Image source:
Article
Image source:
West Elm

Article vs West Elm

What's the difference between Article and West Elm

When it comes to furniture retailers, West Elm and Article have distinct differences. Article prides itself on offering modern, well-priced furniture that is delivered quickly and with excellent customer service. They work directly with manufacturers to produce unique, high-quality pieces. In contrast, West Elm focuses on sustainability and ethical production practices. They offer a wide range of product certifications and participate in several equitable labor programs. While Article does not make any claims to sustainable benefits or equitable labor programs, they do prioritize customer satisfaction by providing fast delivery times and attentive customer service. Their team of in-house designers creates beautiful products that are well-priced due to their direct relationship with manufacturers. On the other hand, West Elm's commitment to sustainability is evident through their impressive list of product certifications such as GOTS Certified, FSC Certified, OCS Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Global Recycled Standard, Recycled Claims Standard, Greenguard Gold Certified and REACH. They also participate in several equitable labor programs such as Fair Trade USA Certified and HERproject. Overall, while both retailers offer quality furniture products with respect for workers' rights at their core values; Article focuses more on affordability while West Elm prioritizes sustainability initiatives.

CB2 has this but West Elm does not have it

CB2 has this but West Elm does not have it

CB2 has this but West Elm does not have it

CB2 has this but West Elm does not have it

- Article focuses on offering beautiful modern furniture and decor at unrivaled value, while West Elm emphasizes design for sustainability and supporting local economies. - Article works directly with manufacturers to produce unique, durable pieces using high-quality materials, while West Elm designs exclusive collections in-house. - Article does not have any certifications or equitable labor programs in place, while West Elm participates in several such as Fair Trade USA Certified and the Better Cotton Initiative. - Article's culture is rooted in four core values: customer obsession, do it differently, ownership mindset, and win together. West Elm supports causes such as BSR|HERproject™ and the Trevor Project®. - While West Elm makes claims to unverified sustainable benefits such as low-VOC finishes and water-efficient products, Article does not make any similar claims.

Company Description

Article
Article is an online furniture and decor retailer that offers high-quality, long-lasting pieces at unrivaled value. With a mission to make great style easy, Article works directly with their manufacturers to produce unique items. Most orders are shipped within two weeks and their friendly Customer Care team is available for any questions or concerns. Founded in 2013 by four friends and software engineers, Article is dedicated to providing a better shopping experience with attentive customer service and beautiful modern products. Their culture is rooted in four core values: customer obsession, do it differently, ownership mindset, and win together.
West Elm
West Elm is a home furnishings retailer that uses design to help the environment, communities, and customers. The company's products are 95% designed in-house, and 60% of sales support sustainability initiatives. West Elm is a leader in sustainability, supporting small American-made businesses and collaborating with artisan collectives around the world. Certified organic cotton bedding and bath towels are sustainably sourced, and wood furniture is sustainably sourced. Certified nontoxic furniture has been screened for over 100,000 chemicals and VOCs. Founded in 2002, West Elm is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY.

Differences at a Glance

Article

West Elm

Headquarters

Year Founded

Store Type

Product Type

Aesthetic

Parent Company

Welcome Discount

Price

Quality Level

Reviews on Website

Free Returns

White Glove Delivery

Product Warranty

Registry Available

Made-to-Order Items

Free Swatches

Designer Collaborations

In-House Design Services

Trade Program

Trade Discount

Vancouver, BC Canada

2013

Online

Furniture, Furnishings

Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern

None

None

$$

Mid-High

Yes

Free Shipping On Your First Exchange

White Glove Delivery

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Free

Yes

5% on orders <10,000

Brooklyn, New York

2002

Online, Showroom

Furniture, Furnishings

Mid-Century Modern

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

15%

$$

Mid

No

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Free

Yes

20%

Sustainability Mission Comparison

Article does not participate in any equitable labor programs, while West Elm participates in several. These include Fair Trade USA Certified, Better Cotton Initiative, Craftmark, HERproject, and Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program. Fair Trade USA Certified ensures that workers are paid fair wages and have safe working conditions. The Better Cotton Initiative works to reduce the environmental impact of cotton production by promoting sustainable farming practices. Craftmark is a certification program that supports traditional craftsmanship and helps preserve cultural heritage. HERproject works to empower women in the global supply chain by providing access to health education and other resources. Finally, Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program provides training and support for artisans around the world to help them create quality products with fair wages and safe working conditions. Both retailers strive to ensure their products are made ethically with respect for workers' rights.
Image source:
Article
Image source:
West Elm

Sustainable Product Certifications and Programs

Article

West Elm

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Warranty

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.

National Hardwood Lumber Association

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

White Glove Delivery

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

Sustainability Mission

Article
Article is a retail company that has not specified a sustainability mission. However, they have made sustainability claims, suggesting that they are committed to reducing their environmental impact. Through initiatives such as minimizing waste and responsibly sourcing materials, Article aims to be an environmentally conscious company that takes steps to reduce its carbon footprint and provide sustainable products for customers.
West Elm
West Elm is committed to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact. The company sources organic and sustainably sourced materials, such as FSC-certified wood, recycled polyester, and organic cotton. Its products are certified nontoxic and free from harmful chemicals. West Elm also uses handcrafted and local materials, as well as contract grade, low-VOC, reclaimed, recycled, upcycled, water-based finishes, and water efficient materials. By doing so, the company has saved 2.3 billion liters of water in 2019 and kept 66 million plastic bottles out of landfills in 2020.

Sustainable Product Certifications

Article does not have any certifications, while West Elm boasts an impressive list of product certifications including GOTS Certified, FSC Certified, OCS Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Global Recycled Standard, Recycled Claims Standard, Greenguard Gold Certified and REACH. It is important to note that not all products from West Elm have these certifications.

Article

West Elm

FSC Certified

GOTS Certified

OCS Certified

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100

EcoTex

Global Recycled Standard

Recycled Claims Standard

Greenguard Gold Certified

SCS Indoor Advantage Gold

REACH

Ecolable

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

Article does not participate in any equitable labor programs, while West Elm participates in several. These include Fair Trade USA Certified, Better Cotton Initiative, Craftmark, HERproject, and Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program. Fair Trade USA Certified ensures that workers are paid fair wages and have safe working conditions. The Better Cotton Initiative works to reduce the environmental impact of cotton production by promoting sustainable farming practices. Craftmark is a certification program that supports traditional craftsmanship and helps preserve cultural heritage. HERproject works to empower women in the global supply chain by providing access to health education and other resources. Finally, Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program provides training and support for artisans around the world to help them create quality products with fair wages and safe working conditions. Both retailers strive to ensure their products are made ethically with respect for workers' rights.

Article

West Elm

Goodweave

Fair Trade USA

Better Cotton Initiative

Craftmark

HERproject

Nest Ethical Handcraft Program

Fifteen Percent Pledge

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Contributor

Christi Farrell

Christi is a licensed architect and interior designer specializing in sustainability. She enjoys teaching design and bringing transparency to the impact that furniture has on our planet.

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