October 16, 2025 • 52 mins
What if the best-looking thing on your patio was also the toughest and the most sustainable? We sit down with Lindsay Schleis, VP of Business Development at POLYWOOD, to trace how recycled HDPE becomes design-forward outdoor furniture that survives salt air, summer storms, and years of use—without sacrificing style or speed.
Lindsay takes us from laser sorters and UV-stable pellets to CNC-milled “lumber” and an on-demand, just‑in‑time factory that ships most orders in 7–10 business days. We dig into finishes that move beyond the classic Adirondack look—vintage textures and woodlike select tones—plus a Designer Series with hidden hardware made for architects and interior designers. Collaborations get their moment too: Martha Stewart’s Chinoiserie collection pushed POLYWOOD to extrude 24-inch boards and laser-cut intricate backs, unlocking cast-metal detail in a recyclable material.
We explore what matters most to coastal clients: real durability. From hurricane-tested testimonials to hospitality-grade testing that meets ASTM and BIFMA standards, the brand’s 20-year warranty is grounded in engineering and an in-house lab. You’ll hear how mixed materials—sling seats and woven accents—elevate comfort and silhouette, why the modern Edge collection is trending (with sectional options), and how the trade program streamlines specs, drop shipping, and soon COM cushions with new Sunbrella fabrics. Distribution spans DTC, retail, specialty dealers, the design trade, and hospitality worldwide, with U.S. manufacturing in Indiana and North Carolina reducing lead times.
We also swap ideas for what’s next—outdoor bars, towel returns, and cabana storage that match the same sustainability and performance. If you’re designing by the coast, outfitting a boutique hotel, or refreshing a backyard to actually last, this conversation is your blueprint for durable, beautiful outdoor living.
If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a design friend, and leave a quick review—then head to polywood.com to explore the Designer Program and sample what’s possible.
Learn more at:
https://twinteriors.com/podcast/
https://scottwoolley.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Voice Over (00:00):
This is iDesign Lab, a podcast where creativity and
curiosity meet style and design.
Curator of interiors,furnishings, and lifestyles.
Hosted by Tiffany Woolley, aninterior designer and a style
enthusiast, along with herserial entrepreneur husband
Scott.
iDesign Lab is your ultimatedesign podcast, where we explore
(00:20):
the rich and vibrant world ofdesign and its constant
evolution in style and trends.
Today on iDesign Lab, we'rejoined by Lindsay Schleis, Vice
President of BusinessDevelopment at Hollywood.
With over 15 years shaping thecasual furnishings industry,
Lindsay's design expertise hasbeen featured in architectural
digest, Forbes, and more.
(00:41):
She's a fierce advocate forsustainability and innovation,
and a mom of three who believesgreat design brings people
together.
Let's dive in.
Tiffany Woolley (00:51):
Welcome to the iDesign Lab podcast.
Today we are joined by LindsaySchleiss, the vice president of
business development atPolywood, which is a really
exciting brand that we're goingto get to dive into today and
learn a little bit more.
It is a Maid in America.
So let's um welcome Lindsay tothe podcast today.
Lindsay Schleis (01:13):
Thank you.
Thank you so much for havingus.
Scott Woolley (01:15):
Or me, so first thing we like to ask is tell us
just a little about yourself.
Lindsay Schleis (01:24):
Well, um I live in Madison, Wisconsin.
I grew up here in the greatstate, uh, the Midwest.
I'm a Midwest girl with me.
Um I uh went to college here,and then after college, I um did
(01:47):
some traveling.
I studied abroad in Costa Ricaand um landed a job out of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin that tookme out to New York City for a
little bit.
Um, ironically, like rightbefore I met my husband, and um
I say we we fell in love overthe old Nokia phone where my
(02:10):
entire per diem went to my uhcell phone bill back then.
Um but he lived here inMadison, and once I kind of did
that stint in New York City, weknew we wanted to settle down
and get married, and we bought ahouse and have three children
and a dog.
And um, yeah, that's that's me.
Tiffany Woolley (02:33):
So living the American dream.
Where did you dive into designindustry?
Where did your uh work collabcross over into the design
world?
Lindsay Schleis (02:46):
Uh I would say it wasn't until probably I
started with Hollywood that itreally crossed over.
Um, I've always had a passionfor design and style, living in
New York City, like you know, aMidwest girl in New York City.
It was just amazing.
And, you know, got to do a lotof really cool things there,
(03:07):
working with uh more of themagazine industry and the large
publications and just theexposure there.
Um and then when Polywood,Polywood recruited me about
eight years ago after I had beenin the outdoor furniture
industry for about eight yearsprior to that.
Tiffany Woolley (03:25):
And it's such a niche.
It's such a little niche thatyou are actually, you know, in
the outdoor furniture industry.
Lindsay Schleis (03:36):
Yes, yeah.
I say, you know, it's a reallylarge industry when it comes to
dollars, but it's pretty smallwhen you get to, you know, the
nitty-gritty and themanufacturers and the we're one
big family in this industry.
Tiffany Woolley (03:53):
I know.
And there's still so muchgrowth to be had, which is why
you know we like to tackle someof those conversations in this
podcast.
Okay, so keep telling us abouthow you came to Pollywood.
Lindsay Schleis (04:04):
Yeah.
So prior to Pollywood, I well,I started in the industry back
when I was trying to find a jobin Madison after we decided, you
know, we wanted to settle downhere, and I answered an ad in a
newspaper for a job posting,because that's what you did back
then.
That's so funny.
(04:24):
And um it was for uh a companythat did a joint venture in
China, actually.
So I was doing a lot ofinternational travel and
international work in theindustry.
Um they really gave me, youknow, a really great opportunity
to get my feet wet in alldifferent areas of the industry,
to be honest.
Um, and after eight years, Ihad had my second child and um
(04:51):
thought I wanted to stay athome.
I am a pretty driven,hardworking woman, and that was
really challenging for me.
So I but you knew there was away.
Yeah.
I joined another company andworked there for a little while
before I was recruited byPolywood.
(05:13):
And um I'd been doing a lot ofinternational travel, which I
loved, but was challenging withuh children at home.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um so yeah, uh I like to tellthe story about my you know, my
first interview at Polywood.
It's an amazing homegrowncompany, you know.
(05:36):
Uh it's it's truly like theAmerican dream.
I mean, really, you know, whatthey've created.
But I was coming from kind ofmore of a higher-end brand and
you know, very fashion forwarddriven, and um it's about a
five-hour drive from Madison toPollywood's headquarters.
(05:57):
And you're driving throughlike, I mean, flat cornfields,
country, country road.
The country.
Yeah.
Scott Woolley (06:05):
They're and they're in Indiana, correct?
Lindsay Schleis (06:07):
Yeah, Syracuse, Indiana.
And I was like, what am Idoing?
You know, I've been mycompanies were all in big
cities, and you know, what am Idoing here?
And I got to the the facilityand they started the interview
actually by giving me a tour ofthe manufacturing facility, and
(06:29):
I I finished that tour, and Iwas just like, Where do I sign?
How do I make this happen?
It was it was really cool.
Tiffany Woolley (06:37):
So and what was it that impressed you so much?
Was it the team effort or thethe product itself, or just what
was being built from the groundup?
Lindsay Schleis (06:47):
I think it was a little bit of everything, to
be honest.
Um the factory is built, it'sbuilt on a just-in-time
inventory model, so noinventory.
Wow, and just the thetechnology and the process, and
I was just like, there is justso much here.
(07:07):
There's so much potential.
And it was a product, too,that's built on sustainability
and a lifestyle, if that makessense.
Like it's it's really we'reselling a lifestyle and a
sustainable way.
So it's a product that I couldget behind, you know, something
(07:28):
that's gonna last longer than Iwill.
Right.
That's a lot.
Yeah, it was just it's very itwas very meaningful, if that
makes sense.
Scott Woolley (07:37):
So let's dive in.
Let's talk about who isPolywood, what do they make, and
what makes them so interestingas a furniture manufacturer,
outdoor.
Lindsay Schleis (07:49):
Um, well, where I don't even know where to
start.
Tiffany Woolley (07:54):
So tell them the one thing I would say, like
that I think with with Pollywoodis it's all the same material,
which for so if correct me ifI'm wrong, which were like so
many other outdoor brands,there's so many.
So the design really is thematerial to a degree.
Lindsay Schleis (08:13):
You're exactly right.
And it was really so it wasfounded back in the 1980s.
Out of necessity.
Yeah, government-mandatedrecycling programs were just
kind of starting.
And um our founder, co-founder,and CEO, Doug Rassey, is if you
(08:37):
get the chance to meet him, Imean, he is like the true
entrepreneur.
You know, I mean, he is justand he saw this overabundance of
plastic and was like, there'sgotta be something we can do
with this, something meaningful,right?
And um he, I think, was I don'tknow where he was, but he saw
(08:59):
an Adirondack chair, and he hadbeen, you know, for lack of a
better way of saying it, liketinkering in his garage with his
high school best friend overplastic.
Like, what can we do with this?
And in his garage, the firstAdirondack chair was formed.
Tiffany Woolley (09:17):
Oh my gosh, they that they say that's the
most successful way to start isin the garage.
Right?
Totally.
And like when they weretinkering, obviously the design
is a classic design.
Were they tinkering using thematerial like with stamping so
that it looks like what likewhat was there?
Lindsay Schleis (09:37):
Uh you know, to be honest, I'm not exactly sure
what they were doing.
They had to have been I I needto ask Doug the next time I see
them, but they happen to havebeen melting it.
Right.
Because to be honest, there's Imean, that's kind of the
foundation of the product.
It's made with high densitypolyethylene is actually the
(10:00):
plastic chemical substrate.
Okay.
So anything that you see with anumber two symbol on the bottom
of the plastic bottle, weactually recycle that.
Um, we have an our own in-houserecycling facility where we
bring in the garbage, the junk.
(10:21):
Yeah.
And we clean it, we shred it,we sort it.
We have laser sorters that, youknow, decipher the clear and
the white from the coloredplastic.
And from there it's uhpelletized, UV inhibitors are
added, and it's essentiallymelted down into lumber
profiles.
So think like two by fours,right?
(10:43):
Uh-huh.
And that is how polywood ismade.
Tiffany Woolley (10:47):
So that is fascinating.
I can see why you would becaptivated visiting the plant.
So when they introducedPollywood and like, or I guess
decided we've got a producthere, like we've got something
that's not only sustainable butlooks good, they obviously being
entrepreneurs went with it.
And I remember kind of thebeginning of the line, you know,
(11:11):
there was some colors also.
Like how like how did they growin such a short time?
Lindsay Schleis (11:19):
Um, well, I think that you know there was a
lot of um ups and downs, and Ithink, you know, I I wasn't with
the company at that time, but Iknow that it was boots on the
ground, and they were you knowselling a product, the East
(11:42):
Coast specifically, you know,all the way from the northern to
the southern east coast,Florida.
