Meet Alex Harrison: Blending Tradition & Innovation in Outdoor Living
Harrison Outdoor is a name that carries both personal meaning and a commitment to quality. Founder and owner Alex Harrison chose to name the company after his family’s legacy—his father once ran Harrison Cabinetmaking, and Alex wanted to honor that tradition while building his own reputation for excellence. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Harrison Outdoor has been operating for less than a year, but Alex’s passion for outdoor experiences runs deep. A former Boy Scout, he grew up camping and later realized that all the things he loved about the outdoors could be even more enjoyable with added comfort. That realization, combined with his background in furniture making, naturally led him to the glamping industry, where he now designs and provides high-quality outdoor furniture for campgrounds and luxury outdoor stays across the country.
What is unique about your approach to glamping?
Glamping to me, is anything nicer than sleeping in small tent on the ground. This means that staying in an RV at a campground is Glamping. These days there are so many really fun ways to glamp and my company offers a huge range of options that would be perfect for a small family run RV park, to the nicest glamping spots and even the fanciest hotels and resorts around the world.
What’s the most innovative thing your company has done in the last year?
I can't say we have done anything to push the boundaries of the glamping industry in the short time my company has been around. With that said, we are giving away a $2,100.00 (retail) Panama Jack 4 Piece patio set to a lucky winner. All you have to do is enter your name and what area of the hospitality business you're in and your registered for a chance to win. This will be live, along with the website soon!
How do you incorporate sustainability into your business practices?
One thing we are offering a lot these days, is our ability to Factory Refurbish patio furniture. We strip the old finish and material off and re-powder coat and install new sling or strap furniture, preventing the old frames from ending up in the landfill. It's also (usually) much better value than replacing everything with brand new.
What’s one product, service, or idea you wish existed in the glamping industry?
I would probably say the same thing as I did in the last question. So much of the commercial outdoor furniture is completely refurbish-able, eliminating so much trash and saving money. While Glamping is luxurious and fun, it should still be encouraging sustainability as much as possible.
What role do community and collaboration play in your business?
I engage in my local community through sponsorship of and volunteering with a youth organization as well as being a member of 2 chambers of commerce, the South East Florida Apartment Association and other organizations.
Can you share a story of how your work has positively impacted a customer or community?
As an out and proud gay man, especially in the current climate of our country, I feel it is my duty to ensure that everyone has a safe place and knows they have people who will care for and protect them. One of the ways I do this is through financial support from my company as well as volunteering with an LGBT youth organization here in Fort Lauderdale. The organization helps homeless LGBT youth find safe places to stay, food and medical care as well as offer an array of youth oriented events to provide a sense of community and safety.
What do you see as the next big shift in consumer expectations in the glamping industry?
I see the expectations coming in 2 ways. First, I expect that people will look for these opportunities in more remote/extreme places with "insta-worthy" views. I also expect that more of these opportunities will be found through the same sorts of platforms. I would even venture that there may soon be ways to book these places directly from those aps, just by clicking on the picture someone else posted of that spot. (And that it will create that link automatically, using Ai).
What challenges do you see the industry facing, and how are you addressing them?
The challenge with the purchase of commercial outdoor furniture is that in most cases the buyer must go to some enormous warehouse style store and choose from an overwhelming selection or experience the same situation through an online website, where they can't touch or see the product in person. We are working on creating "Micro-showrooms" to be placed in strategic locations around the country. Each with a small selection of product from our various brands, allowing customers to see the quality of the product and samples of the available colors, in a calm, quiet and low pressure situation where they can relax, sip on an espresso or glass of Champagne and speak with our designers to put together the perfect package for their needs and budget.
Can you share a recent success story or milestone your company has achieved?
While not a ground breaking moment for the industry, the furniture for Harrison Outdoor Furniture's first large sale to an HOA arrives on Friday from the manufacturer on the West Coast of Florida!
What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned in the glamping industry?
Honestly, the lesson I keep learning is how far far beyond my expectations of camping, things have come. I am constantly amazed at the beautiful huge tent structures, how sophisticated and glamorous the situations and products have become. It pushes me to expand my own ideas of what is possible.
If you could spend a week at any glamping site in the world, where would it be and why?
I have lived in the Northeast for half of my life and the South (mostly South Florida) for the other half of my life, so I have seen mountains/snow/leaves changing colors etc. I have also seen beautiful beaches, palm trees, white sand. So my dream locations would be ... A beautiful glamorous tent in the middle of a vineyard in Sonoma or possibly somewhere in the high desert of Montana on a grassy plateau at the base of a snow capped mountain.
How do you stay inspired and creative in your work?
I love design and textiles, especially leather and often create things as gifts for friends and family or to use in my own home. For our (my life partner and I) holiday party at our house, I made placemats out of leather to dress up our dinner table. We also went a bit crazy at Pottery Barn to finish things off. I wish there was a place I could attach a picture... it turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself!
What’s your vision for the future of your company within the glamping industry?
My long term goals and plans are to continue becoming more involved in the Glamping Industry and continue to learn how I can be of more assistance to those in the industry and work together to help each other grow.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had with a client or partner?
Early on in my adult life, I worked for a boat manufacturing company in New Jersey. The company made expensive fishing boats with large engines built into them. We had 2 customers who purchased boats and had major problems with the engines, that caused their boats to be inoperable for the better half of their first year of ownership. I was tasked as the "Warranty Manager" and spent months being, literally, screamed at by the customers, the engine company, the propeller company as well as the owner of the company I worked for. Each blaming the issue on the other, until I finally had enough and called engine service companies I learned were the best in their respective locations, near the problematic boats. I told each engine service company that I didn't care what it cost, just get the boats working for the customers and I would make sure they got paid.
A couple of months later, a package shows up at our office addressed to me. Inside was an entire case of Moet Chandon Champagne along with a hand written card, by one of the boat owners, thanking me profusely for finally getting their boat running. A week later, another box, this time with an enormous bottle of Grey Goose and another hand written note, thanking me for finally getting their boat running. A few days later, the owner of the boat company came into my office, having heard what I'd done, leaned over the desk and proceeded to scream, spit and snarl at me, saying that I had no authority to do what I'd done or commit the company to those expenses.
A couple of months later, I was fired. I learned a couple of things from that which I have brought with me into my own company. First and foremost, I hated that job and if I was ever going to be fired from a job, I want it to be because I did the right thing. Secondly, my customers are always treated fairly, even if it costs me money. Being fair and honest to customers, is more than about a bottom line ... it's one of the things that makes us human and should be celebrated, not frown upon for a profit.
If you could write a book about your journey in the glamping industry, what would the title be and why?
As I am new to the Glamping industry, it would be a very short book! But I'd likely title it ... Lost and Found, my realization that I can have the parts of camping I love, without the parts I don't.
How is your company innovating within the glamping space?
We are introducing more and more recycled products as well as promoting our ability to refurbish contract furniture back to new.
What do you think the future of glamping looks like?
I see it continuing to grow and expand. Where once there may have been a campground full of old wood lean-to's and outhouses(full of bugs, like my Boy Scout days), there may be dozens of beautiful tent structures and clean bathrooms!
Share a quote that inspires you in your work, and explain why it resonates with you.
FAILURE = Fall, Acknowledge, Investigate, Learn, Understand, Realign, Evolve. In my life, I fail often but every failure is a lesson and I will continue to fail until I succeed
