Case Study: Working with "Serenity Spaces" – A Boutique Hotel Group
Buyer Profile
“Serenity Spaces” is a boutique hotel group based in Kyoto, Japan, operating seven properties across Japan and South Korea. Established in 2018, they cater to travelers seeking a blend of minimalist luxury and cultural immersion, with dining areas designed to reflect a serene, Zen-inspired aesthetic. Their focus is on high-quality, understated tableware that enhances guest experiences.
Product Purchased
4000 cork placemats (round, 38 cm x 38 cm, patterned finish) and 4800 leather placemats (rectangular, 45 cm x 32 cm, multiple colors).
Collaboration Details
The journey with “Serenity Spaces” began in May 2024 when their design coordinator, Aiko Tanaka, reached out via our website’s contact form. Aiko was revamping the dining setups for their properties ahead of the 2025 tourist season and had been searching for placemats that combined durability with a refined, organic look. She’d seen our cork and leather options in a Japanese interior design magazine and wanted to explore how they could fit their vision.
We arranged a Skype call on May 15, 2024, to dive into their requirements. Aiko explained that their guests—often international visitors—expected tableware that felt premium yet practical, capable of withstanding daily use (hot teapots, soy sauce drips) while complementing their bamboo and stone decor. She liked the cork placemats for their earthy texture and the leather ones for their sleek sophistication. On May 17, we shipped a placemat sample set by DHL—five cork placemats and five leather placemats in charcoal gray—along with a care guide and a note on cork’s natural insulation and leather’s aging properties.
Aiko’s team tested the placemat samples : a Kyoto ryokan and a Seoul boutique hotel. Over three weeks, they placed them under hot dishes (up to 80°C), wiped them with damp cloths, and assessed their look after repeated handling. On June 6, Aiko emailed us: the cork mats were “quietly elegant” and insulated well, but she asked for a matte sealant to prevent watermarks. The leather mats impressed with their soft feel and stain resistance, though she requested a brushed finish to soften the sheen. We applied a non-toxic matte sealant to the cork and brushed the leather with a wire tool for a velvety texture, sending updated samples on June 12. Aiko confirmed approval on June 18, noting the tweaks “perfectly aligned” with their aesthetic.
On June 22, “Serenity Spaces” ordered 4,000 cork placemats and 4,800 leather placemats, targeting delivery by September 2024 for their fall refresh. Production began June 28. The cork mats were cut from 6 mm-thick sheets sourced from Portugal, sanded by hand, and sealed with a spray-on matte finish, with each batch of 500 air-dried for 3 hours to lock in the coating. The leather mats, made from top-grain hide, were dyed charcoal gray, brushed in small batches, and edge-stitched with gray thread for durability—a step that took an extra day per 1600 units but ensured a polished look.
We wrapped up production by August 20, 2024, and shared a progress update with Aiko: a photo series of the cork mats being sealed and the leather mats stacked in protective sleeves. The order shipped via sea freight to Osaka on August 23, arriving September 5 after we provided customs paperwork, including a material origin certificate and fumigation record. Aiko’s team in Kyoto received and inspected the shipment on September 7, flagging only four leather mats with minor stitching gaps, which we replaced via air courier by September 14 at no extra charge.
The placemats debuted across all “Serenity Spaces” properties in late September 2024. Aiko later shared that guests at their Seoul location loved the cork mats’ warmth under teaware, while the leather mats became a highlight in Kyoto’s private dining rooms, with staff noting their ease of maintenance. Their website featured a gallery of the mats in use, crediting our collaboration.
Outcome
This project has led “Serenity Spaces” to discuss a 2025 order for cork placemats with custom dimensions for their breakfast trays. Their positive experience also earned us a referral to a Tokyo-based hotel consultant, expanding our reach in the Asian hospitality market.
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