Um, the the product withstandsthe sea salt air.
Yeah, the idea like nothingelse.
It does.
And to be honest, I think likeback then it was the oh, like
the extruded plastic tubes thathad the sling over it.
(12:07):
I mean, that's the only thingthat really withstood the
weather on the cove.
And Pollywood was so much morebeautiful.
Um today we have our classicfinish that is what Pollywood
started with in 14 differentcolors.
Uh-huh.
Um, and then we've also addedour vintage finish and then our
(12:29):
new select finish, which aredifferent colors and a different
actual, you know, technologyprocess, chemical process for
making that lumber that looksmore like natural wood and gives
it a textural depth, you know,tonal depth, um, and just
elevates the finish a little bitmore.
(12:50):
But talking about colorsspecifically, you know, the
coast really loves all thosevibrant colors.
Right.
Um we we definitely yeah, it'siconic with polywood, I think.
I know.
Scott Woolley (13:02):
So there's multiple different styles of of
a wood design in that you knowuh sustainable um material, but
you also have you've gone farfrom anaerondic chairs, tables,
you've and you have so manydifferent other how many skews
do you have now?
Lindsay Schleis (13:22):
I think I mean I can confidently say we have
over a hundred thousand skews.
Wow.
Yeah.
And I mean what's even moremind-blowing about it is that we
don't really inventoryanything.
We inventory, you know, ourhigh velocity skews in you know,
Q3, Q4 here we're going intowhere we will, you know,
(13:42):
manufacture the sum, you know,for our for inventory.
But really what we inventory isour lumber.
Gotcha.
An order comes in and we pullthe lumber, it goes through a
CNC machine, and out the door itgoes.
Tiffany Woolley (13:58):
So, what is that process turnaround, that
timeline look like from an orderto so it depends on the
product.
Lindsay Schleis (14:07):
I would say seven to ten business days is
our standard meet time.
Um, obviously, for like largeprojects as an interior
designer, if you're designingsome, you know, a large project
with maybe over 40 or 50 itemson the order, it will be a
little bit longer.
Right.
Um we also introduced probablyuh five years ago now, we
(14:32):
introduced our designer series,which is a curated um it's got
three collections (14:39):
the estate collection, the elevate
collection, and the latitudecollection.
And it hits a level of designthat designers want.
Agreed, yes.
Um, it has like all of thehidden hardware.
The challenge with Hollywood isthat it is not true lumber, it
(15:02):
is a plastic lumber.
And so from a standpoint of,you know, it's it's not really
carvable.
Right.
Right.
So the designer series offersan elevated look to our product
(15:22):
that doesn't sacrifice any um,you know, our 20-year warranty.
It doesn't it doesn't sacrificehow it actions.
Yeah, yeah.
Scott Woolley (15:36):
We we live we're in South Florida.
And in South Florida, we'redoing lots of homes along the
ocean.
It's one of the biggestconcerns that most clients have
is what they're putting outside.
How long is it going to last?
Because you know so many housesjust putting a sink in the
backyard within two years, thestainless steel sink is is
(15:56):
rusting and rotting.
But with Polywood furniture ina backyard with sea water, you
know, the sea spray and soforth, there's nothing to worry
about.
Lindsay Schleis (16:05):
When I first started, we had customer
testimonials on our website.
And the one that sticks out is,you know, my home did not
withstand Hurricane Sandy, butmy Pollywood furniture did.
Scott Woolley (16:25):
I also think it's important to kind of discuss
the fact that when you think of,we've talked about the
Adirondack chair, people thinkabout that and they kind of look
at that and classify it, well,that's not the upscale look that
I'm looking for.
In my backyard, you have somany other alternatives and
options, you know, even from thethe sofas and and and couches
(16:46):
and so forth that you have havea don't have that what is it,
adirondic look kind of rustic.
Tiffany Woolley (16:53):
Rustic, yeah.
Scott Woolley (16:54):
Yeah.
Yeah.
But Pollywood goes much furtherthan that.
Tiffany Woolley (16:58):
There's definitely some refined pieces
for sure.
Lindsay Schleis (17:02):
Yeah.
And I think we just continue toelevate the look.
And it's really important to,you know, our brand as a whole
is to continue to be, you know,the leading innovator.
And um style is very important.
Scott Woolley (17:24):
Well, you have a collaboration with Martha
Stewart.
Tiffany Woolley (17:27):
We do.
Scott Woolley (17:28):
You have a collaboration with Draper James.
Yeah.
Tiffany Woolley (17:33):
So how do those come about?
And you know, uh that must befun for you with like the
fashion design world andobviously New York coming to
Hollywood.
Scott Woolley (17:46):
Is that are those something that are new or have
they been around for quite sometime?
Lindsay Schleis (17:51):
We launched, I can't remember which year we
launched, the Martha Stewartcollection.
I want to say maybe it was2022.
Okay.
Not that long ago.
Yeah, and it was reallyexciting working with her and
her team.
Um, you know, she doesn'tsettle.
Which is amazing.
That's awesome.
And so she actually helped umhelped push us to new
(18:17):
development processes.
And prior to uh prior to thethe Chinoiserie collection,
which is her her collection, thefirst collection in her
assortment with Pollywood, um,we were only extruding smaller,
I I want to say smaller boards.
(18:39):
I would say I think six incheswide or eight inches wide was
the largest board we wereextruding.
And with the the innovation ofher line, we now extrude a
24-inch wide board.
Wow.
And we laser cut the di theback design.
So that chinoisery detailing isall laser cut versus you know
(19:05):
individually hand you know,tooling each piece.
And so that was a majorinnovation that allows us to
achieve, I would say, almostlike you know, cast aluminum
looks in our back designs.
For sure.
So that was really exciting.
And I think um, you know, thesecond collection that we
(19:26):
launched with her, the AcadiaCollection, is just is very
iconic and um has taken us toplaces we you know we wouldn't
have necessarily gone to.
So it's been really fun.
Tiffany Woolley (19:40):
What a like a great growth, you know, to
collaborate with somebody in theindustry who's you know so well
respected and obviously knownfor not settling.
How long is that process, youknow, when you guys decide to
collaborate with a designer andthen you know, coming up with
the designs and you guys doingthe innovative part to make it
(20:02):
happen within Pollywood?
Lindsay Schleis (20:04):
Yeah, I would say the what you know we are
able to react very quicklybecause we're, you know, we're
right here, but I think eachcollaboration is a little
different because it has to beright.
And sometimes that processtakes longer and sometimes um,
(20:24):
you know, it's pretty seamlessand easy.
So I would say it's a littledifferent for each collaboration
that we've done.
Um but you know, the Marthacollaboration I would say was
probably I would say it was aprobably about a good 12 months.
Tiffany Woolley (20:43):
Okay.
And then is it then where howwhat does your launch process
look like?
Is it like through a high pointor is it, you know, through
media and social media?
How does that process work?
Lindsay Schleis (20:56):
Yeah, it's um so we don't show at high point,
unfortunately.
Um the casual furnishingsindustry, their big show, is now
in Atlanta.
It was prior previously inChicago.
Okay.
Um, so typically we, you know,we try to coincide launches with
that show, but we also have thecapability to kind of like
(21:21):
launch product at any time.
We're not tied down tonecessarily a specific timeline.
Obviously, I think with poly wehave polywood.com and an
amazing, you know, PR team thatuh helps as well.
But to get impact in sales andattention, you really want to
(21:45):
launch, you know, prior to thespring peak season, if you will.
Tiffany Woolley (21:49):
Mm-hmm.
Scott Woolley (21:50):
That makes sense for the so you're in a lot of
retail um outlets across thecountry.
Do you have a trade program forthe design interior designers
to work with Polywood?
Lindsay Schleis (22:03):
We do.
We have a trade program fordesigners.
The applications onPollywood.com, kind of like all
the way at the bottom.
There's a link for anapplication.
And the the process right nowis really seamless.
Um we it's all done throughkind of a login on polywood.com,
(22:26):
so you're never having toreally wait for a quote or have
something bottlenecked, unlessit's like a very special
situation where you reach out tous and we help you, you know,
obviously, but it's veryseamless.
Scott Woolley (22:41):
So place placing an order through the website and
the fact that everything'spretty much from what you're
saying made on demand.
When well, how quickly does anitem go out or items go out?
Lindsay Schleis (22:54):
Um it sh typically everything ships
within seven to ten businessdays from the time of order.
Um with that being said, thedesigner series is about 20 to
25 days.
Um but most products, like 90%of our SKUs, I would say seven
to ten business days.
And you can drop ship anywhere.
(23:16):
So if you have a project, youknow, if your home base is
Florida, for example, but you'redoing a project in New Jersey,
you can drop ship the productright to the home or another
warehouse.
Yeah, to your warehouse.
Yes.
Tiffany Woolley (23:31):
And do you do cushions or COM any materials,
or do you strictly just yourproduct, Pollywood?
Lindsay Schleis (23:40):
Yeah, right now we're limited to our stock
line, but I would actually saywithin the next four to six
months we'll be able to do someCOM.
Tiffany Woolley (23:51):
Because I feel like the cushions, adding that
really also, you know, made theline appealing at least to a lot
of design professionals.
Lindsay Schleis (24:01):
Yes, absolutely.
And now we're getting ready tolaunch some new um fabrics in
our stock line with Sombrella.
So um some really beautifulthings coming up.
Tiffany Woolley (24:11):
So who is the team that you rely on as you
know, the VP of the businessdevelopment?
Do you have an in-house designteam, or how do you guys go
ahead and curate what's next?
Lindsay Schleis (24:25):
Yeah, we have an amazing design team.
Um, it consists of, oh, I wantto say there's probably 10
people.
Um, but then they work veryclosely with our engineering
team.
So I think that was also one ofthe things that really like
drew me to Pollywood when I didmy interview process and walked
(24:48):
through the the factory tour andthe facility tour, is how
closely that they work together.
And we also have our ownin-house testing labs.
So nothing is just designed andput out there for lack of a
what do you mean by testing lab?
Um we have a full in-housetesting lab that we put our
(25:10):
products through so that theyall meet or exceed the ASTM and
BIFMA standards.
So we have, you know, the uhweight testing, the we've got it
all.
Tiffany Woolley (25:23):
Weather, weather, a hurricane machine.
Lindsay Schleis (25:28):
Yeah.
So our design team will designsomething, right?
And then our engineering teamwill engineer a sample, and then
it goes right to testing.
And if it fails, like if thestreet uh seat strength is not
strong enough, it will go backto design.
And they will redesign it withyou know seat strength as an
(25:54):
improvement to the design, andthen it goes back to engineering
and back to testing.
And so nothing leaves ourfacility that is not fully
tested.
