Read the Latest Issue
HD MAGAZINE
Inspiration at your fingertips
Sign up for the latest edition of Hospitality Design magazine and HD's various newsletters
DIGITAL EDITION PRINT SUBSCRIPTION NEWSLETTERS
ARCHIVED ISSUES
HD EXPO + CONFERENCE
See you in 2025!
Save the date for the industry's leading event in Las Vegas, May 6–8th, 2025
HD EXPO + CONFERENCE
        • Projects
          • Development + Destinations
          • Boutique + Lifestyle
          • F+B
          • Hotels + Resorts
          • Retail + Commercial
          • Wellness + Sustainability
        • People
          • Interviews
          • Podcasts
          • Webinars
        • News
          • Business + People
          • Boutique + Lifestyle
          • Development + Destinations
          • F+B
          • Five on Friday
          • Hotels + Resorts
          • Retail + Commercial
          • Wellness + Sustainability
        • Products
          • Accesories + Art
          • Bath + Spa
          • Beds + Bedding
          • Flooring.
          • Furniture
          • Lighting
          • Outdoor
          • Roundups
          • Surfaces
          • Technology
          • Textiles
        • Videos
          • Awards + Events
          • BDNY
          • HD Expo + Conference
          • HDTV
          • Partner Spotlight
        • Awards + Events
          • HD Expo + Conference
          • BDNY
          • HD Awards
          • HD Summit
          • HD NextGen Forum
          • HD Platinum Circle Awards
          • HD CitySCENE
          • HD Wave of the Future
          • BD Forums
          • BD Match
          • Gold Key Awards
          • Senior Lifestyle Design Match
          • Event Photos
HD MAGAZINE
Inspiration at your fingertips
Sign up for the latest edition of Hospitality Design magazine and HD's various newsletters
DIGITAL EDITION PRINT SUBSCRIPTION NEWSLETTERS
ARCHIVED ISSUES
HD EXPO + CONFERENCE
See you in 2025!
Save the date for the industry's leading event in Las Vegas, May 6–8th, 2025
HD EXPO + CONFERENCE
Follow Along
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
M
POPULAR SEARCHES
PODCASTS
WEBINARS
FURNITURE
PROJECTS
VIDEO INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEWS
M
    
Search IconA magnifying glass icon.
  • News
    • Business + People
    • Boutique + Lifestyle
    • Development + Destinations
    • F+B
    • Five on Friday
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Retail + Commercial
    • Wellness + Sustainability
  • Projects
    • Development + Destinations
    • Boutique + Lifestyle
    • F+B
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Retail + Commercial
    • Wellness + Sustainability
  • People
    • Interviews
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
  • Products
    • Accessories + Art
    • Bath + Spa
    • Beds + Bedding
    • Flooring
    • Furniture
    • Lighting
    • Outdoor
    • Roundups
    • Surfaces
    • Technology
    • Textiles
  • Awards + Events
    • HD Expo + Conference
    • BDNY
    • HD Awards
    • HD Summit
    • HD NextGen Forum
    • HD Platinum Circle Awards
    • HD CitySCENE
    • HD Wave of the Future
    • BD Forums
    • BD Match
    • Gold Key Awards
    • Event Photos
  • Videos
    • Awards + Events
    • BDNY
    • HD Expo + Conference
    • HDTV
    • Partner Spotlight
  • Subscribe
    • HD Newsletters
    • HD Magazine – Print
    • HD Magazine – Digital
    • BD Newsletters
    • BD Magazine
Read the Latest Issue

PEOPLE:

Interviews
September 13, 2022

Brand Spotlight: TUUCI

TUUCI founder Dougan Clarke turns the focus on outdoor environments

Words by: Kathryn Greene
People:
Interviews
September 13, 2022

Brand Spotlight: TUUCI

TUUCI founder Dougan Clarke turns the focus on outdoor environments

Words by: Kathryn Greene

Born and raised near Florida’s coastline, Dougan Clarke’s lifestyle revolved around the outdoors. As a teenager, he landed a job working at the boat shop of a family friend, Fred Herman, followed by a stint at a patio shop in his early 20s. When he decided to start his own company 25 years ago, he went back to the boat shop, launching TUUCI in a few hundred square feet in the back.

What led you to launching TUUCI?
There was a moment while I worked in the patio shop when I realized there must be a better way to make an umbrella, one that could prevent the constant service calls our company had to make on account of cheap umbrellas not surviving Miami’s brutal oceanfront, wind, and salt spray conditions. I knew I could craft something far more durable at the boat shop where I had spent so many years rigging boats and making custom products for one of the most demanding environments on earth: the open ocean.

What is the company’s philosophy?
Our focus continues to be on form and function. We’re committed to the mission of providing the most durable and design-driven shade equipment. That same commitment extends to the experiences shared with our internal team members, vendors, and the communities we support.

solanox tuuci

The Solanox cabana’s sleek modular design can be built to custom specifications, making the outdoors feel luxurious

How do your products enhance the outdoors?
Creating comfort and accessibility in open-air environments embodies the definition of hospitality. Although the creative process itself is enjoyable, true delight comes from knowing that someone, somewhere may appreciate a moment of comfort and tranquility beneath a TUUCI parasol or among our collective furnishing designs.

What trends are you paying attention to?
The pandemic caused a tectonic shift in lifestyles. Our focus remains on creating enhancements to open-air lifestyles and experiences via products that create comfortable spaces to extend the day, night, and entire outdoor season.

What is your best business advice?
Replace yourself. Replace yourself. Replace yourself. There is so much value in embracing and applying these words within the variable and imperfect science of building a company. Being humble enough to realize that many other people can perform any job better than yourself is a strength to lean into. Our business philosophy is to empower the right talent and help them achieve their personal goals. The intersection of personal fulfillment and peak professional performance is a place our company endeavors to occupy.

stringray tuuci

Rotating 360 degrees around its vertical axis, the Stingray shade sculpture can create shade at any time of day

This interview is part of a series highlighting some of the hospitality industry’s most successful manufacturers. Read our previous interviews with Bryan Ashley, Fabric Innovations, Durkan, and Bernhardt Hospitality.

Interviews

SHARE

em

ln

fb

pn

tw

← Previous Interview Next Interview →
People Interviews

John Grossman Reinvents His Legacy

Apr 28, 2025

People Interviews

Ronan Bouroullec Carves Out His Next Chapter

Mar 26, 2025

HD MAGAZINE
hospitality design magazine august 2024 issue product marketplace

Inspiration at your fingertips

Get the newest issue of Hospitality Design magazine

DIGITAL EDITION

PRINT SUBSCRIPTION
ARCHIVED ISSUES
HD NEWSLETTERS

Join the list

Sign up for HD's various newsletters
for exclusive weekly content
SUBSCRIBE

BD MAGAZINE + NEWSLETTER

boutique design magazine fall 2024 issue

Sign up!

Don't miss the latest from Boutique Design

NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

SUBSCRIBE

ARCHIVED ISSUES

About | Contact | Buyers Guide | Advertise | Advisory Board | Sitemap

FOLLOW US ON

  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

Subscribe

Emerald Logo
© 2025 Emerald X, LLC. All Rights Reserved
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSYour Privacy ChoicesTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

Sign up to stay informed about our latest awards and events.

Follow Along
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

Sign up to stay informed about our latest awards and events.

Follow Along
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow