Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorin Hesse.
Lorin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up immersed in the antiques business and then went to live in Denmark as a teen. When I came home, I studied Art and Design through grad school. Those are the 3 main factors, I think, that brought me here. I developed an insatiable desire to collect. It started early with Art Deco, then gradually morphed through different 20th C. styles and periods until my sensibilities finally landed back in Denmark, on Danish Modern Design of the Mid Century. I am, to this day, impressed by Danish Design’s consistent sense of warm and cozy Modernism. My collector spirit eventually paired well with an instinct to travel and be self-employed: I started an import business specifically for Mid Century Danish Mod and sold primarily to American dealers for several years before shifting to retail. Retail is a much more human and intimate experience and it offers the opportunity to truly share the love of the design with other collectors directly.
The pace is slower…I don’t get to Denmark as often as I used to, but it’s worth it. We are now going on 6 years in our current retail location and remain dedicated to specializing in all-vintage Mid Century Danish Modern. We also offer other Mid-Century furnishings compatible with the Danish Mod aesthetic…from vintage Fine Art and ceramics to American kitsch and retro European textiles, nearly everything is from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. I feel lucky to be in a niche business that indulges my passion for well curated design and still resonates well enough with other collectors that I can pay the bills!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When I first opened Be Modern in Ipswich, we were the only shop specializing in vintage Danish Modern or Mid Century Modern on the North Shore. There were 3 or 4 specialized Mid-Century dealers in Boston/Cambridge and some antique dealers who were carrying the odd Mid-Century piece up here. For the first few years, 99 percent of my clients came up from the Boston Metro region, so I adopted a free delivery service to compete with Boston dealers.
I also encouraged clients (and still do) to make a car-less day of it by taking the commuter rail to Ipswich (Newburyport line from North Station) – the shop is about 5 minutes from the station by foot, and clients can shop and then go home to mull over what they want. When they decide, they just call me with their decisions and I bring them their furniture without them needing to return to Ipswich. It works well and even though my clients now come from all over New England, I continue to do free curbside delivery as a courtesy to everyone within a 45-minute radius – and low-cost delivery to those outside it. Ipswich has beautiful Crane Beach, several great restaurants, craft beer & rum & mead, and more First Period homes than anywhere else in the country, so day tripping here is well worth it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Be Modern – what should we know?
Be Modern is a specialty shop in a large warehouse space in historic Ipswich with a carefully curated collection of Mid Century Modern and Danish Modern furniture and furnishings. We focus on teak and rosewood Danish Modern furniture from the 50’s and 60’s, but we carry aesthetically compatible American Mid-Century furniture also, usually in dark wood finishes like Walnut. We strive to have a range of prices from high end to average, in an effort to offer everyone an opportunity to collect. There is always a nice selection of Mid Century and vintage lighting from Europe and America, 60’s and 70’s German Fat Lava ceramics, 60’s Scandinavian glass, as well as Mid Century and retro Art – from paintings on canvas to hand pulled prints to vintage movie or propaganda posters. We carry vintage Scandinavian Rya rugs, and large scale retro European fabrics suitable for use as wall art – some already stretched and ready to hang. And there is often a nice selection of vintage teak kitchenware, and small objects.
We endeavor to offer a cozy no-pressure environment where customers can shop in private without sales people hovering, or they can just hang out enjoying a coffee with us and spending the afternoon chatting about travel or politics or collecting or life if they feel like it! We are such a small business that our customers can feel more like friends than customers…if they are inclined to that kind of relationship. They know that they can call me on the phone a week after coming in and not only will I remember them, but I’ll drive the desk or table or easy chair they want to their curbside with nothing more formal than the promise that they’ll hand me a check when I get there.
At Be Modern, we hope to emulate our unique version of Danish “hygge” – a feel-good environment that is comfortable and aesthetically satisfying, warm, and friendly.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I think the most credit should go to my Danish friends of over 30 years. Not only were they instrumental in my becoming fluent in Danish (which enabled me to more easily begin this business) but back when I was still only importing, they put me up for months at a time – they fed me, did my laundry, and helped me with logistics. With an unwavering good nature, they schlepped furniture with me from estate sales to my warehouse, they scanned the newspapers with me for the sales, and they helped me pack (by hand) many a 40-foot shipping container with furniture for little more than a hug and a six pack of good beer when it was done…. Best friends EVER. (Thanks Mette, Trine, Carsten, Henry, and Oline!)
Contact Info:
- Address: Be Modern
39 South Main St
Ipswich, MA 01938 - Website: https://www.BeModernOnline.com
- Phone: 978-395-1350
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/BeModernOnline
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeDanishModern
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/be-modern-ipswich?osq+be+modern
Image Credit:
Lorin Hesse
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