Cleveland-based home furnishings retailer Arhaus is placing high value and special attention on its trade business. Under the direction of Skye Wescott, Arhaus has unveiled a brand-new trade program that includes 40% discounts and trade-focused sales staff at its 49 stores.
Westcott has taken on the role of Vice President of Interior Design and New Business Development. When she observed the retailer’s former program aimed at the interior designer community, she knew immediately that it was in need of a major overhaul.
Skye Westcott
With a new program comes a new name: Arhaus Trade Services (previously known as the Interior Design Program). With the relaunch, designers will no longer track and report sales to receive commission checks, but rather receive an upfront discount of 40% on regular-priced furniture and 20% on accessories and relics (one-of-a-kind reproductions of antiques).
With 49 stores throughout the country, Westcott is also tasked with hiring staff that will be specifically dedicated to trade customers. Those associates will not work on commission, and according to Westcott, that is purely to benefit the interior designers.
Arhaus product
“Trade is such a small percentage of our business but with the right program, we can turn that around,” said Westcott. “We’ve looked at the program from every angle to make it easier and more appealing to the designer.”
In addition to discounts, Arhaus’ trade clients will have the added benefit of order support with a Trade Services Specialist at any store; order tracking and delivery assistance; custom quotes and memo sampling; warranty on furniture and accessories; added support from Client Services; financing through the Archarge credit card; notifications of trade-only promotions, events and giveaways; exclusive sneak peeks at new designs and collections; acknowledgement of work on its social channels; and editorial “feature” opportunities on its “greenhaus” blog.
Arhaus product
“Skye has an incredible amount of experience in retail with some amazing names in the home category, not to mention she’s a seasoned interior designer with a number of impressive projects under belt,” said John Reed, Arhaus’ Founder, Chairman and CEO. “She was instrumental in introducing a number of home brands to the market, many that are now nationally known, and she’s implemented several of designer-driven programs. We have the right person in place to introduce Arhaus to this client group and drive future business."
The program officially launched with a kick-off party in New York City last Thursday. An additional event will be held in Chicago on Thursday, October 9, and more cities will see the outreach soon.
Westcott was formerly the Senior Vice President at Lillian August, the Senior Vice President of Stores & Marketing at ABC Carpet & Home and prior to that she worked with Anthropologie and IKEA.
For additional information about Arhaus’ Trade Services program and to apply for membership, click here.