Scott Woolley (26:03):
But I see that you have products now that
aren't just the compositematerial.
You have the sling, I guess youcall it, material.
You have um there's some othermaterials that you're using now
in your products.
Lindsay Schleis (26:19):
Aaron Ross Powell Yeah, we have some uh
woven accents like in ourrocking chairs that we've
actually um had in our line forquite some time.
We are getting ready to previewit in September at September
Casual Market in the form of awoven seat bucket in a couple of
our collections.
So I know you know we weretalking a little bit earlier
(26:42):
that the entire chair or theentire collection is Polywood.
We're we're just elevating thelook a little bit when you are
able to introduce mixedmaterials.
Tiffany Woolley (26:53):
I agree, for sure, without a doubt.
Do you ever retire SKUs or doyou guys, you know, just keep
adding?
We we'll retire some.
But we we're better at adding.
I like that.
That's that's a good full.
I like that's what I alwayssay, just keep adding more, you
(27:16):
know, especially if you make ondemand.
Lindsay Schleis (27:19):
Yes.
Tiffany Woolley (27:19):
So what does that process look like when you
say making on demand?
The order gets received.
Walk us through that thosesteps.
Lindsay Schleis (27:29):
Yeah.
So the order comes in and itgoes into our software system,
you know, and in ourmanufacturing facility, the
order will pop up on a screen,and they essentially, I mean,
that to fulfill that order,let's say it's a the Chippendale
seven-piece dining set, right?
(27:50):
The table goes to one cell, thechairs go to another cell, they
pull the lumber, and there areCNC machines right there that
they cut, you know, the lumberfor, and then the order is
essentially shipped out thedoor.
(28:11):
So it's it's very, veryseamless, and it's all on
demand.
Tiffany Woolley (28:16):
Kind of like you place an order like at a
fast food restaurant.
You know, it's kind of likeit's it's definitely an
interesting process.
So what about the designinfluences?
Going back to that again.
So with PR, you said you have agreat PR team, uh, you know, in
social media, how often or howdo you use influencers or PR to
(28:43):
get the brand and grow itoutside?
Lindsay Schleis (28:46):
Yeah, for sure.
We have a full, you know, wehave an influencer program that
we work with, you know, not justnecessarily designers, but
maybe a lifestyle influencer oran outdoor gardening enthusiast
or um, you know, we've done somecollaborations like with
Blackstone Girls, you know, justthat outdoor like living space,
(29:08):
right?
Right.
Style of living.
Um, so yeah, we have aninfluencer program that we use.
Um a lot of it is you know,based on content that we're able
to then, you know, repurposeand use.
Yes, for sure.
Um and then from a PRstandpoint, I mean, anytime
(29:31):
there's like new productlaunches, or if we're working
with, you know, a really largeinfluencer, you know, they have
you know different outlet mediaoutlets that they they go to.
And um yeah.
Tiffany Woolley (29:45):
It's such a fun process now.
Like, I mean, even as an enduser and a designer, like I love
using uh seeing how other youknow, people show the product.
It kind of really helps for aclient to visualize also.
Lindsay Schleis (29:59):
Yeah, it really does.
It's really fun to see howpeople interpret, you know, the
furniture and what they can dowith it.
Scott Woolley (30:08):
Are there any particular SKUs or items that
are really popular?
Lindsay Schleis (30:14):
More so than others that I would say you
know, our Edge collection isprobably trending as our most
popular collection right now.
Scott Woolley (30:30):
And what is the Edge collection?
Lindsay Schleis (30:32):
Um the Edge collection is a little bit more
modern.
Scott Woolley (30:36):
Modern.
Lindsay Schleis (30:37):
Yeah.
The name says the Arms Mirrorhas like a sled-based design.
So it just, you know, it's it'sbeautiful.
And in the new select finish,oh my gosh, it's so pretty.
Yeah, and we're also launched,so we've just launched that with
Sling.
Okay.
(30:57):
Um, a sling seat.
And then also we'll belaunching it with a woven seat
bucket as well.
And it also the deep seatingcomes in a sectional, which I
think is trending.
I mean, I think it it's beentrending for a long time, but
it's not going up style.
Tiffany Woolley (31:17):
No, and it's so cool that you can see the
market and you know, add to itas you need also regarding yeah.
Like knowing the edge line, youknow, is such a hot ticket.
And then you can obviouslychange it up with these other
materials and you know, offer itin other ways.
(31:38):
And all of that is, you know,in this made-to-order quick
turnaround list.
Scott Woolley (31:45):
It is, yeah.
Are there any challenges thatPollywood has, you know, in
terms of getting educatingconsumers out there about the
sustainability, thecraftsmanship?
Lindsay Schleis (31:58):
Um, I think we had a lot of challenges.
I wouldn't say necessarilychallenges.
It was just an evolution oflike how to tell our story.
Educate people.
Yeah.
And back when you know, backwhen we first started in the
90s, it was like the milk drugcompany.
(32:19):
Because that's what peoplerecycled was their recycle your
milk jugs, right?
There wasn't like thesingle-use plastic is more
popular now than ever before.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
Right.
Lindsay Schleis (32:30):
And so, you know, the evolution of telling
our story and the all, you know,it's so much different when you
see it in person.
Like when you see it in person,it's so impactful.
But how do you then tell thatstory?
And that's where we reallytapped into our influencers and
our designers.
(32:50):
And you know, we had CarsonCressley and Tom Felicia out.
I'll have to send you guys thevideo of it if you have not
watched it.
So fun.
But like, you know, tellingthat story from someone that's
not a Pollywood employee, youknow, I could talk about it for
days.
And it's like it's genuine, butlike for someone else to tell
(33:14):
your story in a genuine way isway more impactful.
Tiffany Woolley (33:21):
They would they definitely will make people
listen in the design world,especially.
Lindsay Schleis (33:27):
Yeah.
I don't think I've ever laughedso hard the whole day.
The whole time.
Scott Woolley (33:32):
So to what extent is Pollywood available to the
consumer?
Is it nationwide?
Is it all over North America?
Is it outside of North America?
To what extent has Polywoodgrown as a brand?
Lindsay Schleis (33:44):
Yeah, we've grown very we've continued to,
you know, experience acceleratedgrowth, which is amazing.
Um right now we sell in, Iwould say all channels of
distribution, if you will.
So, you know, direct toconsumer on polywood.com.
Um, you know, we have nationalaccount retail and e-commerce,
specialty retail, so your youknow, your dealers, um, interior
(34:11):
design community, thecommercial trade community,
hospitality, you know, thatwhole area.
Tiffany Woolley (34:18):
Yeah.
Lindsay Schleis (34:19):
Yeah.
Um from an internationalperspective, really, we we do
have, I want to say it's aboutmaybe uh 40 international
dealers.
Um, and you know, we shipcontainers over to Europe or um
Mexico, Canada, and um they sellthe Caribbean, I think.
(34:40):
You know, we've got a lot ofdemand there.
Right now, all of ourmanufacturing is in the United
States.
Um so really that growth isthrough our dealer base right
now.
Tiffany Woolley (34:53):
And the manufacturing is still done in
Indiana?
Lindsay Schleis (34:57):
Yes, it's all in um Syracuse, Indiana, which
is our headquarters.
And then we also opened asecond facility in Roxboro,
North Carolina.
And that facility, you know,it's just it's closer to the
East Coast, so it reduces leadtimes from a shipping standpoint
to to facilitate you know thoseorders.
Tiffany Woolley (35:23):
So interesting.
So what do you think is nextfor Pollywood?
Is the uh a co-owner or theco-creators are they still at
the helm?
Lindsay Schleis (35:35):
Yeah, Doug Rassi is very much still
involved.
Um he, you know, I I don't knowhow long he'll be involved, you
know.
He's um I can't imaginePollywood without him.
I bet yeah.
Yeah.
Tiffany Woolley (35:53):
Is there any gener next generation ready to
take the reins?
Lindsay Schleis (35:58):
Yeah, he's got some family that works in uh you
know, in the company and reallyestablished just really great
leadership andcross-departmental, you know,
co-working.
And I I think you know, thenext phase for Pollywood is
really what products we haven'ttapped into yet.
Um we're looking, you know,with the commercial side of
(36:23):
things, you know, just all allof the different things that,
you know, towel returns.
Um Wow.
I mean that's entertainmentcenters for cabanas, you know,
just like there's there's somuch out there.
Right.
Um outdoor structures.
Tiffany Woolley (36:39):
Oh, structures are hu could be huge too.
Lindsay Schleis (36:42):
Yeah, yeah.
So I think, you know, that'sthat's where Polly would, you
know, just the evolution and thegrowth will continue.
Tiffany Woolley (36:51):
So is it patented, the actual process or
the material?
Lindsay Schleis (36:56):
Um yes, I believe that you know that I
should know the answer to thatquestion, but it it is patented,
I believe.
I mean it's a proprietaryprocess for sure.
Scott Woolley (37:07):
Are there any new lines or collaborations coming
out that you can talk about?
Tiffany Woolley (37:19):
We understand if some of them are kept quiet
until it's time, but yeah, Ican't really jump all Jenny and
But there's some fun thingscooking.
Scott Woolley (37:29):
But people should be looking because it's always
things coming up.
Yeah, that's right.
Tiffany Woolley (37:34):
So I also when you know I always think of this
business and this industrysomewhat untapped, and there's
still so much growth.
Obviously, you just mentioned afew of where Pollywood's gonna
grow.
As for you in the industry andbeing able to work from home as
a mom of three, what does yourdaily juggle look like or your
(37:56):
daily task for you know stayingpresent to Pollywood, but kind
of having it all.
Lindsay Schleis (38:04):
Yeah, it is, I know.
And I think that, you know, weI grew up in a era where, you
know, women can do it all.
Right.
And you know, we we do a lot,but we can't do it all.
No, we try.
Tiffany Woolley (38:20):
No one can.
No.
The juggle struggle, I call it.
Lindsay Schleis (38:24):
Yeah, it is, it is.
I think, you know, we with Ihave three kids that are in a
lot of activities, and summer isdifficult.
It's definitely challenging.
Um, but we ask for help a lotwhen it comes to the family, and
I have, you know, a reallysupportive husband and a really
(38:45):
supportive family, too, to behonest.
I mean, I travel quite a bit.
So you do travel a lot.
Yeah, I do, I do.
And I think it's importantthough that my children,
especially I've got twodaughters, and even my for my
son to see, you know, that momworks hard and she she might
leave and she always comes back.
(39:07):
And it's important to see them,you know, seeing me in a
position of leadership.
And you know, I think I thinkit's really important.
And yeah, but my daily, youknow, uh oftentimes I'll go to
bed at night and I look at thecalendar for the next day and
(39:27):
like, whoo, how are we gonna dothis?
