Marc van der Heijden of TRIBOO and designer Hugo van der Kallen reached an agreement on February 14, 2020 to acquire Circle Elemental Composites and REDWOOD furniture. This brings truth to Hugo van der Kallen's desire to bring his ideas and designs to the market professionally. Hugo wants to shift his creative focus more to his role as a designer.

STARTUP TRIBOO CONTINUES STARTUP CIRCLE ELEMENTAL COMPOSITES

It started with a call from Hugo van der Kallen on LinkedIn in which he indicated that he had been trying to get his furniture line 'Circle' off the ground for a while. It had not succeeded and is now doing something else. He was looking for a circularly committed party or person who would like to see the idea through. Marc van der Heijden read this message and immediately responded to the post from his feelings. Like no other he understands how difficult it is to get from an innovative idea to a circular business model so you can support yourself and grow. There is a lot of hyping about start-ups but it is often hard for the entrepreneur both professionally and privately. Marc started TRIBOO 4 years ago to tackle the waste problem by making circular furniture from waste streams to furnish offices. With a small starting capital, a lot of research and development, many mistakes and learning, he skimmed past the precipice several times. By working long hours, persevering and keeping faith in his integral logistic vision of the circular economy and waste-free society, he succeeded step by step in building up a product range that now allows TRIBOO to grow and to cover its costs. It's still not very profitable but the end of the Death Valley Curve is in sight.

Marc sympathized greatly with Hugo and they immediately made an appointment to have coffee. Marc heard from Hugo the same story as he went through himself with the understanding that Hugo stopped because of all the setbacks that come with it. Especially the private sacrifices you have to make as an entrepreneur are very painful.  

CIRCLE ELEMENTAL COMPOSITES TURNS HEADS WITH TRIBOO

After Marc heard the story of what Hugo had been through and why he had stopped with the fantastic idea, it was clear to me. TRIBOO will take over all the ideas, designs and elements and will continue with this to professionally put this in the circular market. I will not let this beautiful idea go to waste and his name as a designer will always be associated with CIRCLE. Hugo van der Kallen will remain involved as an advisor and designer but will now mainly focus on his job at ECO+BOUW. An ecological construction company that advises, develops and builds.    

CIRCLE FITS PERFECTLY WITHIN TRIBOO'S INTEGRATED LOGISTICS VISION

Circle Elemental Composites was conceived by Hugo from an efficiency need and fits perfectly within Marc van der Heijden's integral logistics vision when it comes to circularity and modular furniture construction. Designing and making durable furniture that lasts a lifetime is easy. You can make any piece of furniture with the basic elements. And if you no longer want a chair but a sofa or a table then you take it apart and make that. For Marc, this is the beginning of a global community of people playing with the elementary building blocks of the innovative furniture system. Every part is interchangeable and retains value. And even if you didn't believe in a circular economy who would throw away something that has value. You share the elements with each other or bring them back to TRIBOO when you no longer use them. Any dream construction you can make. Just like LEGO but with furniture.  

REDWOOD ORIGINAL HANDCRAFTED FURNITURE IS REPOSITIONED

In addition, Marc van der Heijden has always had a fondness for furniture that originated from Mother Earth and was crafted with human hands into works of art. REDWOOD was also part of the takeover package and was used by Hugo to design and make handcrafted furniture from wood. Plans for how REDWOOD will be reintroduced to the market are currently being made. One thing is certain we will be producing spectacular furniture made by Dutch craftsmen on Dutch soil. Marc van der Heijden believes that circular economy is supported by local production. Not producing it abroad, transporting it over long distances and then offering it cheaply in the Netherlands with sustainable fake stories. MADE IN HOLLAND stands for innovation capacity and creating jobs in our own country and that is important and something to be proud of.

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