Hit Outdoor-Furniture Purveyor SunHaven Moves HQ from Los Angeles to Houston

Hit Outdoor-Furniture Purveyor SunHaven Moves HQ from Los Angeles to Houston

WHEN THE PANDEMIC first hit, many formerly lonely home patios across the country received face lifts by their newly housebound owners, who were eager to create comfortable environs in which they could enjoy some safe outdoor R&R while waiting for the world to open back up again.


Online outdoor furniture purveyor SunHaven, which just moved its national headquarters from Los Angeles to Houston, was one of the companies that benefited from that initial burst of frenetic outdoor nesting. It's a trend that seems to be holding up, as people who were initially forced to become housebound through strict quarantine policies are starting to realize that it's not so bad holing up (or even entertaining, for the bold!) at home in their newly comfy outdoor habitats.

Founded in 2017 by entrepreneur Michael Hillel, who set out to create a refined collection of outdoor furniture after seeing an opening in the home goods market for comfortable, versatile and fairly priced options, SunHaven has managed to grow from a modest $170,000 in sales in its first year to a projected $20 million in sales this year. Hillel hopes to continue growing those numbers as he and his four full-time employees settle into their new Texas digs.

"L.A. is beautiful, and the weather is fantastic, but it's extremely challenging to run a business there because it's very, very expensive. It's getting tougher and tougher to make it out there," says Hillel of the reasoning behind his company's big move. He settled on a space off 249 and the Beltway. "I love Texas because it is central to the country geographically. We're definitely planning on opening a distribution center here."

One of the things that has helped Hillel's outdoor furniture fly off the shelves — or at least pop into the online shopping carts of his customers — is that all of SunHaven's durable sets are fully modular, meaning that the pieces, which come in a variety of chic frame styles, can be set up in 50 different configurations.

"Everybody's outdoor space kind of looks a little bit different; they're shaped differently," says Hillel. "Customers can mix and match to find the perfect set to fit into their back yard.

"You have to win on your product that you offer. You have to deliver something that looks really great and that differentiates you from the other 20,000 products on the market at a price point that people are actually going to pay," he continues. "I think what we do better than anybody is we offer you the biggest bang for your buck."

Hillel aims to soon further his burgeoning patio-furniture empire's growth by launching a variety of ancillary products, mainly in the décor type of space — items like rugs, pillows and blankets — later this year to keep pace with the shifting demands of his customers. The addition of the décor items, says Hillel, will allow his customers to keep their patio spaces feeling fresh by allowing them to make little updates throughout the year without having to exchange out entire pieces of furniture, which is obviously the more expensive option.

Hillel, who graduated from law school before "falling into" the e-commerce biz, says he's seriously considering eventually opening up a SunHaven retail store in Houston. But before taking that giant leap, he plans on spending some time getting settled into Houston, which won out over Dallas as his company's new Texas-based headquarters.

"I just really enjoyed my time in Houston when I came to visit," says Hillel. "I love how ethnically and culturally diverse it is. The food scene is unbelievable — not to mention the cost of living. It's a very practical but amazing city to live in."

Home + Real Estate
Leadership in Action: Clothiers Murry and Karen Penner Celebrate Family Business’ 50-Year Anny

Murry & Karen Penner, Owners, M PENNER

How did you get where you are today? We’ve stayed true to the vision of the store’s founder, Morris Penner, who relentlessly sought out unique product, with exceptional quality being a key element. Morris always used to say, “The fastest way to lose a customer is to bore him” and we agree. A percentage of every season’s budget is allocated to something new and unique. While product is key, it’s not enough. Having an excellent staff and discipline in business practices is also critical.

Keep Reading Show less

EVEN THOUGH WE hope things cool down outside, some folks in Houston are about to get even hotter with the arrival of trendy fitness studio Ritual One next month in Uptown Park. The Dallas-based concept will offer classes like Power Sculpt, Hot Pilates, Power Yoga, Inferno Flow, and Inferno HIIT — all taking place in its infrared-heated studios.

Keep Reading Show less
Style

Evan and Kate Elsenbrook and Elyse and Drew Tolson

SUPPORTERS OF RONALD McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston gathered for a whimsically fun fete at the Hilton Americas hotel. The 2024 Boo Ball was themed "Once Upon a Time," and it raised a true happily-ever-after amount of $1 million — a new record!

Keep Reading Show less
Parties