But we do it, and um yeah, it'sI wouldn't have it any other
way.
That's for sure.
Tiffany Woolley (39:36):
And and it's just wonderful that you know
Pollywood is off, you know, hasthis opportunity, you know, to
work in both ways.
Scott Woolley (39:45):
It is so as head of business development, are you
out kind of looking like I'lluse an example.
We were just recently in Maui,and the resort we were staying
at along the beach and and inthe kind of the grass dairy away
from the pool had a lot ofchairs, kind of an anaerondec
chairs and tables and whatnot.
(40:06):
I'm guessing they were probablypolywood because they were the
that you know the sustainablematerial.
They weren't made of wood.
You know, so I think of likewho sold all those chairs and
all that furniture to thatresort.
Is that something like what youwould do with business
development?
Getting into, you know.
Lindsay Schleis (40:24):
Yeah, for sure.
Scott Woolley (40:26):
Big sales like that?
Lindsay Schleis (40:27):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
Yeah, I am um in sales, salesmode all the time.
Um we're actually we're headedto gather the ASID conference on
the home right.
Yep.
So we'll be there and uh I'llbe working.
We're we've got a littleexhibition booth there.
Scott Woolley (40:50):
So trying to get in front of trying to get in
front of interior designers.
Lindsay Schleis (40:55):
Yes, and commercial, you know,
hospitality, that side of thebusiness is a real um focus for
us in terms of growth right now.
Um we we're hiring and have adedicated team to that segment.
Scott Woolley (41:09):
Yeah, our podcast, a large percentage of
the listeners and viewers areinterior designers or in the
sort of interior design world.
Lindsay Schleis (41:18):
Yeah, yes.
Yeah, it's a big focus for us.
And we'll be at BDNY inNovember.
Um and then we turn around andgo back to Atlanta.
We you know, our flagshipshowroom is there in Atlanta.
We relocated in a few years agowhen the market relocated from
(41:42):
Chicago to Atlanta.
We invested in a beautifulshowroom there.
Um so we do all of the showsthat come through America's
Mart.
And so we'll be there and inDallas, and then um HD Expo is
another big one that we'll beat.
Okay.
(42:02):
So there's not at Cavas yet,but I have a feeling that might
might come.
Scott Woolley (42:08):
And you said you'd you don't you're not at
high point?
Lindsay Schleis (42:11):
We're not.
We try to support the market asmuch as we can.
Scott Woolley (42:15):
Uh-huh.
Lindsay Schleis (42:16):
It was really difficult.
We were going to go there, andthen the casual market moved to
Atlanta.
And so where is the nextshowroom for Pollywood?
I don't know right now, but Iwould say it's hard there the
proximity of the two, eventhough they're different.
Scott Woolley (42:33):
Yeah, so do you have more showrooms than
Atlanta?
Are there any other cities thatare headquarters?
Lindsay Schleis (42:43):
We were in Las Vegas and we've sh been in
Dallas before.
Um we do a lot of the tradeshows that require temporary so
a lot of investment in that.
And yeah, in logistics too.
Tiffany Woolley (43:02):
Moving those moving pieces around.
And for the brick and mortarstores, like say retail, do you
require them to put a certainamount of pieces on the floor at
all time, or how does that sothat's one thing, you know, we
don't require a deep investmentin their inventory because of
(43:25):
our models.
Lindsay Schleis (43:26):
So, you know, we there's no reason for you as
a store to overbuy, right?
For lack of a better way ofsaying it, when we are a
just-in-time manufacturer andcan fulfill orders on demand.
Um, but with that said, youknow, the growth from being
known as, let's say, theAdirondack Chair Company, right,
(43:48):
to where we are today, I mean,that really came a lot, you
know, from our specialty dealersand retail partners.
Scott Woolley (43:58):
Has Pollywood ever done custom orders or
custom uh interior designercomes and says we'd like to get
three of these, whatever itmight be, made, can you
facilitate it?
Lindsay Schleis (44:11):
But not a quantity of three, sadly.
I would say if it's maybe overfifty or a hundred, we could um
we could explore it or look atit.
We a lot of our requests we getare like for you know, in
engraving like the back of abench or something.
Um it's gotta be a largerorder.
(44:35):
And color is definitelyprobably a no.
It's to develop a new color.
Color is like, I mean, youknow, it's thousands of hours of
reach research and developmentthat are I mean, it's chemistry,
it's all that's what it is.
It's it's crazy to think,right?
Scott Woolley (44:54):
You think it's just plastic, but it's yeah, you
just add some food coloringhere and it's interesting in the
in the manufacturing processthat you have.
You have the ability, and Ithink of it because we're
involved in a tequila company,and I was involved in another
tequila company helping it growyears ago, and they were each
(45:16):
bottle was as it was being made,they were numbering the
bottles.
The fact that you're makingfurniture as it's being ordered,
you could be giving each pieceof furniture its own personal
serial number.
So it now has like a anotherintrinsic value to it because
it's like a s it's a one of orof so many.
Lindsay Schleis (45:37):
Yeah, well, and we to some degree we do that,
actually.
They have like a VIN number.
And it's more for qualitycontrol.
Speaker 4 (45:46):
Uh-huh.
Lindsay Schleis (45:46):
So if there's a defect or if anything goes
wrong with the product, we'reable to track it back to the
exact like lot of lumber that itwas made from and the exact
machine that it was produced on,so that we're able to improve
the quality likeinstantaneously.
unknown (46:05):
Right.
Scott Woolley (46:07):
Yeah, I think of you you put a little certificate
with each thing that goes out.
This is your custom-madepersonal, you know, chair,
table, whatever it might be.
I think a lot of people mightfind that to be like, wow, I got
my own custom made.
unknown (46:22):
Yeah.
Scott Woolley (46:22):
Because you really are making you really are
making it custom made foreveryone, what it seems like.
Lindsay Schleis (46:30):
Yeah, that's a good idea.
I love that.
It's all about the experience,the consumer experience, right?
Yeah.
Trevor Burrus, Jr.
Scott Woolley (46:37):
It's something else that people will talk
about.
They'll tell their friends, oh,this is custom-made for me.
This is you know my personalnumber.
And a lot of people like likethat.
Lindsay Schleis (46:48):
We might have to we might have to take that
back to the creative marketingteam.
Scott Woolley (46:55):
You know, you think about like a painting, and
then the artist takes thepainting and they have 150
lithographs made and they'reeach individually numbered.
You know, but they're beingmade by a printer.
They're not the by the artist,but there's still enormous value
because there's only 150 ofthem made.
Lindsay Schleis (47:12):
Yeah, absolutely.
I don't know.
I want one of those bottles oftequila you were talking about.
Tiffany Woolley (47:18):
Yeah, well, you can have cue up on that.
This is a funny question.
If you could reinvent anyeveryday outdoor object out of
Pollywood, what would youchoose?
Lindsay Schleis (47:31):
Ooh, that's a good one.
Tiffany Woolley (47:34):
Um I liked the garbage towel recycle idea.
Yeah.
What's that?
Lindsay Schleis (47:39):
You know, I know it's not even possible, but
if we could figure out a way todo a grill, that would be so
cool.
Scott Woolley (47:46):
Well, I'll tell you one that I wish that you
guys would make.
Is that, and it just just goesback to our backyard in our
house.
And I forget where we got itmade.
It was made of teak.
It was it's a beautiful bar.
It's about six feet long andit's normal bar height, you
know, with shelves andeverything underneath it.
But over the last number ofyears, it's kind of deteriorated
(48:07):
and because it's made of wood.
But I love the the bar in ourbackyard.
It's like so it's used so much.
We got a great umbrella overit, like 11-foot.
And I think of Pollywood, man,if they could make a bar like
outdoor bars.
We might have to just do that.
Tiffany Woolley (48:26):
I was gonna say maybe we would I'll help design
it.
I'd be the first one to buy oneimmediately.
We could be your tri trial.
That sounds great.
Yeah, because they were submita request to my design team as
soon as we hang on.
I know, right?
Scott Woolley (48:43):
That's such a I mean, that is and it's just
strips of, you know, what wehave with this there are strips
of teak, but it's so difficultto like who's gonna maintain the
teak and over and and and likelike you mentioned the salt
water and whatnot in Florida, itdeteriorated and it was
probably like three thousanddollars when we bought it.
Speaker 4 (49:03):
Yeah.
Scott Woolley (49:04):
Today it's Tiffany wants to get rid of it.
I'm like, no.
But Polly would be be would befantastic if something.
Lindsay Schleis (49:11):
It really would.
Tiffany Woolley (49:12):
We'll get you a replacement so I think that
would be I think that's a good tplace to kind of wrap up
because I think that would be areally great idea.
We need to maybe go tacklethat.
Scott Woolley (49:28):
No, it's the it's more of the outdoor
entertaining.
You know, and especially, youknow, we're located in Florida.
Outdoor entertaining is 12months a year.
Speaker 4 (49:38):
Absolutely.
Scott Woolley (49:39):
It's uh it's a big focus that every client that
we have, you know.
Lindsay Schleis (49:44):
Absolutely.
We just launched bar carts.
We've got three differentdesigns of bar carts.
But I think the bar is thenext.
Scott Woolley (49:51):
I'm gonna send you some pictures.
Tiffany Woolley (49:53):
Yeah, we'll send you a great idea.
A sketch of it.
Scott Woolley (49:57):
Because I I see the places where Polly is sold
here in South Florida, and Iknow that almost all the places
that sell it would sell the bar.
Tiffany Woolley (50:06):
Because I think it was And with it being on
like, you know, created ondemand.
I mean you could do the samebar skew, but with four feet,
five feet, six feet, you know,like just so easily.
Scott Woolley (50:19):
And I think that we originally I think we
originally bought it fromPottery Barn.
And they no longer they haveother styles, but the the styles
they have are just aren't thatgreat.
Tiffany Woolley (50:32):
And it was kind of out of a necessity.
We actually have a beautifulsummer kitchen area in our
house, but we were having aparty and wanted to have like a
destination bar.
So we kind of, you know, did itand never it never left.
Lindsay Schleis (50:50):
I love it.
Well, and it is it's alifestyle.
I mean, I think that's you knowoutdoor living is it's a
lifestyle.
Tiffany Woolley (50:58):
And well, and the high top too, it kind of
gives another, you know, a lotof people for balconies and
everything like that.
It gives it it's another theylike having that higher seating.
Yes.
Instead of just a table, itcould be at a bar.
Scott Woolley (51:14):
Yeah, I love it.
Well, we really appreciate youjoining us today.
Lindsay Schleis (51:20):
Yes, thank you for having me.
This has been really fun.
Scott Woolley (51:23):
Right?
Tiffany Woolley (51:23):
It is fun.
Scott Woolley (51:24):
So for more people who are interested in in
Pollywood, it's polywood.com.
