Elise Hawthorne
Jason Minty is in my eyes the king of taste. Let me make it quite clear upfront, shopping for hours, visiting multiple stores or a shopping centre is not my idea of a fun day out so when I stumbled up Becker Minty in Sydney’s Potts Point, I thought I’d hit the jackpot, my kind of shop, which is to say that I found a one stop shopping paradise.
Becker Minty is a shop or really I should say concept store where one can easily purchase a gift for anyone, it is an example of design excellence on show in abundance.
Jason Minty is the man behind Becker Minty and when he set it up his philosophy was to create a store that basically sells the best of everything and he has achieved that aim and then some. Stepping into Becker Minty is like stepping into Aladdin’s Cave; each item on sale is exquisite. Jason is a modern day retailer par excellence.
Whether it is sourcing the perfect fragrance, candle, one off piece of jewellery, truly amazing lamp, stunning artwork, chair, trinket or the latest must have designer dress or jacket, this is the place to visit. Jason’s buying ethos is very apparent, “With the exception of some clothing I generally don’t buy for seasons, I just buy what I see and what I love, whenever and wherever I am around the world. The end result here is that the store always has something new to offer.”
Becker Minty is a mini department store; Jason has created a place that is not just a store but more a retail outlet design experience. He said, “When people walk through the front door I want them to completely leave the outside world behind, and immerse themselves into our world. We are a destination store that provides an entire experience. There are products to tantalize every sense and customers are seduced by the beauty around them.”
Jason has created a lifestyle store where the shopper can expect the unexpected, “Our aim is that when people arrive they have some sense of anticipation – knowing that each time they visit the store it will offer a whole new visual experience. Because we play around and re-merchandise constantly, you never quite know what you are going to get. This, I hope, keeps people excited and interested in what we have to offer.”
Not to rest on other people design laurels, Jason has also designed his own-brand products. He loves gentlemanly accoutrements and of course he understands the need of somewhere stylish to store them. Hence the development of watch, cufflink and tie boxes, and the very useful ‘empty’ boxes and trays that are perfect homes for the ‘stuff’ that we all have – the minutiae of life. He has also designed photograph frames; the latest is in black enamel and brass and represents his love of a black and gold interior design scheme.
Fashion and homewares are equal partners at Becker Minty. Jason is proud to support many Australian labels including Aurelio Costarella, Melinda & Narina, Inder Dhillon, Ella, LP33.3, Amuk, and he even has his own brand of accessories such as jewellery and scarves. Jason in his own words “loves brands that have an individual story to tell. This, of course, carries into the modern jewellery we sell – we admire the passion of jewellers such as Claire Aristides, Siobhan Way and Annie Campbell. Everything in the store has a story, a provenance; the unique pieces I discover often come with history, so why should a new item of clothing be any different? Everything has to resonate.”
When people leave the store, Jason would love for them to leave feeling enlightened in some way, having been introduced to a new designer, a new product range or a new look. Of course even better when they leave with a bag containing something they can’t live without.
The store is laid out to create passages of discoveries, so hanging large artworks behind furniture pieces, which are covered in various types of products, provides a more real life feeling. It makes it far easier to then imagine any one of the items on offer in one’s own home; I know I did again and again.
Jason has been very busy since the day he launched his interior styling and decorating service, he states, “We work with client briefs to deliver any look that the individual desires. Of course we do love it that so many people want elements of our ‘look’ but it’s certainly not all we offer or can achieve.”
When describing his job Jason knows it is cliché to say ‘I’m the luckiest guy around’, he knows he is very fortunate as he loves his job. Jason firmly believes that he is, “surrounded with a wonderful and incredibly dedicated team of individuals” and knows he is also a very lucky man as, “I visit amazing destinations and places and have a super supportive, caring and patient partner. In short, I’m doing exactly what I love doing and I couldn’t ask for anything more. Don’t hate me!”
I can’t help but feel that Jason is a modern day renaissance man, a true lover of beauty and a promoter of the arts and design excellence. His life experience living and travelling around the globe has created a truly creative and interesting man. It was an absolute pleasure meeting Jason and to have found his Aladdin’s Cave – readers run don’t walk to Becker Minty – it is a true delight for the senses.
© Felix Forest
Current Felix Forest exhibition
www.beckerminty.com/blogs/post/a-new-felix-forest-exhibition
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