3 Reasons West Elm’s Selfless Marketing Is Worth Watching

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A new share-the-wealth strategy by home furnishings chain West Elm may prove that one of the most effective ways to win shopper loyalty is by sending them elsewhere.

(Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

The Brooklyn-based merchant is inviting its shoppers to spend time and money with nearby artists and entrepreneurs to learn new skills and support the community. The limited-time project, which will begin April, promotes the merchant’s mission to champion community-based businesses. And in doing so, it’s promoting its own authenticity among key shopping segments.

“We’re transforming how we’re interacting with our customers, interacting with them outside the four walls of our store,” Mo Mullen, director of West Elm Local, told USA Today.

West Elm evidently has its ear to the wall regarding shopper soft spots. Seven in 10 consumers believe businesses are obligated to help improve issues that may not be relevant to their everyday operations, according to research by Cone Communications. More than three-quarters of Americans will shop with a brand based on its actions.

This means that selfless merchandising, which is what West Elm is promoting, requires the buy-in of the shopper. But so does loyalty, suggesting West Elm has tapped a vein that connects the two: Be loyal to us, they hint, and we’ll selflessly help your hardworking, local friends.

Buying (and Selling) Local

It’s not entirely selfless, of course, but West Elm, a branch of upscale kitchenware merchant Williams-Sonoma, is well practiced in stewardship. Its selection of modern furnishings, almost all of which is designed in-house, are described as organic, sustainably sourced and, since 2014, fair trade certified.

Community building is a cornerstone of its brand philosophy, according to its website: “We’re … committed to making a difference, both locally and globally. This means carrying products from local makers, empowering store managers to tailor their own inventory and improving the lives of the handcrafted artisans we work with.”

In 2013 West Elm introduced its Local program, through which West Elm’s U.S. stores each feature the goods of nearby makers. The program now includes about 800 such artisans, with a goal of reaching 1,000 by 2020.

Now through its Local Experiences program, West Elm is setting up workshops in five cities and sending local shoppers to visit the artisans and entrepreneurs there. Visitors can learn woodworking and make a tasting tray in Detroit, or participate in park sketches and a walk in the historic area of Charleston, S.C. The events are not free — they run $130 to $250 — but the fees help support the local providers.

All of these endeavors are designed so that West Elm shoppers can make positive change, meaning the brand basically assigns them an active role in its mission.

Learning From Toms, Kroger, REI

It’s a thoughtful strategy. When shoppers invest in a purpose through a brand, they are likely to become invested in the brand itself. It is a quality retailers should not underestimate, as technology gives consumers more control of their options and enables scrappy startups to better compete.

Here are three reasons why West Elm’s efforts are worth watching.

  1. Shoppers lean toward do-good brands. Altruism was once considered a bonus brand feature, but now more shoppers expect it, thanks in part to the success of companies such as Toms, which gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair it sells. According to the Cone Communications’ 2017 CSR Study, 87% of consumers would more likely trust and be loyal to a company that supports a social or environmental issue, and a similar percentage think it is important for a company to invest in community causes. More than a third of shoppers, 34%, ranked economic development as the top issue they want companies to address.
  2. Startups touch a soft spot. There’s a track record of shoppers preferring to buy from retailers that support local startups. Sales of locally sourced foods, for example, are expected to reach $20 billion in 2019, from $12 billion in 2014, according to the research firm Packaged Facts. This may be why the supermarket chain Kroger in September launched its We Are Local initiative, where community suppliers can pitch their products directly to a company buyer. By underscoring its local initiative (Kroger already sources from thousands of local suppliers), the chain is distinguishing itself as a big company with a big heart for small players.
  3. The pay-it-forward effect. When a brand invests in its community consistently and with visible results, local shoppers with similar interests are likely to get on board. In fact, many want an opportunity to do so — 69% of millennial shoppers would like businesses to make it easier to get involved in societal issues. Note that “community” could transcend physical space to include shared interests and cohorts. The outdoor clothing and gear retailer REI has invested nearly $80 million in nonprofits dedicated to creating access to the country’s trail network and similar outdoor recreation spots. Not all may be within walking distance of a store, but to its shoppers, they are an essential part of a broader community.

What these efforts have in common is they leave an imprint on the consumer wherever he or she goes. West Elm may send its shoppers elsewhere to learn how to weld, and REI may encourage people to spend more time outdoors and less in its store, but the essence of the brands linger with shoppers wherever they go. Those are connections that spread the wealth.

This article originally appeared in Forbes. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for more on retail, loyalty and the customer experience.

Republished with author's permission from original post.

Bryan Pearson
Retail and Loyalty-Marketing Executive, Best-Selling Author
With more than two decades experience developing meaningful customer relationships for some of the world’s leading companies, Bryan Pearson is an internationally recognized expert, author and speaker on customer loyalty and marketing. As former President and CEO of LoyaltyOne, a pioneer in loyalty strategies and measured marketing, he leverages the knowledge of 120 million customer relationships over 20 years to create relevant communications and enhanced shopper experiences. Bryan is author of the bestselling book The Loyalty Leap: Turning Customer Information into Customer Intimacy

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