Retailer Showcases the Creative Capital's Local Makers and Artisans on the East Side of Providence
Home furnishings retailer West
Elm today announced the opening of its new store in Providence’s
Wayland Square neighborhood on Thursday, September 1 at 10 a.m. The
11,473 square-foot store is the Brooklyn-based retailer's first store in
Rhode Island, bringing approximately 30 jobs to the area. West Elm’s
newest retail location in Wayland Square features the brand’s unique
fall assortment for modern living, a selection of Rhode Island handmade
goods as part of the West Elm LOCAL program, and their signature Design
Lab featuring complimentary design services.
“We are thrilled to be opening a store in Rhode Island with its
longstanding reputation for supporting independent industrial design,
both in its storied heritage and diversity of contemporary makers as
well as through the labs and workshops of Brown University and Rhode
Island Institute of Design,” said West Elm president Jim Brett. “We are
excited to engage in this creative landscape where residents are
committed to supporting the local economy and designers.”
West Elm Providence incorporates unique design elements that pay homage
to Rhode Island’s history and coastal proximity. There is an overall
coastal theme to the store -- vintage fishing buoys sourced from the
Brimfield Flea Market are strung on ropes on the back of the customer
checkout and the front of the counter is crafted from reclaimed tin
ceiling panels in a unique scalloped pattern.
To celebrate the opening, West Elm has partnered with Providence-based
artist Allison
Cole Illustration to design an exclusive tote bag that will be
presented to the first 300 shoppers with a $50 minimum purchase.
Additional store opening activities will include a sweepstakes*
offering local customers a chance to win a $2,000 gift card and an
invitation to a private pre-opening celebration on Wednesday, August 31
from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. to benefit AS220,
a local non-profit organization providing a local forum and home for the
arts, through the maintenance of residential and work studios,
galleries, performance and educational spaces.
A selection of locally made products by Rhode Island-based makers and
artisans will be available as part of the West Elm Providence LOCAL
assortment including:
-
Handmade
by Allison Cole: A stationery brand based out of Providence, Rhode
Island featuring bold graphic illustrations paired with hand-drawn
type, colorful phrases.
-
Modern
Memere: Each vintage-chic piece is hand picked, hand poured and
hand assembled in Rhode Island.
-
Noon
Designs: Thoughtfully designed handmade goods from Rhode Island
including timeless jewelry, letter pressed greeting cards, and bath
products.
-
Photon
Fabrications: Custom laser cut and engraved unique nautical gifts
from Bristol, Rhode Island.
-
Shore
Soap Co.: A handcrafted bath and body brand established in
Newport, Rhode Island that channels its inspiration from the sea to
create quality products.
For up-to-date information on in-store promotions and events, customers
are encouraged to Like the West Elm Providence store on Facebook: www.facebook.com/westelmprovidence
and follow the store on Instagram: @westelmprovidence.
West Elm Providence is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Sunday
12 p.m.- 6 p.m. The store’s address is 179 Wayland Avenue, Providence,
RI 02906 and the phone number is 401.274.1901.
*Open only to residents that live within the Providence, RI area.
Official rules of the sweepstakes can be found on the Providence
Sweepstakes page.
About West Elm
Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY since 2002, West Elm opened our first
store in DUMBO, the neighborhood we still proudly call home. With its
mission of helping customers express their personal style at home,
everything West Elm does is designed to make an impact in everyday life,
from creating unique, affordable designs for modern living to its
commitment to Fair Trade Certified product, from LOCAL and handcrafted
products to community-driven in-store events and collaborations. The
brand operates 100 retail stores in the United States, Australia, Canada
and the UK, ships internationally to customers around the world and
operates stores in Mexico, the Middle East and Philippines through
unaffiliated franchisees. In addition to home furnishings retail, West
Elm operates West Elm Workspace with Inscape in the commercial
furnishings industry. 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. portfolio of brands.
