It all began with a basket full of success...

The French author Victor Hugo once said: “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” For Michael Schmidt, that idea was bringing beach chairs into the garden. Thanks to their wind and weather resistance, the garden season could easily be extended beyond the summer. This great success spurred him on to look out for further exclusive outdoor trends.

Definitely no wrong turn: teak begins its triumphal march.

In 1987 Michael Schmidt discovered the English garden bench, crafted from teak. Rain, sun, ice or snow — teak furniture remains unimpressed by them all. Far more than impressed, however, were the customers when Michael Schmidt, as general importer for Gloster, brought English teak furniture to the German market. Teak comes predominantly from Indonesia. So in 1989 the Villa Schmidt managing director boarded a plane with one goal: to establish high-quality production on the ground, with the best possible teak and the best possible workmanship. High-quality teak furniture could thus be imported to Europe fully finished.

Success through lightness - the materials are changing.

Around the turn of the millennium, the great English teak trend gave way. Customers wanted lighter garden furniture – both visually and in material. High-quality synthetics were developed: absolutely wind- and weatherproof, all year round. A huge wave of success followed. One of the pioneers was the Lüneburg-based manufacturer DEDON – and Villa Schmidt was right in the thick of it.