Arhaus may not be a household name in Southern California, but the retailer of luxury home furnishings has only just arrived.
This week, the Cleveland-based company opened its first West Coast store at the new Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, unpacking a storied collection against a backdrop designed to spark the imagination and get people shopping.
“When you walk in, we want you to be wowed,” says Greg Teed, Arhaus’ chief financial officer. “We think we do that better than any other furniture business out there.”
The Del Amo location marks the brand’s 59th store in nearly 30 years. To celebrate, Arhaus will be serving up food, wine and gift card drawings at the store from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 22.
Another brick and mortar is scheduled for Phoenix by the end of this year. Even as the brand continues to expand into upscale shopping centers, it enjoys a decent amount of business through its e-commerce site, www.arhaus.com.
The privately owned and operated company doesn’t disclose its profitability, but Teed assures business is booming.
That the new store is next to Nordstrom can only be a plus.
Arhaus’ ideal demographic is a married woman, age 35 to 55, with a substantial household income to afford its high-end price point.
In Torrance, the merchandise will focus heavily on outdoor living. In-store visual merchandisers charged with keeping the store seasonal have created the feel of a patio filled with a mix of luxurious all-weather seating with Sunbrella/Outdura cushions, accent tables topped with reclaimed elm salvaged from centuries-old buildings and a number of outdoor items that take inspiration from the living room: a herringbone-patterned wingback chair, slip-covered swivel armchairs and a table lamp with shade.
The upholstered pieces are made to live outside year-round.
“A visit to Arhaus is a totally unique and inspiring experience,” says Lindsay Hermance, director of marketing and business development at Del Amo Fashion Center, adding shoppers will find a collection of furniture and decor they won’t find anywhere else in the region.
According to Arhaus, its in-house designers scour old Italian villas, French estate sales and Indonesian temples for inspiration.
They bring back antiques and other flea market finds like apothecary cabinets, Ming dynasty-inspired buffets and food cabinets that are re-created for today’s customers. In their travels, they also cultivate relationships with craftsmen who create exclusive one-of-a-kinds.
Shoppers can get a taste at the website
Get a sneak peek of the South Bay store online, like the made-to-order Bell-Arte table “handcrafted in a region of Italy known for its furniture making” using “Old World woodworking techniques,” which is accompanied by a music video that cuts from rural landscapes to master craftsmen at work on the product.
The home catalog promises to deliver more of the same.
“We’ve worked for many years on these partnerships so that we’re bringing something unique and a great story to the products that you’re buying,” Teed says.
Craftsmanship has been the core of Arhaus since father-son founders Jack and John Reed set up shop in a century-old fishing warehouse in a historic downtown Cleveland district in 1986.
Today, John Reed is the sole owner and visionary leading a team that both designs furniture in-house and sources product from artisans around the world while focusing on environmental stewardship.
Furnishings are made with everything from recycled glass and copper to reclaimed wood from dismantled buildings, boats and rural structures.
“The company’s commitment to quality and sustainability will resonate with shoppers in the South Bay,” Hermance said.
Teed seems optimistic about it.
“A lot of people in Los Angeles don’t know us yet, so the fact that we’re in a mall that will be high traffic is a great way to introduce folks to our brand,” Teed says. “In other places around the country where we’ve been around for 10 or 20 years, we are a destination shop.”
Want to go?
Address: Del Amo Fashion Center, 21540 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance.
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Information: 310-214-4193, www.arhaus.com
