BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Home furnishings retailer West Elm announced today the launch of West Elm LOCAL Experiences, expanding the company’s commitment to investing in creative communities and local economies. West Elm LOCAL Experiences allows customers to engage with artists and makers through unique experiences and come away with a new skill or knowledge that reflects local culture and craft. The program builds upon the success of West Elm LOCAL launched in 2013, which provides more than 1,000 makers, designers, and artists an opportunity to sell their work at West Elm stores in their community. West Elm LOCAL products are found at more than 100 West Elm stores, showcasing 8,000+ products as well as a limited assortment of the ‘Best of LOCAL’ available on WestElm.com/LOCAL.
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“The success of our West Elm LOCAL program, coupled with our customers’ interest in engaging experiences, inspired us to further invest in creative entrepreneurs and local communities,” said Mo Mullen, Vice President of Business Development at West Elm. “We are adding a new depth to the program by offering authentic, curated experiences with our artisan partners that match their talents with our customers’ affinities. These interactive opportunities offer a personal, human connection to a destination city or hometown delivered through the creative lens of a local artist.”
Starting March 13, customers can purchase a West Elm LOCAL Experience with one of five LOCAL makers in select markets including Austin, Brooklyn, Charleston, Detroit and Savannah on WestElm.com. Costs per session start at $130 and sessions are scheduled to run in each market from April through May 2018. The experiences range from a metalworking workshop with a master welder in Austin to an indigo dyeing workshop in a Brooklyn artist’s studio. LOCAL Experiences include:
- Art Welding with Jack Sanders at his metal work studio with campfire happy hour and live music in Austin, TX
- Natural Indigo Dyeing with Shira Entis conducting an intimate natural fiber indigo dyeing workshop in the artist’s Brooklyn, NY studio
- Draw Charleston with Raven Roxanne and join an artist-led sketch session and hidden gems walk in historic Charleston, SC
- Cutting + Tasting Trays with Andre Sandifer + Abir Ali hosted at a fire station turned furniture design studio in Detroit, MI
- Punch Needle Textiles with Pamela Wiley during a workshop to create a hand-tufted textile composition in Savannah, GA
In celebration of the launch of West Elm LOCAL Experiences, West Elm, in partnership with LOCAL artist Raven Roxanne and AFAR Magazine, will give away an art and design-inspired weekend getaway to Charleston. The winner will receive two nights at the elegant Zero George Hotel, flight vouchers, a private city tour and products by Raven Roxanne, plus a two-year subscription to AFAR Travel Magazine in addition to a West Elm gift card. Beginning March 15, enter the sweepstakes by visiting: www.WestElm.com/LOCALexperiences.
The launch of the West Elm LOCAL Experiences program coincides with the Summer catalog arriving in customer mailboxes on March 20. For more information about West Elm LOCAL Experiences, visit www.WestElm.com/LOCAL.
About West Elm
Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY since 2002, West Elm opened its first store in DUMBO, the neighborhood it still proudly calls home. With a mission of harnessing the power of design and human connection to enrich lives, everything West Elm does is designed to make an impact in everyday life, from creating unique, affordable designs for modern living and commitment to Fair Trade Certified, from LOCAL and handcrafted products to community-driven collaborations and events. The brand operates more than 100 retail stores as well as e-commerce websites in the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK, ships internationally to customers around the world, and has unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in Mexico, Middle East, Philippines and South Korea. In addition to home furnishings retail, West Elm operates West Elm Workspace in the commercial furnishings industry and announced its expansion into the travel and hospitality industry with the launch of West Elm Hotels. West Elm publishes the blog Front+Main and is part of an active community on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube. West Elm is a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) portfolio of brands.
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