Yep.
And there's a search on yourwebsite for finding retailers
that are you know in everyone'svicinity.
That will help guide people tosee the product line.
Tiffany Woolley (51:41):
And I love your Instagram too.
I do follow Pollywood, and Ithink it's it's you know, it
definitely represents theproduct very well.
Lindsay Schleis (51:51):
Thank you.
Yes, we we try hard, and if youwant to apply for the designer
program, the applications at thein a link at the bottom of our
homepage.
Pollywood.com.
Tiffany Woolley (52:04):
Well, thank you so much, Lindsay, for joining
us.
Enjoy the rest of summertime.
Thank you.
Scott Woolley (52:11):
Thank you.
Tiffany Woolley (52:12):
Thanks.
Bye bye.
Bye bye.
Voice Over (52:18):
iDesign Labs Podcast is an SW group production in
association with the five starand TW Interiors.
To learn more about iDesign Labor TW Interiors, please visit
TWinteriors.com.
This is iDesign Lab, a podcast where creativity and
curiosity meet style and design.
Curator of interiors,furnishings, and lifestyles.
Hosted by Tiffany Woolley, aninterior designer and a style
enthusiast, along with herserial entrepreneur husband
Scott.
iDesign Lab is your ultimatedesign podcast, where we explore
(00:20):
the rich and vibrant world ofdesign and its constant
evolution in style and trends.
Today on iDesign Lab, we'rejoined by Lindsay Schleis, Vice
President of BusinessDevelopment at Hollywood.
With over 15 years shaping thecasual furnishings industry,
Lindsay's design expertise hasbeen featured in architectural
digest, Forbes, and more.
(00:41):
She's a fierce advocate forsustainability and innovation,
and a mom of three who believesgreat design brings people
together.
Let's dive in.
Tiffany Woolley (00:51):
Welcome to the iDesign Lab podcast.
Today we are joined by LindsaySchleiss, the vice president of
business development atPolywood, which is a really
exciting brand that we're goingto get to dive into today and
learn a little bit more.
It is a Maid in America.
So let's um welcome Lindsay tothe podcast today.
Lindsay Schleis (01:13):
Thank you.
Thank you so much for havingus.
Scott Woolley (01:15):
Or me, so first thing we like to ask is tell us
just a little about yourself.
Lindsay Schleis (01:24):
Well, um I live in Madison, Wisconsin.
I grew up here in the greatstate, uh, the Midwest.
I'm a Midwest girl with me.
Um I uh went to college here,and then after college, I um did
(01:47):
some traveling.
I studied abroad in Costa Ricaand um landed a job out of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin that tookme out to New York City for a
little bit.
Um, ironically, like rightbefore I met my husband, and um
I say we we fell in love overthe old Nokia phone where my
(02:10):
entire per diem went to my uhcell phone bill back then.
Um but he lived here inMadison, and once I kind of did
that stint in New York City, weknew we wanted to settle down
and get married, and we bought ahouse and have three children
and a dog.
And um, yeah, that's that's me.
Tiffany Woolley (02:33):
So living the American dream.
Where did you dive into designindustry?
Where did your uh work collabcross over into the design
world?
Lindsay Schleis (02:46):
Uh I would say it wasn't until probably I
started with Hollywood that itreally crossed over.
Um, I've always had a passionfor design and style, living in
New York City, like you know, aMidwest girl in New York City.
It was just amazing.
And, you know, got to do a lotof really cool things there,
(03:07):
working with uh more of themagazine industry and the large
publications and just theexposure there.
Um and then when Polywood,Polywood recruited me about
eight years ago after I had beenin the outdoor furniture
industry for about eight yearsprior to that.
Tiffany Woolley (03:25):
And it's such a niche.
It's such a little niche thatyou are actually, you know, in
the outdoor furniture industry.
Lindsay Schleis (03:36):
Yes, yeah.
I say, you know, it's a reallylarge industry when it comes to
dollars, but it's pretty smallwhen you get to, you know, the
nitty-gritty and themanufacturers and the we're one
big family in this industry.
Tiffany Woolley (03:53):
I know.
And there's still so muchgrowth to be had, which is why
you know we like to tackle someof those conversations in this
podcast.
Okay, so keep telling us abouthow you came to Pollywood.
Lindsay Schleis (04:04):
Yeah.
So prior to Pollywood, I well,I started in the industry back
when I was trying to find a jobin Madison after we decided, you
know, we wanted to settle downhere, and I answered an ad in a
newspaper for a job posting,because that's what you did back
then.
That's so funny.
(04:24):
And um it was for uh a companythat did a joint venture in
China, actually.
So I was doing a lot ofinternational travel and
international work in theindustry.
Um they really gave me, youknow, a really great opportunity
to get my feet wet in alldifferent areas of the industry,
to be honest.
Um, and after eight years, Ihad had my second child and um
(04:51):
thought I wanted to stay athome.
I am a pretty driven,hardworking woman, and that was
really challenging for me.
So I but you knew there was away.
Yeah.
I joined another company andworked there for a little while
before I was recruited byPolywood.
(05:13):
And um I'd been doing a lot ofinternational travel, which I
loved, but was challenging withuh children at home.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um so yeah, uh I like to tellthe story about my you know, my
first interview at Polywood.
It's an amazing homegrowncompany, you know.
(05:36):
Uh it's it's truly like theAmerican dream.
I mean, really, you know, whatthey've created.
But I was coming from kind ofmore of a higher-end brand and
you know, very fashion forwarddriven, and um it's about a
five-hour drive from Madison toPollywood's headquarters.
(05:57):
And you're driving throughlike, I mean, flat cornfields,
country, country road.
The country.
Yeah.
Scott Woolley (06:05):
They're and they're in Indiana, correct?
Lindsay Schleis (06:07):
Yeah, Syracuse, Indiana.
And I was like, what am Idoing?
You know, I've been mycompanies were all in big
cities, and you know, what am Idoing here?
And I got to the the facilityand they started the interview
actually by giving me a tour ofthe manufacturing facility, and
(06:29):
I I finished that tour, and Iwas just like, Where do I sign?
How do I make this happen?
It was it was really cool.
Tiffany Woolley (06:37):
So and what was it that impressed you so much?
Was it the team effort or thethe product itself, or just what
was being built from the groundup?
Lindsay Schleis (06:47):
I think it was a little bit of everything, to
be honest.
Um the factory is built, it'sbuilt on a just-in-time
inventory model, so noinventory.
Wow, and just the thetechnology and the process, and
I was just like, there is justso much here.
(07:07):
There's so much potential.
And it was a product, too,that's built on sustainability
and a lifestyle, if that makessense.
Like it's it's really we'reselling a lifestyle and a
sustainable way.
So it's a product that I couldget behind, you know, something
(07:28):
that's gonna last longer than Iwill.
Right.
That's a lot.
Yeah, it was just it's very itwas very meaningful, if that
makes sense.
Scott Woolley (07:37):
So let's dive in.
Let's talk about who isPolywood, what do they make, and
what makes them so interestingas a furniture manufacturer,
outdoor.
Lindsay Schleis (07:49):
Um, well, where I don't even know where to
start.
Tiffany Woolley (07:54):
So tell them the one thing I would say, like
that I think with with Pollywoodis it's all the same material,
which for so if correct me ifI'm wrong, which were like so
many other outdoor brands,there's so many.
So the design really is thematerial to a degree.
Lindsay Schleis (08:13):
You're exactly right.
And it was really so it wasfounded back in the 1980s.
Out of necessity.
Yeah, government-mandatedrecycling programs were just
kind of starting.
And um our founder, co-founder,and CEO, Doug Rassey, is if you
(08:37):
get the chance to meet him, Imean, he is like the true
entrepreneur.
You know, I mean, he is justand he saw this overabundance of
plastic and was like, there'sgotta be something we can do
with this, something meaningful,right?
And um he, I think, was I don'tknow where he was, but he saw
(08:59):
an Adirondack chair, and he hadbeen, you know, for lack of a
better way of saying it, liketinkering in his garage with his
high school best friend overplastic.
Like, what can we do with this?
And in his garage, the firstAdirondack chair was formed.
Tiffany Woolley (09:17):
Oh my gosh, they that they say that's the
most successful way to start isin the garage.
Right?
Totally.
And like when they weretinkering, obviously the design
is a classic design.
Were they tinkering using thematerial like with stamping so
that it looks like what likewhat was there?
Lindsay Schleis (09:37):
Uh you know, to be honest, I'm not exactly sure
what they were doing.
They had to have been I I needto ask Doug the next time I see
them, but they happen to havebeen melting it.
Right.
Because to be honest, there's Imean, that's kind of the
foundation of the product.
It's made with high densitypolyethylene is actually the
(10:00):
plastic chemical substrate.
Okay.
So anything that you see with anumber two symbol on the bottom
of the plastic bottle, weactually recycle that.
Um, we have an our own in-houserecycling facility where we
bring in the garbage, the junk.
(10:21):
Yeah.
And we clean it, we shred it,we sort it.
We have laser sorters that, youknow, decipher the clear and
the white from the coloredplastic.
And from there it's uhpelletized, UV inhibitors are
added, and it's essentiallymelted down into lumber
profiles.
So think like two by fours,right?
(10:43):
Uh-huh.
And that is how polywood ismade.
Tiffany Woolley (10:47):
So that is fascinating.
I can see why you would becaptivated visiting the plant.
So when they introducedPollywood and like, or I guess
decided we've got a producthere, like we've got something
that's not only sustainable butlooks good, they obviously being
entrepreneurs went with it.
And I remember kind of thebeginning of the line, you know,
(11:11):
there was some colors also.
Like how like how did they growin such a short time?
Lindsay Schleis (11:19):
Um, well, I think that you know there was a
lot of um ups and downs, and Ithink, you know, I I wasn't with
the company at that time, but Iknow that it was boots on the
ground, and they were you knowselling a product, the East
(11:42):
Coast specifically, you know,all the way from the northern to
the southern east coast,Florida.
Um, the the product withstandsthe sea salt air.
Yeah, the idea like nothingelse.
It does.
And to be honest, I think likeback then it was the oh, like
the extruded plastic tubes thathad the sling over it.
(12:07):
I mean, that's the only thingthat really withstood the
weather on the cove.
And Pollywood was so much morebeautiful.
Um today we have our classicfinish that is what Pollywood
started with in 14 differentcolors.
Uh-huh.
Um, and then we've also addedour vintage finish and then our
(12:29):
new select finish, which aredifferent colors and a different
actual, you know, technologyprocess, chemical process for
making that lumber that looksmore like natural wood and gives
it a textural depth, you know,tonal depth, um, and just
elevates the finish a little bitmore.
(12:50):
But talking about colorsspecifically, you know, the
coast really loves all thosevibrant colors.
Right.
