FAQ
Is the rattan resistant to U.V?
Yes. We use the best German fibre available, our supplier is recognised as a global leader in rattan fibre manufacture. New Zealand U.V is the highest in the world, so using a branded fibre - Rauchord or Hularo - will guarantee protection from the elements. Most chinese made fibre has been developed for the European market which does not have the high strength U.V we do here in New Zealand. It is not a matter of if, but when the product will fail. Usually when your warranty has expired!
What is rattan?
Rattan, wicker, wicker rattan, cane (in polyethelene form) are all names for the same thing. The product was created because customers wanted to take their furniture outdoors. Natural cane and rattan will rot and break down outdoors. Hence PE rattan was created.
Designs and styles of rattan furniture have moved on so quickly in recent years that we are now witnessing customers putting this kind of furniture inside their homes aswell. So why not have the best of both worlds? Take our Riviera (a Gidget Design) - it looks stunning indoors, but with the Quick Dry Foam as standard it will also perform flawlessly outside for years. It is important to note that there is a wide range of product offered on the market from very poor plastic to top end fibres made in Germany. We encourage customers to do their research. Please note; 95% of rattan sold in NZ is chinese fibre. It is not polyethelene. It is recycled plastic bottles (PVC).
Can I leave my cushions outside in bad weather?
You should be able to leave cushions out in all weather provided the fabric is a solution dyed acrylic and the cushion uses a reticulated foam. We do not use anything else. All of our cushions are made in New Zealand and incorporate Sunbrella and Quick Dry Foam as standard.
Will the fibre fade?
Our fibre will not fade. We use the global leading brand made in Germany. 95% of retailers sell product using Chinese made fibre. It is not suited to NZ U.V and won't last long.
Why do you use stainless steel feet and others use alloy?
We use Stainless Steel because it not only looks a lot nicer, it is more corrosion resistant. Ask yourself why you only find stainless steel on boats. Alloy is a sign of a poor quality product.
Isn't all rattan the same?
The majority of product sold in NZ is Chinese made fibre, not suited to NZ conditions. All-we repeat, 100% of Chinese fibre has previously been a plastic bottle before in some form. Yet all suppliers claim their fibre to be Polyethelene. It isn't true. The number of times we get asked 'but it's PE rattan, right'. Our product is a virgin polymer. We know of 4 suppliers in NZ using virgin PE. The other 300 or so are supplying something else. You the customer will sadly find out after a year or two.There are 3 recognised brands within our industry. These are Rehau, Hularo and Viro fibres. Google them for impartial advice. Choose none other! There are a select few retailers in NZ who only use these fibres. You may also hear the name Dedon Fibre being mentioned. Dedon Fibre is in fact Hularo which is used by many quality manufacturers.
How do I know I am getting a good product?
Simple. Firstly, buy a branded fibre - Rehau or Hularo. The only differences are colours and profiles, they are both excellent 'best in class' products. Secondly, only buy a 'Thru Dyed' fibre which is coloured all the way through the rattan rather than simply an external vaneer of colour. Thirdly, if the vendor is not offering 'Quick Dry Foam' as standard the product will fail in NZ weather conditions. Finally, insist on a quality branded fabric which you can specify.
Why Buy From Iola?
We are a specialist. Iola and Gidget Designs in Australia have an integrated operation from original design to manufacturing. We have designed our product for NZ conditions. We know of no other supplier who has accomplished this. We use the best available materials and offer very competitive prices. Comparable products sold elsewhere are all far more expensive and sometimes up to 3 times our prices. There is no other supplier offering German fibre, branded fabrics of choice and Quick Dry Foam for anywhere near our prices.
Who is the biggest name in Rattan in NZ
We are the biggest seller of quality rattan furniture in NZ. Of the big four that use German fibre, top end foams and fabrics we sell more product.
Why are there no prices on this site.
Because all too often some customers assess various products on price alone. Our prices are half that of comparable product on the market. What we offer is the best quality at a price you would normally pay for very average furniture of this type. As an example a 6 seater dining table and 6 chairs with cushions is around $5,000 and a 2.5 seater sofa is $2500-$3000.
So what is the best product, I'm confused?
The reason you may be confused is due to two main things; firstly the nonsense many sellers will spout about the attributes of their product. And secondly the various prices. It is actually quite straight forward if the customer is really interested in buying quality. The critical parts of the product are the fibre, the foam and the fabric. There is no secret who the global leaders supplying these materials are. Rehau, Hularo, Sunbrella, Quick Dry Foam. Then ask yourself whether the foam, fibre and fabric are quality. If it is it will have a recognised brand and the seller will shout about it. Are the cushions made to order in NZ? Perhaps this is the most telling sign. If the seller can provide you with(at no extra cost) a colour of choice, quick dry foam and made here then they are selling a quality product . Including ourselves we are aware of 4 sellers who tick all the boxes in regards quality materials.
Pricewise, as mentioned above there is a lot of variance. Not so much at the bottom end of the market but there are the stand out suppliers who charge a lot for average product. No body uses better materials than us. As mentioned previously there are 4 vendors in the market using top end materials and I would suggest the price spread is down to perception of the brand, design and service you get. It has nothing to do with the quality of the materials in the product. In other words the materials are vary similar. But don't take our word for it. We encourage customers to do their research.
How thick are your frames?
Our product is currently 1.8mm round and square bar. Cheap products will use 1-1.2 because it is the minimum they can get away with. We did think our gauge was equal to the highest used anywhere however we have recently been informed by a vendor that they use 2mm frames. We thank them for this information and from October we will be using 2mm also.
Do you sell cushion boxes?
No we do not. The cushion boxes being sold by some retailers, are not so much to store the cushions but to protect them from rain. iola cushions are designed for outdoor use in all climates. We do supply cushion bags to conveniently store your cushions if preferred. Even though our product can withstand any climate we find most of our customers still like to store them when not in use. Please refer to our accessories section.
What Warranty do you offer?
Retail Sales -We offer a 3 year warranty on all manufacturing defects to the original purchaser. This is the best comprehensive warranty in the market place. Outside this time period we assess all claims on their merits.
Can I design my own furniture?
Yes you can. We offer a commercial service. Please contact us for details
How do I maintain the furniture and fabrics?
Please refer to our furniture care section or the relevant fabric suppliers site for details.
I am a retailer, can I stock your product?
Please contact us for details
Every piece backed by a comprehensive warranty
contact us to make an enquiry or place an order
Design Protection
The majority of our designs are protected in Australia and New Zealand. We take our intellectual property seriously. Any attempt to use our images, our designs or IP without our written consent will result in legal proceedings.