new ideas and tackle new projects, it’s critical to communicate these changes to your team. This ensures everyone understands where the ship is headed so they can paddle with you, not against you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.habitathomeandgarden.com
- Instagram: @habitathomeandgarden
Image Credits
Shelby Bourne Matt Wier