Um we we definitely yeah, it'siconic with polywood, I think.
I know.
Scott Woolley (13:02):
So there's multiple different styles of of
a wood design in that you knowuh sustainable um material, but
you also have you've gone farfrom anaerondic chairs, tables,
you've and you have so manydifferent other how many skews
do you have now?
Lindsay Schleis (13:22):
I think I mean I can confidently say we have
over a hundred thousand skews.
Wow.
Yeah.
And I mean what's even moremind-blowing about it is that we
don't really inventoryanything.
We inventory, you know, ourhigh velocity skews in you know,
Q3, Q4 here we're going intowhere we will, you know,
(13:42):
manufacture the sum, you know,for our for inventory.
But really what we inventory isour lumber.
Gotcha.
An order comes in and we pullthe lumber, it goes through a
CNC machine, and out the door itgoes.
Tiffany Woolley (13:58):
So, what is that process turnaround, that
timeline look like from an orderto so it depends on the
product.
Lindsay Schleis (14:07):
I would say seven to ten business days is
our standard meet time.
Um, obviously, for like largeprojects as an interior
designer, if you're designingsome, you know, a large project
with maybe over 40 or 50 itemson the order, it will be a
little bit longer.
Right.
Um we also introduced probablyuh five years ago now, we
(14:32):
introduced our designer series,which is a curated um it's got
three collections (14:39):
the estate collection, the elevate
collection, and the latitudecollection.
And it hits a level of designthat designers want.
Agreed, yes.
Um, it has like all of thehidden hardware.
The challenge with Hollywood isthat it is not true lumber, it
(15:02):
is a plastic lumber.
And so from a standpoint of,you know, it's it's not really
carvable.
Right.
Right.
So the designer series offersan elevated look to our product
(15:22):
that doesn't sacrifice any um,you know, our 20-year warranty.
It doesn't it doesn't sacrificehow it actions.
Yeah, yeah.
Scott Woolley (15:36):
We we live we're in South Florida.
And in South Florida, we'redoing lots of homes along the
ocean.
It's one of the biggestconcerns that most clients have
is what they're putting outside.
How long is it going to last?
Because you know so many housesjust putting a sink in the
backyard within two years, thestainless steel sink is is
(15:56):
rusting and rotting.
But with Polywood furniture ina backyard with sea water, you
know, the sea spray and soforth, there's nothing to worry
about.
Lindsay Schleis (16:05):
When I first started, we had customer
testimonials on our website.
And the one that sticks out is,you know, my home did not
withstand Hurricane Sandy, butmy Pollywood furniture did.
Scott Woolley (16:25):
I also think it's important to kind of discuss
the fact that when you think of,we've talked about the
Adirondack chair, people thinkabout that and they kind of look
at that and classify it, well,that's not the upscale look that
I'm looking for.
In my backyard, you have somany other alternatives and
options, you know, even from thethe sofas and and and couches
(16:46):
and so forth that you have havea don't have that what is it,
adirondic look kind of rustic.
Tiffany Woolley (16:53):
Rustic, yeah.
Scott Woolley (16:54):
Yeah.
Yeah.
But Pollywood goes much furtherthan that.
Tiffany Woolley (16:58):
There's definitely some refined pieces
for sure.
Lindsay Schleis (17:02):
Yeah.
And I think we just continue toelevate the look.
And it's really important to,you know, our brand as a whole
is to continue to be, you know,the leading innovator.
And um style is very important.
Scott Woolley (17:24):
Well, you have a collaboration with Martha
Stewart.
Tiffany Woolley (17:27):
We do.
Scott Woolley (17:28):
You have a collaboration with Draper James.
Yeah.
Tiffany Woolley (17:33):
So how do those come about?
And you know, uh that must befun for you with like the
fashion design world andobviously New York coming to
Hollywood.
Scott Woolley (17:46):
Is that are those something that are new or have
they been around for quite sometime?
Lindsay Schleis (17:51):
We launched, I can't remember which year we
launched, the Martha Stewartcollection.
I want to say maybe it was2022.
Okay.
Not that long ago.
Yeah, and it was reallyexciting working with her and
her team.
Um, you know, she doesn'tsettle.
Which is amazing.
That's awesome.
And so she actually helped umhelped push us to new
(18:17):
development processes.
And prior to uh prior to thethe Chinoiserie collection,
which is her her collection, thefirst collection in her
assortment with Pollywood, um,we were only extruding smaller,
I I want to say smaller boards.
(18:39):
I would say I think six incheswide or eight inches wide was
the largest board we wereextruding.
And with the the innovation ofher line, we now extrude a
24-inch wide board.
Wow.
And we laser cut the di theback design.
So that chinoisery detailing isall laser cut versus you know
(19:05):
individually hand you know,tooling each piece.
And so that was a majorinnovation that allows us to
achieve, I would say, almostlike you know, cast aluminum
looks in our back designs.
For sure.
So that was really exciting.
And I think um, you know, thesecond collection that we
(19:26):
launched with her, the AcadiaCollection, is just is very
iconic and um has taken us toplaces we you know we wouldn't
have necessarily gone to.
So it's been really fun.
Tiffany Woolley (19:40):
What a like a great growth, you know, to
collaborate with somebody in theindustry who's you know so well
respected and obviously knownfor not settling.
How long is that process, youknow, when you guys decide to
collaborate with a designer andthen you know, coming up with
the designs and you guys doingthe innovative part to make it
(20:02):
happen within Pollywood?
Lindsay Schleis (20:04):
Yeah, I would say the what you know we are
able to react very quicklybecause we're, you know, we're
right here, but I think eachcollaboration is a little
different because it has to beright.
And sometimes that processtakes longer and sometimes um,
(20:24):
you know, it's pretty seamlessand easy.
So I would say it's a littledifferent for each collaboration
that we've done.
Um but you know, the Marthacollaboration I would say was
probably I would say it was aprobably about a good 12 months.
Tiffany Woolley (20:43):
Okay.
And then is it then where howwhat does your launch process
look like?
Is it like through a high pointor is it, you know, through
media and social media?
How does that process work?
Lindsay Schleis (20:56):
Yeah, it's um so we don't show at high point,
unfortunately.
Um the casual furnishingsindustry, their big show, is now
in Atlanta.
It was prior previously inChicago.
Okay.
Um, so typically we, you know,we try to coincide launches with
that show, but we also have thecapability to kind of like
(21:21):
launch product at any time.
We're not tied down tonecessarily a specific timeline.
Obviously, I think with poly wehave polywood.com and an
amazing, you know, PR team thatuh helps as well.
But to get impact in sales andattention, you really want to
(21:45):
launch, you know, prior to thespring peak season, if you will.
Tiffany Woolley (21:49):
Mm-hmm.
Scott Woolley (21:50):
That makes sense for the so you're in a lot of
retail um outlets across thecountry.
Do you have a trade program forthe design interior designers
to work with Polywood?
Lindsay Schleis (22:03):
We do.
We have a trade program fordesigners.
The applications onPollywood.com, kind of like all
the way at the bottom.
There's a link for anapplication.
And the the process right nowis really seamless.
Um we it's all done throughkind of a login on polywood.com,
(22:26):
so you're never having toreally wait for a quote or have
something bottlenecked, unlessit's like a very special
situation where you reach out tous and we help you, you know,
obviously, but it's veryseamless.
Scott Woolley (22:41):
So place placing an order through the website and
the fact that everything'spretty much from what you're
saying made on demand.
When well, how quickly does anitem go out or items go out?
Lindsay Schleis (22:54):
Um it sh typically everything ships
within seven to ten businessdays from the time of order.
Um with that being said, thedesigner series is about 20 to
25 days.
Um but most products, like 90%of our SKUs, I would say seven
to ten business days.
And you can drop ship anywhere.
(23:16):
So if you have a project, youknow, if your home base is
Florida, for example, but you'redoing a project in New Jersey,
you can drop ship the productright to the home or another
warehouse.
Yeah, to your warehouse.
Yes.
Tiffany Woolley (23:31):
And do you do cushions or COM any materials,
or do you strictly just yourproduct, Pollywood?
Lindsay Schleis (23:40):
Yeah, right now we're limited to our stock
line, but I would actually saywithin the next four to six
months we'll be able to do someCOM.
Tiffany Woolley (23:51):
Because I feel like the cushions, adding that
really also, you know, made theline appealing at least to a lot
of design professionals.
Lindsay Schleis (24:01):
Yes, absolutely.
And now we're getting ready tolaunch some new um fabrics in
our stock line with Sombrella.
So um some really beautifulthings coming up.
Tiffany Woolley (24:11):
So who is the team that you rely on as you
know, the VP of the businessdevelopment?
Do you have an in-house designteam, or how do you guys go
ahead and curate what's next?
Lindsay Schleis (24:25):
Yeah, we have an amazing design team.
Um, it consists of, oh, I wantto say there's probably 10
people.
Um, but then they work veryclosely with our engineering
team.
So I think that was also one ofthe things that really like
drew me to Pollywood when I didmy interview process and walked
(24:48):
through the the factory tour andthe facility tour, is how
closely that they work together.
And we also have our ownin-house testing labs.
So nothing is just designed andput out there for lack of a
what do you mean by testing lab?
Um we have a full in-housetesting lab that we put our
(25:10):
products through so that theyall meet or exceed the ASTM and
BIFMA standards.
So we have, you know, the uhweight testing, the we've got it
all.
Tiffany Woolley (25:23):
Weather, weather, a hurricane machine.
Lindsay Schleis (25:28):
Yeah.
So our design team will designsomething, right?
And then our engineering teamwill engineer a sample, and then
it goes right to testing.
And if it fails, like if thestreet uh seat strength is not
strong enough, it will go backto design.
And they will redesign it withyou know seat strength as an
(25:54):
improvement to the design, andthen it goes back to engineering
and back to testing.
And so nothing leaves ourfacility that is not fully
tested.
Scott Woolley (26:03):
But I see that you have products now that
aren't just the compositematerial.
You have the sling, I guess youcall it, material.
You have um there's some othermaterials that you're using now
in your products.
Lindsay Schleis (26:19):
Aaron Ross Powell Yeah, we have some uh
woven accents like in ourrocking chairs that we've
actually um had in our line forquite some time.
We are getting ready to previewit in September at September
Casual Market in the form of awoven seat bucket in a couple of
our collections.
So I know you know we weretalking a little bit earlier
(26:42):
that the entire chair or theentire collection is Polywood.
We're we're just elevating thelook a little bit when you are
able to introduce mixedmaterials.
Tiffany Woolley (26:53):
I agree, for sure, without a doubt.
Do you ever retire SKUs or doyou guys, you know, just keep
adding?
We we'll retire some.
But we we're better at adding.
I like that.
That's that's a good full.
I like that's what I alwayssay, just keep adding more, you
(27:16):
know, especially if you make ondemand.
