John Hardy sells jewellery firm - opens bamboo school and hotel

John Hardy, founder of the John Hardy jewellery brand, based in Ubud, has sold his stake in the business to company president Damien Dernoncourt and creative director Guy Bedarida.

While WWD and other have have extensively reported about the sale John and his wife Cynthia offering now in a private press release some insights into the deal and reveal their plans for the future. Lots of goods things for them and Ubud are in the pipeline. And knowing Cynthia and John it is not surprising that things becoming visible already before they have been officially announced yet.

A small hotel with housing structures made from black bamboo (bambu betung hitam) and a school with holistic approach combined with elements from mainstream schooling opening up in the near future. But let us have a look at them personally:



About the school:

Scheduled to open in fall 2008, the school will be a member of Jürgen Zimmers 'School for Life' project, an international school initially serving day students from kindergarten through eighth grade. It is intended that in a few years’ time, a high school will be ready for operation, and the whole compound will be open 12 months a year with boarding facilities for students, their families, and adult visitors eager to quench their thirst for knowledge.

“We are building the School to create a new paradigm for learning: We want to cultivate physical sensibilities so that children adapt and grow capable, as well as spiritual awareness and emotional intuition to encourage them to be in awe of life’s possibilities,” says Cynthia Hardy. "We want this to be our legacy."
Source: Own research and Kul-Kul website

About the hotel:

Four little antique houses from Java built of teak timbers—formerly the houses of Javanese noblemen—gaze out to a spectacular rural view of faraway rice fields, temples, and mountains. Each house is discreetly fitted with air-conditioning and furnished with antiques and luxury accessories designed and collected by John Hardy.
Source: Hotel website

About the business deal:

Hardy will become the brand's ambassador and continue to help provide creative vision. His wife, Cynthia, will be a merchandising consultant. Terri Eagle, who joined the company from competitor David Yurman in 2005, will retain the title of president and chief executive officer of John Hardy USA. Dernoncourt, 35, has been president since 2003, and Bedarida, 43, has been in his role since 1999. An unnamed private equity firm backed the deal and Lincoln International acted as a financial adviser. It is unclear whether Hardy owned the majority in the firm or if he had partners. [Cindy understands there was a partner in Hong Kong]

Hardy's sales in the U.S.reportedly reached $150 million last year. We are a lifestyle brand and our strength is really in jewelry," Dernoncourt said. "We are about handmade luxury product and luxury with a soul. We believe that it's a brand with a real spirit, a real soul and a great future. The brand attributes are very strong." Bedarida said, "We're really following the heritage that John has given us. John is sort of a spiritual father to us. It's an incredible, exciting new era." The company has no plans to roll out stores in the U.S., with the exception of a Manhattan flagship slated to open in the next 18 months.
Source: WWD
More articles on Ubud News about the Hardys
Read more!

Ubud Schools

The other day, I attended a meeting at the Ubud Primary School, located across the road from the soccer field in Monkey Forest road. Those of you who have spent time in Ubud will know this school. It's a lovely old establishment brimming with frangipani trees in the courtyard, wide shady verandahs and happy children in neat uniforms. The principal, Bapak Dewa Oka from Padang Tegal, addressed the parents in his gentle humble manner about the lack of funds for this village school. Compared to a western primary school, Ubud Primary is totally impoverished and with the new autonomy creeping into Bali, the school now needs to generate their own funds to pay wages and so on.

He meekly asked if the parents would be able to pay an additional Rp.2,000 a month so they could pay the wages for a security man that would patrol the school and help the children cross the road and help with other expenses. I've known the principal for many years now, especially as I used to teach English there once a week. He is a lovely man whose heart is dedicated to his students and school. Throughout the meeting I thought there must be a way we can all help. So, I 'm putting it out to you.

If you would like to donate any ammount of money to this school and put something back into the community, let me know and I will take you there. You can even just wonder in off the road and have a look around. You'll see what I mean about lack of facilities - they have none. I sat in the meeting looking at the smug photograph of Megawati in all her red glory and thought, your days are numbered my dear! Life is only getting harder in Indonesia and you've let your people down. Shame on you. Read more!