Volker Haug Studio is a Melbourne-based decorative lighting practice where a team of designers and makers create lighting defined by experimentation, discovery, and careful craftsmanship. The studio produces made-to-order pieces that balance pared-back forms with a sense of playfulness and individuality, resulting in elegant, finely detailed lighting designed to endure. Alongside its core decorative ranges, the studio also collaborates on site-specific projects and limited editions, with its work appearing in projects by internationally recognised architects and designers.
Before working with Tall Books
Prior to engaging Tall Books, the studio relied on a different bookkeeping provider. As the business expanded, the arrangement began to strain under the growing scale and complexity of the studio’s operations.
Volker Haug, Managing Director, explained the situation directly:
“We had a different bookkeeper who wasn’t able to handle the scale of our business very well.”
As the studio’s project work increased and financial activity became more complex, the limitations of that system became more visible. What had once been manageable bookkeeping gradually turned into a source of operational friction.
The issues were practical rather than dramatic. Processes slowed down, and inconsistencies began to appear in financial records. According to Haug, the experience was characterised by speed issues and accounting errors.
For a studio balancing design work, fabrication schedules, and collaborations with architects and designers, delays in financial administration quickly become a distraction. Leadership needed financial information that was dependable, current, and structured enough to support decision-making as the business continued to grow.
“We provided Tall Books with an overview of our business and met with Sam through a Video call. He presented accounting solutions that could help us capture and integrate the system that we had developed to run the business.”- Volker Haug, Managing Director
Recognising the need for change
The need for a new approach became clear as the studio’s growth accelerated. With more projects, more transactions, and more operational complexity, accurate bookkeeping became increasingly important.
The issue was not simply compliance. It was visibility. Leadership required a clearer view of the business’s financial position so that the studio could maintain confidence in its reporting and understand how the business was performing as it expanded.
The combination of accounting mistakes and slow processes made it clear that a more capable bookkeeping structure was required.
Finding Tall Books
The studio first encountered Tall Books through independent research while exploring alternatives.
As Haug described:
“We searched on the internet finding numerous companies like Tall Books and considered employing a part-time bookkeeper.”
Rather than immediately committing to a new provider, the studio evaluated several options. The process involved assessing available services and determining the approach that best aligned with the studio’s existing systems.
The decision ultimately followed an initial discussion with the Tall Books team. During that meeting, the studio shared an overview of its business and financial structure.
What mattered in that conversation was not simply the promise of bookkeeping services but the ability to integrate with how the studio already operated. The proposed solutions demonstrated an understanding of the studio’s workflow rather than requiring it to rebuild its systems from scratch.
That alignment helped establish confidence that Tall Books could support the studio’s operations as they continued to grow.
Scope of support
Today, Tall Books manages key bookkeeping functions for Volker Haug Studio. The work includes maintaining financial records, reconciling accounts, and handling statutory reporting obligations such as IAS and BAS submissions.
These services ensure that the studio’s financial records remain accurate and compliant while removing the need for internal staff to manage those processes themselves.
The bookkeeping function now operates as an integrated external system supporting the studio’s internal operations. Financial administration continues consistently in the background while the studio focuses on design development, production, and collaboration with project partners.
Results and improvements
Since working with Tall Books, the studio has seen noticeable improvements in the reliability and organisation of its financial records.
The most immediate outcome has been consistency. The studio’s books are now maintained regularly and remain current, providing leadership with accurate financial information when it is needed.
Over time, this reliability has removed uncertainty around financial administration. Instead of dealing with delayed updates or correcting errors, the studio now works with a system that functions predictably and efficiently.
The result is a more stable operational environment where financial oversight supports the business rather than disrupting it.
Impact on day-to-day operations
Perhaps the most meaningful change has been the effect on daily work and personal time.
Previously, financial administration created additional pressure on the studio’s leadership. With Tall Books managing the bookkeeping processes, that responsibility has largely been removed from the internal team.
As Haug described the difference:
“I personally have my life and weekends back. With all the tools at our disposal, we do not have to worry about our accounts again, and Tall Books interacts directly with our Accountant.”
The change is both practical and cultural. Financial management is now handled professionally and consistently, while leadership can focus on running the business rather than maintaining accounting systems.
For a design studio built around creativity, experimentation, and craftsmanship, that shift allows energy to remain directed toward the work itself.
Professional acknowledgement
The studio also acknowledged the Tall Books team members who have supported the relationship, specifically Ellen Wright, Sam Burmeister, and Emilie Chapman. Their support has been part of the studio’s ongoing experience working with Tall Books.
The acknowledgement reflects the working relationship between the studio and the Tall Books team, recognising the individuals who have been involved in maintaining the studio’s accounts and supporting its financial processes.
Outcome and ongoing impact
For Volker Haug Studio, engaging Tall Books provided more than bookkeeping support. It established a financial structure capable of supporting a growing creative practice.
Where the previous system struggled with scale and accuracy, the current arrangement offers stability, reliable reporting, and consistent compliance management. Financial administration now operates quietly and effectively in the background.
That stability allows the studio to focus on the work that defines it, designing and producing lighting pieces that combine experimentation, craft, and enduring design.