Lindsay Schleis (27:19):
Yes.
Tiffany Woolley (27:19):
So what does that process look like when you
say making on demand?
The order gets received.
Walk us through that thosesteps.
Lindsay Schleis (27:29):
Yeah.
So the order comes in and itgoes into our software system,
you know, and in ourmanufacturing facility, the
order will pop up on a screen,and they essentially, I mean,
that to fulfill that order,let's say it's a the Chippendale
seven-piece dining set, right?
(27:50):
The table goes to one cell, thechairs go to another cell, they
pull the lumber, and there areCNC machines right there that
they cut, you know, the lumberfor, and then the order is
essentially shipped out thedoor.
(28:11):
So it's it's very, veryseamless, and it's all on
demand.
Tiffany Woolley (28:16):
Kind of like you place an order like at a
fast food restaurant.
You know, it's kind of likeit's it's definitely an
interesting process.
So what about the designinfluences?
Going back to that again.
So with PR, you said you have agreat PR team, uh, you know, in
social media, how often or howdo you use influencers or PR to
(28:43):
get the brand and grow itoutside?
Lindsay Schleis (28:46):
Yeah, for sure.
We have a full, you know, wehave an influencer program that
we work with, you know, not justnecessarily designers, but
maybe a lifestyle influencer oran outdoor gardening enthusiast
or um, you know, we've done somecollaborations like with
Blackstone Girls, you know, justthat outdoor like living space,
(29:08):
right?
Right.
Style of living.
Um, so yeah, we have aninfluencer program that we use.
Um a lot of it is you know,based on content that we're able
to then, you know, repurposeand use.
Yes, for sure.
Um and then from a PRstandpoint, I mean, anytime
(29:31):
there's like new productlaunches, or if we're working
with, you know, a really largeinfluencer, you know, they have
you know different outlet mediaoutlets that they they go to.
And um yeah.
Tiffany Woolley (29:45):
It's such a fun process now.
Like, I mean, even as an enduser and a designer, like I love
using uh seeing how other youknow, people show the product.
It kind of really helps for aclient to visualize also.
Lindsay Schleis (29:59):
Yeah, it really does.
It's really fun to see howpeople interpret, you know, the
furniture and what they can dowith it.
Scott Woolley (30:08):
Are there any particular SKUs or items that
are really popular?
Lindsay Schleis (30:14):
More so than others that I would say you
know, our Edge collection isprobably trending as our most
popular collection right now.
Scott Woolley (30:30):
And what is the Edge collection?
Lindsay Schleis (30:32):
Um the Edge collection is a little bit more
modern.
Scott Woolley (30:36):
Modern.
Lindsay Schleis (30:37):
Yeah.
The name says the Arms Mirrorhas like a sled-based design.
So it just, you know, it's it'sbeautiful.
And in the new select finish,oh my gosh, it's so pretty.
Yeah, and we're also launched,so we've just launched that with
Sling.
Okay.
(30:57):
Um, a sling seat.
And then also we'll belaunching it with a woven seat
bucket as well.
And it also the deep seatingcomes in a sectional, which I
think is trending.
I mean, I think it it's beentrending for a long time, but
it's not going up style.
Tiffany Woolley (31:17):
No, and it's so cool that you can see the
market and you know, add to itas you need also regarding yeah.
Like knowing the edge line, youknow, is such a hot ticket.
And then you can obviouslychange it up with these other
materials and you know, offer itin other ways.
(31:38):
And all of that is, you know,in this made-to-order quick
turnaround list.
Scott Woolley (31:45):
It is, yeah.
Are there any challenges thatPollywood has, you know, in
terms of getting educatingconsumers out there about the
sustainability, thecraftsmanship?
Lindsay Schleis (31:58):
Um, I think we had a lot of challenges.
I wouldn't say necessarilychallenges.
It was just an evolution oflike how to tell our story.
Educate people.
Yeah.
And back when you know, backwhen we first started in the
90s, it was like the milk drugcompany.
(32:19):
Because that's what peoplerecycled was their recycle your
milk jugs, right?
There wasn't like thesingle-use plastic is more
popular now than ever before.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
Right.
Lindsay Schleis (32:30):
And so, you know, the evolution of telling
our story and the all, you know,it's so much different when you
see it in person.
Like when you see it in person,it's so impactful.
But how do you then tell thatstory?
And that's where we reallytapped into our influencers and
our designers.
(32:50):
And you know, we had CarsonCressley and Tom Felicia out.
I'll have to send you guys thevideo of it if you have not
watched it.
So fun.
But like, you know, tellingthat story from someone that's
not a Pollywood employee, youknow, I could talk about it for
days.
And it's like it's genuine, butlike for someone else to tell
(33:14):
your story in a genuine way isway more impactful.
Tiffany Woolley (33:21):
They would they definitely will make people
listen in the design world,especially.
Lindsay Schleis (33:27):
Yeah.
I don't think I've ever laughedso hard the whole day.
The whole time.
Scott Woolley (33:32):
So to what extent is Pollywood available to the
consumer?
Is it nationwide?
Is it all over North America?
Is it outside of North America?
To what extent has Polywoodgrown as a brand?
Lindsay Schleis (33:44):
Yeah, we've grown very we've continued to,
you know, experience acceleratedgrowth, which is amazing.
Um right now we sell in, Iwould say all channels of
distribution, if you will.
So, you know, direct toconsumer on polywood.com.
Um, you know, we have nationalaccount retail and e-commerce,
specialty retail, so your youknow, your dealers, um, interior
(34:11):
design community, thecommercial trade community,
hospitality, you know, thatwhole area.
Tiffany Woolley (34:18):
Yeah.
Lindsay Schleis (34:19):
Yeah.
Um from an internationalperspective, really, we we do
have, I want to say it's aboutmaybe uh 40 international
dealers.
Um, and you know, we shipcontainers over to Europe or um
Mexico, Canada, and um they sellthe Caribbean, I think.
(34:40):
You know, we've got a lot ofdemand there.
Right now, all of ourmanufacturing is in the United
States.
Um so really that growth isthrough our dealer base right
now.
Tiffany Woolley (34:53):
And the manufacturing is still done in
Indiana?
Lindsay Schleis (34:57):
Yes, it's all in um Syracuse, Indiana, which
is our headquarters.
And then we also opened asecond facility in Roxboro,
North Carolina.
And that facility, you know,it's just it's closer to the
East Coast, so it reduces leadtimes from a shipping standpoint
to to facilitate you know thoseorders.
Tiffany Woolley (35:23):
So interesting.
So what do you think is nextfor Pollywood?
Is the uh a co-owner or theco-creators are they still at
the helm?
Lindsay Schleis (35:35):
Yeah, Doug Rassi is very much still
involved.
Um he, you know, I I don't knowhow long he'll be involved, you
know.
He's um I can't imaginePollywood without him.
I bet yeah.
Yeah.
Tiffany Woolley (35:53):
Is there any gener next generation ready to
take the reins?
Lindsay Schleis (35:58):
Yeah, he's got some family that works in uh you
know, in the company and reallyestablished just really great
leadership andcross-departmental, you know,
co-working.
And I I think you know, thenext phase for Pollywood is
really what products we haven'ttapped into yet.
Um we're looking, you know,with the commercial side of
(36:23):
things, you know, just all allof the different things that,
you know, towel returns.
Um Wow.
I mean that's entertainmentcenters for cabanas, you know,
just like there's there's somuch out there.
Right.
Um outdoor structures.
Tiffany Woolley (36:39):
Oh, structures are hu could be huge too.
Lindsay Schleis (36:42):
Yeah, yeah.
So I think, you know, that'sthat's where Polly would, you
know, just the evolution and thegrowth will continue.
Tiffany Woolley (36:51):
So is it patented, the actual process or
the material?
Lindsay Schleis (36:56):
Um yes, I believe that you know that I
should know the answer to thatquestion, but it it is patented,
I believe.
I mean it's a proprietaryprocess for sure.
Scott Woolley (37:07):
Are there any new lines or collaborations coming
out that you can talk about?
Tiffany Woolley (37:19):
We understand if some of them are kept quiet
until it's time, but yeah, Ican't really jump all Jenny and
But there's some fun thingscooking.
Scott Woolley (37:29):
But people should be looking because it's always
things coming up.
Yeah, that's right.
Tiffany Woolley (37:34):
So I also when you know I always think of this
business and this industrysomewhat untapped, and there's
still so much growth.
Obviously, you just mentioned afew of where Pollywood's gonna
grow.
As for you in the industry andbeing able to work from home as
a mom of three, what does yourdaily juggle look like or your
(37:56):
daily task for you know stayingpresent to Pollywood, but kind
of having it all.
Lindsay Schleis (38:04):
Yeah, it is, I know.
And I think that, you know, weI grew up in a era where, you
know, women can do it all.
Right.
And you know, we we do a lot,but we can't do it all.
No, we try.
Tiffany Woolley (38:20):
No one can.
No.
The juggle struggle, I call it.
Lindsay Schleis (38:24):
Yeah, it is, it is.
I think, you know, we with Ihave three kids that are in a
lot of activities, and summer isdifficult.
It's definitely challenging.
Um, but we ask for help a lotwhen it comes to the family, and
I have, you know, a reallysupportive husband and a really
(38:45):
supportive family, too, to behonest.
I mean, I travel quite a bit.
So you do travel a lot.
Yeah, I do, I do.
And I think it's importantthough that my children,
especially I've got twodaughters, and even my for my
son to see, you know, that momworks hard and she she might
leave and she always comes back.
(39:07):
And it's important to see them,you know, seeing me in a
position of leadership.
And you know, I think I thinkit's really important.
And yeah, but my daily, youknow, uh oftentimes I'll go to
bed at night and I look at thecalendar for the next day and
(39:27):
like, whoo, how are we gonna dothis?
But we do it, and um yeah, it'sI wouldn't have it any other
way.
That's for sure.
Tiffany Woolley (39:36):
And and it's just wonderful that you know
Pollywood is off, you know, hasthis opportunity, you know, to
work in both ways.
Scott Woolley (39:45):
It is so as head of business development, are you
out kind of looking like I'lluse an example.
We were just recently in Maui,and the resort we were staying
at along the beach and and inthe kind of the grass dairy away
from the pool had a lot ofchairs, kind of an anaerondec
chairs and tables and whatnot.
(40:06):
I'm guessing they were probablypolywood because they were the
that you know the sustainablematerial.
They weren't made of wood.
You know, so I think of likewho sold all those chairs and
all that furniture to thatresort.
Is that something like what youwould do with business
development?
Getting into, you know.
Lindsay Schleis (40:24):
Yeah, for sure.
Scott Woolley (40:26):
Big sales like that?
Lindsay Schleis (40:27):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
Yeah, I am um in sales, salesmode all the time.
