Since its launch in Brooklyn, New York in 2002, West Elm has become a favorite destination for design lovers. Mixing clean lines, natural textures and global accents, they create unique, affordable designs for modern living. With a product range that includes bedroom, dining room, living room and outdoor furniture, in addition to bedding, bath, rugs, window, tabletop, and decorative accessories; they have the answer to solve your home decorating woes.
When West Elm opened their first store in the Middle East at Grand Avenue, they brought with them the same unique blend they have become known for worldwide, an eclectic look: modern, classic, natural, and global. Much like its customers, West Elm is all about this mix. Their distinctive and original product mix reflects the varied inspirations from nature, ancient cultures, modern icons, humble everyday objects and industrial era manufacturing. Inspiration is also drawn from visual arts and crafts, and the way artisans live. They also cite simplicity as a major component of their style, noting that sometime it is the minimalist of designs that packs the most punch.
Part of West Elm’s ethos is to provide a platform for the arts and local artists, and they are passionate about showcasing works that are interesting, and offer a unique insight into the local culture. They are currently calling all Kuwaiti painters, sculptors and mix media artists (with a preference for students and those who haven’t made their first break into fame yet) to submit portfolios in order to exhibit their works at the West Elm store. Having launched with artist Hamad during the store’s grand opening, they continue to look for new and innovative artists to feature. As a permanent fixture of the store, and with a rolling calendar of artists, they are looking to bring an innovative backdrop to your in-store perusing. The current aim is to offer artists a showing duration of two weeks, thus allowing both enough time to get their work shown, while still providing something new for their customers to see all the time-consider it part of a very unique and ever-changing shopping experience. They truly consider this to be a mutually beneficial situation as well as they are keenly aware that it can help them as much as the artist themselves: they will provide artists with prime exhibiting space for free and spread the word about your exhibition, as well as assist in selling your art through the store (commission free mind you!). As they are specifically looking for artists who can exhibit from August onwards, in addition to sketch artists or painters who can create the art in-store for a week during Ramadan, now would be a perfect time to get in touch.
As for the store offerings themselves, they also offer a unique array of services not always found amongst their competition. First, through their Design Lab- they offer an in store space for customers to explore and get inspired. From finding fabric swatches to styling a whole home, customers can partner with a specially trained sales associate to plan projects together free of charge. Next, they also offer in-home-consultation services. Through this service customers can arrange for an associate to visit their house to help measure, plan a space, or pick color palettes. Both of the above services above are offered free of charge to the customers as well. Lastly, they also offer monogramming service where customers have the option to personalize their purchased items with a name or phrase. I wonder how much to write ‘mine’ on everything I own?
Through its exclusive product range, from modern functional furniture to designer pieces, West Elm makes it simple for customers to express their own personal style.
Outstanding customer service is a hallmark of the brand and to prove it, they start with a rather ambitious edict: to please all its customers all the time! Bold words that we should all be so lucky as to have a store live up to.
For further information or to submit your portfolio, please contact West Elm’s marketing manager, Victoria Hogg at victoria.hogg@alshaya.com. West Elm in Kuwait is located at Grand Avenue – The Avenues, and can be reached by phone at 2228 3069. You can also find them online at http://www.westelm.me.
