WEST ELM TO OPEN FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA LOCATION IN CHARLESTON

Introduces nine South Carolina makers and artists as part of its LOCAL initiative

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--West Elm:

What:	Home furnishings retailer West Elm will open its first South Carolina retail store in the Upper King District of Charleston on Thursday, August 13 at 10am. The nearly 10,000 square foot store will open with West Elm’s Fall 2015 product assortment, a suite of complimentary design services and feature crafted goods by nine local artists and makers as part of West Elm’s LOCAL initiative. The new store is expected to bring an estimated 25-30 jobs to the growing Charleston community.
	To celebrate the opening, West Elm partnered with Charleston-based artist Sarah Reed of Dodeline Design to design an exclusive tote bag, which will be given away to the first 300 shoppers with a $50 minimum purchase. Additional store opening activities include a sweepstakes* that offers local customers a chance to win a $2,000 gift, and a special invitation to the pre-opening celebration on August 12from 6pm-8pm. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to the Preservation Society of Charleston.
	For up-to-date information on in-store promotions and events, customers are encouraged to like the store page on Facebook at Facebook.com/westelmcharleston and on Instagram @WestElmCharleston.
When:	The grand opening will take place on Thursday, August 13 at 10am. The store hours are Mon-Wed 10am-6pm, Thurs-Sat 10am-7pm and Sun 12pm-6pm.
Where:	West Elm Charleston is located at 484 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403. The store phone number is 843.720.3580.
Why:	“As we continue to expand, we look to make a positive impact on the community we are entering – from supporting local artisans to expanding the job market,” said West Elm president Jim Brett. "We are proud to open our first store in South Carolina and introduce Charleston to new LOCAL designers and artists from across the state.”
	The Charleston LOCAL assortment will include custom designs and a collection of prints and wall hangings designed by artists 42 Pressed, Kristen Solecki, Overton Iron Works, PerlaAnne, and SunWoven; an assortment of stationery designed by Dodeline Design, Sideshow Press and artist Teil Duncan; and handcrafted wood cutting boards and rolling pins designed by Slab.
About:	The store’s design details and installations are unique to West Elm Charleston and emphasize West Elm’s commitment to consciousness and preservation. The front cash wrap consists of locally sourced, reclaimed stair spindles installed horizontally over barnwood planks while the back cash wrap is constructed of thoughtfully stacked, reclaimed ash wood paneling.
	West Elm helps customers express their personal style at home. Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, the brand introduced its first catalog in 2002, and opened its first store in 2003 in DUMBO, the Brooklyn neighborhood it still proudly calls home. Everything West Elm does is designed to make an impact, from its commitment to Fair Trade Certified, local and handcrafted products to its community-driven in-store events and collaborations. 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 operates 75 retail stores in the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK, ships internationally to customers around the world and operates stores in the Middle East through an unaffiliated franchisee. West Elm is online at westelm.com, is part of an active community on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube, and is a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. portfolio of brands.
	*Open only to residents that live within the Charleston, SC area. Official rules of the sweepstakes can be found on the Charleston Sweepstakes page.