London Inc. September 2022 - 17

suppliers in Denmark with which he is now working.
But where to put the furniture he was acquiring?
Born and raised in London, the 31-year-old entrepreneur
is also a realtor and real estate investor - and a big downtown
booster. He had been looking to purchase a building in
the core that offered a retail storefront - ideally with space
for a back-of-house design studio - but had no luck finding
the right space. After connecting with the London Economic
Develop Corp. and Downtown London, Hanson turned his
attention to a handful of affordable incubator
spaces for rent, and in August set up shop in the
former Metropolitan store building on Dundas
Place.
Coming in at an expansive 10,000 square
feet, the open space has high tin-tiled ceilings,
simple lighting and a minimalist feel that
highlights the furniture. Plus, it also provides space where
Hanson can host planned future community events.
Since Habitus opened, there have been several summer
His online presence and direct-email list continue to drive
purchases through the website, and Hanson has contracted
a company to handle the increasing volume of out-of-town
deliveries, mainly to Toronto.
His hope is that as Habitus the physical storefront
becomes more known to local consumers and designers, and
as more residential units are built in the core, sales flowing
from the storefront will increase. Hanson has also begun to
rent furniture for photo shoots and film projects in town.
" FOR ME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE IN
A CLUTTER-FREE SPACE, CLEAN AND
MINIMALIST " -Rob Hanson
Through the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator
events that have brought crowds of people to the flex
street, and many have stopped in to browse or buy. Hanson
envisions ongoing collaboration with the arts community,
inviting in local musicians and visual artists to use the
space for cultural events.
program and the London Small Business Centre, Hanson
has been able to access a variety of resources and supports,
including access to financing. But for now, he's committed
to taking a cautious approach to growth, choosing to
self-fund the business - admittedly on a shoestring budget.
" I want to gauge demand before I start taking on any loans. "
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LEADING WITH PATIENT COMFORT
OXFORDSURGERYCENTRE.COM | 519-204-2080
Dr. Matthew D. Morrison, Oral Surgeon
Natasha Gole, Office Manager
SEPTEMBER 2022 | londonincmagazine.ca | 17
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London Inc. September 2022

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