An interview with Jena Winter from Danske Mobler

Our interview series is all about powerhouse women and men who inspire us through their work, creativity, business and passion. At Papier hq we are all about supporting and uplifting one another. These amazing individuals are here to share some of their expertise. Introducing Jena Winter...

This week for our interview series we had the privilege of sitting down with family owned Danske Mobler's Digital Marketing Manager, Jena Winter. We caught up with Jena to talk about her home style and her business journey!

1. What is the best part of your job?

I love that I get to be creative everyday, from creating our online content, organising photoshoots, designing new showrooms, picking new fabrics for NZ made sofas, helping with our buying team with new designers from our overseas suppliers or moving the showroom around to showcase our new products.

2. Can you please explain to us the Danske Mobler history 

My grandparents immigrated to NZ in the 1950, my grandad was an upholstery by trade and started his own business called Ken Winter Limited in 1958 selling to small independent furniture stores throughout Auckland out of a small  shed in Titirangi. My grandparents opened there first Danske Mobler store on Symonds street in 1962, as there designs and Danish inspired furniture became increasingly popular they moved to 246 Queens Street. They outgrew there manufacturing facilities and moved to Dornwall road which was both manufacturing and a showroom. The late twentieth century saw thousands of New Zealand homes furnished with Danske Møbler original designs. It also saw the company enter a new phase of expansion. In 1995, Danske Møbler moved into its current premises at the purpose built manufacturing and retail store at 983 Mt Eden Road, Three Kings, Auckland. In 1986 we opened our first store in Hamilton and 1990 Wairau Park and Botany in 1998. In 2010 we opened our Wellington store followed by Hastings in 2011, Palmerston North in 2012, Albany in 2018 and Tauriko in 2023 as well as moving stores in Palmerston North in 2023. Danske Mobler continues to be a big part of our family chats with my grandma as well as having myself, my partner and twin sister working in the business she loves knowing the third generation of her family will continue on the family business.

3. What are some highlights and challenges of working with family?

I love working with my family and my partner yes we who started at Danske at the start of 2023, we don’t work together everyday as we focus on very different areas of the business but this gives us the opportunity to learn, my sister looks after our upholstery factory organising our NZ made manufacturing, Mum looks after all our retail stores and is our general manager she is also queen of our stock, she can find anything in our warehouse. And Dad looks after our factories woodwork and upholstery as well as our imported side of the business.

4. What made you decide to join the family business?

Back in 2016 my dad got diagnosed with throat cancer stage 4, my mum was still so busy working and I had just started working at Bauer Media after graduating at AUT, I suddenly worried I would never get the chance to learn from my dad who has had 35 years of experience in the business so I stayed home to look after him and when he started back at work I started going in with him and now im 7 years in.

5. How would you describe your personal style in your home?

Scandi Minimal

6. What is your favourite Papier hq piece?

I love the art I have at home from you and all your travertine pieces.

7. What advice would you give your younger self?

Stop worrying about what other people think they care more about themselves then they do you

8. Where do you go for style inspiration?

I get lots of inspo from Kelly Wearstler she is a famous hotel interior designer and the way she mixes colours, texture and furniture is amazing, I also scroll Pinterest daily and Instagram as well.

9. Can you share one of your top styling tip with our community?

I love keeping the colour scheme in my house neutral, all the cushions in my house are from the same colour pallet which means when I have a big spring clean I usually put all my accessories and cushions in the same spot and re organise them throughout the house, by having all similar colour homewares and cushions it allows me to mix and match them throughout the house when I move them around.

10. What has been your favourite Danske Mobler piece to date?

Our nz made Nordic sofa which I have at home, so well made and the style is timeless

11. What are some homeware trends we can expect to see in 2024?

Felt fabrics are making a come back and I love the look and they feel of them which is so cosy. I also love how these days not everything in your home has to perfectly match I think mixing styles, wood colours, marbles and chrome textures.