Williams Sonoma : WEST ELM TO OPEN NEW RETAIL STORE IN PITTSBURGH

Home furnishings retailer West Elm announced today that it will open a new retail store in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 10am. Located in Bakery Square, the more than 10,000 square foot store will feature a curated selection of products made in Pennsylvania, part of West Elm’s LOCAL initiative. A limited edition Pittsburgh tote bag will be given away to the first 300 shoppers with a $50 minimum purchase.

West Elm’s LOCAL initiative, launched this year, taps into local entrepreneurship by empowering the teams in West Elm stores to find area makers and designers, building and nurturing a creative network that celebrates craftspeople and differentiates the brand with regional assortments. “We have an exciting opportunity to shine a spotlight on makers and artists in the communities where our stores are located," said West Elm president Jim Brett. “We’re opening ten stores in the United States this year and each one of them will have a local assortment that’s specific to their region.”

The Pittsburgh store includes products from the following Pennsylvania-based makers:

Last month, West Elm launched the We Love Local Small Business Grant*, a $25K cash prize designed to support one U.S. based artist, maker or designer as they grow and scale their business. “The prize can have a huge impact on a small business,” continued Brett. “The entry period ends on September 9^th and we’re hoping to see some of our partners and other makers from Pittsburgh enter.”

The West Elm Bakery Square store is designed to reflect the environment, culture and heritage of the area. The lofted ceiling is made out of reclaimed whitewashed pine. The back cash wrap has a collage of factory window frames with the glass removed. The result is a geometric play of mixed materials consisting of unfinished wood, painted wood, and metal. The front wrap is an installation of varied wooden materials pieced together with a finish resulting in a range of grays.

The Bakery Square store will be a creative, community-driven space designed to help customers discover their personal style at home. In the store’s Design Center – or in their home - customers can work with a free Home Stylist to pick paint colors, fabric swatches or design a furniture plan. The store will open with West Elm’s fall assortment, which includes an expanded collection of lighting, new collaborations and handcrafted pieces from Haiti, India, Peru and the Philippines. Opening week, sofas, sectionals and chairs will be on sale up to 25% off.

Additional store opening activities include a sweepstakes** that offers Pennsylvania residents a chance to win a $2,000 gift card. For up-to-date information on in-store promotions and events, Pittsburgh residents are encouraged to Like the Bakery Square store on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westelmbksq and follow the store on Instagram @westelmbksq. West Elm Bakery Square is open Monday- Saturday 10am-7pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm. The store’s address is 110 Bakery Square Blvd and the phone number is 412-661-0986.

About West Elm

Mixing clean lines, natural materials and handcrafted collections from the US and around the world, West Elm creates unique, affordable designs for modern living. The brand offers choice in products and services, builds community through connections with customers, collaborators and associates, and focuses on consciousness in everything we do, from handcrafted and local products to supply chain transparency and sustainability. Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, West Elm introduced its first catalog in 2002, followed by its first store in 2003. The brand’s complete assortment can be found in 60 retail stores in the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK and around-the-clock at www.westelm.com. We also offer international shipping to customers around the world and have an unaffiliated franchisee that operates stores in the Middle East. West Elm is part of an active community on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram and a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. portfolio of brands.

*NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Contest begins 12:00:00 a.m. ET on August 12, 2014 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on November 19, 2014; open only to residents of the 50 United States of America or the District of Columbia who are 18 years old or older as of entry time; see Official Rules for complete details at www.westelm.com/localgrant; Sponsor: Williams-Sonoma, Inc., on behalf of West Elm, 3250 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109.

**Deadline to enter sweepstakes is August 31, 2014. For official rules and entry form please visit westelm.com/pittsburghsweeps