When West Elm opens its first Minnesota store tomorrow, it will become the latest mass-market retailer for home furnishings, decor, entertaining and tabletop items within a few blocks in Edina. Here's a look at how the newcomer compares with nearby Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel.
Crate & Barrel: Warm, contemporary, classic.
Pottery Barn: All-American lifestyle, timeless.
West Elm: Modern, relaxed, global and natural influences.
Crate & Barrel: is college students, newlyweds, people furnishing
second homes.
Pottery Barn: is proprietary info.
West Elm: is design- and budget-conscious.
Crate & Barrel: Bauhaus-inspired "Arzberg" teapot.
Pottery Barn: Buttery leather club chair.
West Elm: Parson's tables and desk.
Crate & Barrel: About 110 sofa/sectionals from $499 to $5,196.
Pottery Barn: About 50 sofa/sectionals from $499 to $3,399.
West Elm: About 16 sofa/sectionals from $149 (a futon) to $3,045.
Crate & Barrel: Hallmark floating shelves for display.
Pottery Barn: They play their own CD compilations.
West Elm: Large on-site inventory for same-day purchase.
Crate & Barrel: www.crateandbarrel.com Sales, gift registry,
gift card balance check, corporate gift program.
Pottery Barn: www.potterybarn.com Sales, gift registry,
paint palette, room design, pillow choice tools.
West Elm: www.westelm.com Sales, tool for saving design ideas, assembly instructions.
Crate & Barrel: Yes
Pottery Barn: Yes
West Elm: No
Crate & Barrel: "The Dot" accent table.
Hammered metal shows some mettle, $229.
Pottery Barn: "Auburn" smart base desk lamp. Plug-ins recharge
personal electronics, $199.
West Elm: "Tree Stump" side table. Natural cypress wood
doubles as seating, $199.
Crate & Barrel: Aubergine, peacock blue, olive green.
Pottery Barn: Orange, yellow, green, bold prints.
West Elm: Warm gold, bronze, copper, cool silver, platinum.
Crate & Barrel: Tufted Azure sofa's prim parlor provenance.
Pottery Barn: Kitschy Halloween murals.
West Elm: Remsen file cabinet's clunky casters channel the '70s.
Crate and Barrel: Free wedding party events.
Pottery Barn: Free design consultations on request, free classes.
West Elm: Spot promos. Example: Domino free with online buy.
Crate & Barrel: MN: 1 U.S.: 160.
Pottery Barn: MN: 3 U.S.: 196.
West Elm: MN: 1 U.S.: 34.
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