How BOWERBIRD Interiors secured a warehouse lease without tying up cash

• BOWERBIRD Interiors needed a larger warehouse to support its growing styling and design business.
• A traditional bank guarantee for a commercial lease would have tied up valuable cash at a time when the business was investing in fitout, equipment, and expansion.
• eGuarantee provided a digital Lease Bond, allowing BOWERBIRD to secure the warehouse and free up working capital for the business.
• The flexibility of the Lease Bond helped make the preferred warehouse commercially viable.
• For growing businesses, a Lease Bond can offer a practical bank guarantee alternative in Australia when lease security is limiting cash flow.

BOWERBIRD Interiors an Australian interior styling and design business founded in 2013 by creative partners Lauren and Geoff Lewis.

What began in a spare bedroom has since scaled into one of Australia’s most recognised interior styling and design firms, complete with a bustling team, an expansive warehouse, and a reputation for homes that don’t just look good, they move people.

As Managing Director, Geoff Lewis has grown BOWERBIRD beyond its styling roots into a full-service design and business solutions powerhouse. Alongside Lauren’s creative direction, the duo has reimagined more than 3,000 properties, proving that great design should inspire and deliver a strong return.

With business management and real estate expertise, Geoff brings a rare mix of strategy and style — seeing design not just as an art form, but as a driver of value.

As BOWERBIRD Interiors scaled, a new warehouse became essential to house their growing collection of styling equipment. But in Sydney, securing the right industrial space is no small feat. Beyond the competitive market, the upfront costs of fitout, shelving, and equipment were significant. Adding to the pressure, commercial leases typically require a bank guarantee — locking away valuable capital with the bank.

For Geoff Lewis, Managing Director, that was a deal-breaker.

“We chose eGuarantee to free up a whole bunch of working capital to allow our business to continue to scale.”

By choosing eGuarantee’s bank guarantee alternative, BOWERBIRD kept cash in the business where it mattered most — funding operations, supporting staff, and driving growth. The new warehouse wasn’t just an address change; it was a strategic step that enabled the firm to expand services and deliver even more value to clients, without the handbrake of tied-up capital.

What does a bank guarantee costs a growing business?

A bank guarantee for a commercial lease can involve establishment and ongoing fees. Depending on the arrangement, the bank may also require the business to provide cash or other security equal to the guarantee amount.

For a growing business, that can mean valuable capital is unavailable for fitouts, stock, equipment, or other expansion costs.

BOWERBIRD Interiors didn’t just upgrade their fit-out — they upgraded their lease security. Instead of parking cash in a dusty old bank guarantee, they chose eGuarantee: the digital way to secure space and keep capital moving.

For their commercial lease, eGuarantee delivered what the old system couldn’t: speed, freedom, and security that actually works for both sides.

“From the first call, it was effortless. The platform made approval quick, and the people made it easy,” says Geoff.

Why BOWERBIRD chose a lease bond

• Cash stayed in the business: Instead of being tied up as lease security, working capital remained available for fitout, equipment, and other business priorities.

• Fast, frictionless digital approvals: The Lease Bond could be managed digitally without relying on traditional bank paperwork.

• Support that’s actually supportive: Geoff describes the process as straightforward, with the eGuarantee team supporting the transaction from the first call through to approval.

Flexibility made all the difference in BOWERBIRD Interiors’ search for the right warehouse.
With eGuarantee, they stepped into a new space with room to grow—without locking away working capital.

“The ability to use eGuarantee versus another site that required us to tie up a whole bunch of working capital was the deciding factor in committing to this location,” says Geoff.

The outcome? BOWERBIRD Interiors secured a warehouse that matched both their design vision and their operational needs—while keeping their cash free to fuel growth.

Scaling companies know one truth: cash flow is king. Whether opening a flagship showroom or upgrading to a larger warehouse, tying up funds in a bank guarantee stalls momentum.

eGuarantee unlocks that momentum by:

• Cutting out banks and their slow paperwork

• Freeing capital for inventory, talent, and marketing

• Offering a fast, digital alternative to outdated guarantees

“I’d really recommend eGuarantee for anyone looking to grow their business,” Geoff says.

BOWERBIRD Interiors’ story shows what’s possible when businesses unlock capital and ditch the old bank model. With eGuarantee, they secured the perfect lease and scaled without compromise.