Um we're actually we're headedto gather the ASID conference on
the home right.
Yep.
So we'll be there and uh I'llbe working.
We're we've got a littleexhibition booth there.
Scott Woolley (40:50):
So trying to get in front of trying to get in
front of interior designers.
Lindsay Schleis (40:55):
Yes, and commercial, you know,
hospitality, that side of thebusiness is a real um focus for
us in terms of growth right now.
Um we we're hiring and have adedicated team to that segment.
Scott Woolley (41:09):
Yeah, our podcast, a large percentage of
the listeners and viewers areinterior designers or in the
sort of interior design world.
Lindsay Schleis (41:18):
Yeah, yes.
Yeah, it's a big focus for us.
And we'll be at BDNY inNovember.
Um and then we turn around andgo back to Atlanta.
We you know, our flagshipshowroom is there in Atlanta.
We relocated in a few years agowhen the market relocated from
(41:42):
Chicago to Atlanta.
We invested in a beautifulshowroom there.
Um so we do all of the showsthat come through America's
Mart.
And so we'll be there and inDallas, and then um HD Expo is
another big one that we'll beat.
Okay.
(42:02):
So there's not at Cavas yet,but I have a feeling that might
might come.
Scott Woolley (42:08):
And you said you'd you don't you're not at
high point?
Lindsay Schleis (42:11):
We're not.
We try to support the market asmuch as we can.
Scott Woolley (42:15):
Uh-huh.
Lindsay Schleis (42:16):
It was really difficult.
We were going to go there, andthen the casual market moved to
Atlanta.
And so where is the nextshowroom for Pollywood?
I don't know right now, but Iwould say it's hard there the
proximity of the two, eventhough they're different.
Scott Woolley (42:33):
Yeah, so do you have more showrooms than
Atlanta?
Are there any other cities thatare headquarters?
Lindsay Schleis (42:43):
We were in Las Vegas and we've sh been in
Dallas before.
Um we do a lot of the tradeshows that require temporary so
a lot of investment in that.
And yeah, in logistics too.
Tiffany Woolley (43:02):
Moving those moving pieces around.
And for the brick and mortarstores, like say retail, do you
require them to put a certainamount of pieces on the floor at
all time, or how does that sothat's one thing, you know, we
don't require a deep investmentin their inventory because of
(43:25):
our models.
Lindsay Schleis (43:26):
So, you know, we there's no reason for you as
a store to overbuy, right?
For lack of a better way ofsaying it, when we are a
just-in-time manufacturer andcan fulfill orders on demand.
Um, but with that said, youknow, the growth from being
known as, let's say, theAdirondack Chair Company, right,
(43:48):
to where we are today, I mean,that really came a lot, you
know, from our specialty dealersand retail partners.
Scott Woolley (43:58):
Has Pollywood ever done custom orders or
custom uh interior designercomes and says we'd like to get
three of these, whatever itmight be, made, can you
facilitate it?
Lindsay Schleis (44:11):
But not a quantity of three, sadly.
I would say if it's maybe overfifty or a hundred, we could um
we could explore it or look atit.
We a lot of our requests we getare like for you know, in
engraving like the back of abench or something.
Um it's gotta be a largerorder.
(44:35):
And color is definitelyprobably a no.
It's to develop a new color.
Color is like, I mean, youknow, it's thousands of hours of
reach research and developmentthat are I mean, it's chemistry,
it's all that's what it is.
It's it's crazy to think,right?
Scott Woolley (44:54):
You think it's just plastic, but it's yeah, you
just add some food coloringhere and it's interesting in the
in the manufacturing processthat you have.
You have the ability, and Ithink of it because we're
involved in a tequila company,and I was involved in another
tequila company helping it growyears ago, and they were each
(45:16):
bottle was as it was being made,they were numbering the
bottles.
The fact that you're makingfurniture as it's being ordered,
you could be giving each pieceof furniture its own personal
serial number.
So it now has like a anotherintrinsic value to it because
it's like a s it's a one of orof so many.
Lindsay Schleis (45:37):
Yeah, well, and we to some degree we do that,
actually.
They have like a VIN number.
And it's more for qualitycontrol.
Speaker 4 (45:46):
Uh-huh.
Lindsay Schleis (45:46):
So if there's a defect or if anything goes
wrong with the product, we'reable to track it back to the
exact like lot of lumber that itwas made from and the exact
machine that it was produced on,so that we're able to improve
the quality likeinstantaneously.
unknown (46:05):
Right.
Scott Woolley (46:07):
Yeah, I think of you you put a little certificate
with each thing that goes out.
This is your custom-madepersonal, you know, chair,
table, whatever it might be.
I think a lot of people mightfind that to be like, wow, I got
my own custom made.
unknown (46:22):
Yeah.
Scott Woolley (46:22):
Because you really are making you really are
making it custom made foreveryone, what it seems like.
Lindsay Schleis (46:30):
Yeah, that's a good idea.
I love that.
It's all about the experience,the consumer experience, right?
Yeah.
Trevor Burrus, Jr.
Scott Woolley (46:37):
It's something else that people will talk
about.
They'll tell their friends, oh,this is custom-made for me.
This is you know my personalnumber.
And a lot of people like likethat.
Lindsay Schleis (46:48):
We might have to we might have to take that
back to the creative marketingteam.
Scott Woolley (46:55):
You know, you think about like a painting, and
then the artist takes thepainting and they have 150
lithographs made and they'reeach individually numbered.
You know, but they're beingmade by a printer.
They're not the by the artist,but there's still enormous value
because there's only 150 ofthem made.
Lindsay Schleis (47:12):
Yeah, absolutely.
I don't know.
I want one of those bottles oftequila you were talking about.
Tiffany Woolley (47:18):
Yeah, well, you can have cue up on that.
This is a funny question.
If you could reinvent anyeveryday outdoor object out of
Pollywood, what would youchoose?
Lindsay Schleis (47:31):
Ooh, that's a good one.
Tiffany Woolley (47:34):
Um I liked the garbage towel recycle idea.
Yeah.
What's that?
Lindsay Schleis (47:39):
You know, I know it's not even possible, but
if we could figure out a way todo a grill, that would be so
cool.
Scott Woolley (47:46):
Well, I'll tell you one that I wish that you
guys would make.
Is that, and it just just goesback to our backyard in our
house.
And I forget where we got itmade.
It was made of teak.
It was it's a beautiful bar.
It's about six feet long andit's normal bar height, you
know, with shelves andeverything underneath it.
But over the last number ofyears, it's kind of deteriorated
(48:07):
and because it's made of wood.
But I love the the bar in ourbackyard.
It's like so it's used so much.
We got a great umbrella overit, like 11-foot.
And I think of Pollywood, man,if they could make a bar like
outdoor bars.
We might have to just do that.
Tiffany Woolley (48:26):
I was gonna say maybe we would I'll help design
it.
I'd be the first one to buy oneimmediately.
We could be your tri trial.
That sounds great.
Yeah, because they were submita request to my design team as
soon as we hang on.
I know, right?
Scott Woolley (48:43):
That's such a I mean, that is and it's just
strips of, you know, what wehave with this there are strips
of teak, but it's so difficultto like who's gonna maintain the
teak and over and and and likelike you mentioned the salt
water and whatnot in Florida, itdeteriorated and it was
probably like three thousanddollars when we bought it.
Speaker 4 (49:03):
Yeah.
Scott Woolley (49:04):
Today it's Tiffany wants to get rid of it.
I'm like, no.
But Polly would be be would befantastic if something.
Lindsay Schleis (49:11):
It really would.
Tiffany Woolley (49:12):
We'll get you a replacement so I think that
would be I think that's a good tplace to kind of wrap up
because I think that would be areally great idea.
We need to maybe go tacklethat.
Scott Woolley (49:28):
No, it's the it's more of the outdoor
entertaining.
You know, and especially, youknow, we're located in Florida.
Outdoor entertaining is 12months a year.
Speaker 4 (49:38):
Absolutely.
Scott Woolley (49:39):
It's uh it's a big focus that every client that
we have, you know.
Lindsay Schleis (49:44):
Absolutely.
We just launched bar carts.
We've got three differentdesigns of bar carts.
But I think the bar is thenext.
Scott Woolley (49:51):
I'm gonna send you some pictures.
Tiffany Woolley (49:53):
Yeah, we'll send you a great idea.
A sketch of it.
Scott Woolley (49:57):
Because I I see the places where Polly is sold
here in South Florida, and Iknow that almost all the places
that sell it would sell the bar.
Tiffany Woolley (50:06):
Because I think it was And with it being on
like, you know, created ondemand.
I mean you could do the samebar skew, but with four feet,
five feet, six feet, you know,like just so easily.
Scott Woolley (50:19):
And I think that we originally I think we
originally bought it fromPottery Barn.
And they no longer they haveother styles, but the the styles
they have are just aren't thatgreat.
Tiffany Woolley (50:32):
And it was kind of out of a necessity.
We actually have a beautifulsummer kitchen area in our
house, but we were having aparty and wanted to have like a
destination bar.
So we kind of, you know, did itand never it never left.
Lindsay Schleis (50:50):
I love it.
Well, and it is it's alifestyle.
I mean, I think that's you knowoutdoor living is it's a
lifestyle.
Tiffany Woolley (50:58):
And well, and the high top too, it kind of
gives another, you know, a lotof people for balconies and
everything like that.
It gives it it's another theylike having that higher seating.
Yes.
Instead of just a table, itcould be at a bar.
Scott Woolley (51:14):
Yeah, I love it.
Well, we really appreciate youjoining us today.
Lindsay Schleis (51:20):
Yes, thank you for having me.
This has been really fun.
Scott Woolley (51:23):
Right?
Tiffany Woolley (51:23):
It is fun.
Scott Woolley (51:24):
So for more people who are interested in in
Pollywood, it's polywood.com.
Yep.
And there's a search on yourwebsite for finding retailers
that are you know in everyone'svicinity.
That will help guide people tosee the product line.
Tiffany Woolley (51:41):
And I love your Instagram too.
I do follow Pollywood, and Ithink it's it's you know, it
definitely represents theproduct very well.
Lindsay Schleis (51:51):
Thank you.
Yes, we we try hard, and if youwant to apply for the designer
program, the applications at thein a link at the bottom of our
homepage.
Pollywood.com.
Tiffany Woolley (52:04):
Well, thank you so much, Lindsay, for joining
us.
Enjoy the rest of summertime.
Thank you.
Scott Woolley (52:11):
Thank you.
Tiffany Woolley (52:12):
Thanks.
Bye bye.
Bye bye.
Voice Over (52:18):
iDesign Labs Podcast is an SW group production in
association with the five starand TW Interiors.
To learn more about iDesign Labor TW Interiors, please visit
TWinteriors.com.
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