Image source:
Room and Board
Image source:
Arhaus

Room and Board vs Arhaus

What's the difference between Room and Board and Arhaus

Room & Board and Arhaus are two furniture retailers with notable differences. Room & Board focuses on modern furnishings that are artisan crafted and designed to last. They employ over 900 people across the country and emphasize trend-proof style, American craft, sustainability, exceptional service, and community support. Arhaus, founded in 1986, shares a commitment to sustainability but takes a global approach by partnering with artisans around the world. They prioritize using sustainably sourced materials and promoting inclusion. Arhaus also supports various organizations that align with their mission. In terms of product certifications, Room & Board holds several including FSC Certified and Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Arhaus only has the Sustainable Forestry Initiative certification. Additionally, Room & Board participates in equitable labor programs while Arhaus complies with the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act. Lastly, Room & Board provides a range of self-claimed benefits such as handcrafted and responsibly sourced materials. In contrast, Arhaus does not specify any self-claimed benefits. Overall, while both retailers have a focus on sustainability and craftsmanship, Room & Board emphasizes American-made products and community support while Arhaus takes a global approach to artisan partnerships.

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

- Room and Board focuses on modern furnishings with timeless details, while the other retailer partners with artisans around the world to create heirloom-quality pieces. - Room and Board emphasizes American craftsmanship, with over 90% of their furniture and decor made by American manufacturers, while the other retailer seeks out artisans globally. - Room and Board prioritizes sustainability through quality construction and timeless design, while the other retailer uses sustainably sourced, reclaimed, and recycled materials as much as possible. - Room and Board is committed to exceptional service and supporting local nonprofit organizations in their communities, while the other retailer pledges inclusivity and supports various environmental and humanitarian organizations.

Company Description

Room and Board
Room & Board is a leading furniture retailer known for its modern and timeless designs. With a commitment to sustainability, over 90% of their products are made in America using sustainably sourced wood and materials. They strive to be carbon neutral in their operations, with a goal of using 100% renewable electricity by 2030. Room & Board supports local communities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and values inclusivity and well-being for their staff members. Founded in 1980, they continue to prioritize quality craftsmanship and exceptional service across their nationwide stores and delivery centers.
Arhaus
Arhaus is a furniture and décor retailer that has been in business since 1986. They partner with artisans around the world to create unique, handcrafted pieces made from sustainably sourced, reclaimed, and recycled materials. Arhaus has a strong commitment to the environment and encourages diversity in their workforce. They also give back to their communities by supporting organizations like Habitat for Humanity, American Forests, Global Dental Relief, and the Small World. They have also pledged to plant one million trees with American Forests and are committed to verifying fair labor practices in their supply chain.

Differences at a Glance

Room and Board

Arhaus

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

Golden Valley, Minnesota

1980

Online, Showroom

Furniture, Furnishings

Transitional, Mid-Century Modern

None

None

$$$$

High

Yes

No

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

No

Yes

Yes

No

Free

Business Interiors Only

10% for Business Interiors

Boston Heights, Ohio

1986

Online, Showroom

Furniture, Furnishings

Traditional, Transitional

None

None

$$$$

High

No

No

White Glove Delivery

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Free

Yes

Earn 7% commission from $1.00–$49,999 Earn 10% commission from $50,000+

Sustainability Mission Comparison

Room and Board participates in equitable labor programs, while Arhaus participates in the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act.
Image source:
Room and Board
Image source:
Arhaus

Sustainable Product Certifications and Programs

Room and Board

Arhaus

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

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

White Glove Delivery

Yes

No

Yes

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

Sustainability Mission

Room and Board
Room and Board is a furniture retailer committed to sustainability. They prioritize sourcing wood responsibly, aiming to use 100% sustainably sourced wood by 2025. They are the first retailer to pursue using urban wood sourcing at scale and are a founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council. Room and Board is working towards being carbon neutral in their operations, with a goal of 100% renewable electricity use by 2030. They are also focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, electrifying their delivery fleet, achieving zero waste, and designing trend-proof furniture. They support craftspeople and staff members' well-being and donate 2% of profits annually to nonprofit organizations.
Arhaus
Arhaus is committed to sustainability and protecting the Earth, which is why they have a strict policy against using wood harvested from rainforests and are part of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. They also use recycled and repurposed materials, ethically salvaged woods, and are partnering with American Forests to plant one million trees. Their upholstery collections feature frames made in the USA, while their artisans give new life to materials that would otherwise be discarded. They also source vintage treasures from around the world and have a code of conduct ensuring human rights and international labor standards are met.

Sustainable Product Certifications

Room and Board has several product certifications, including FSC Certified, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., and National Hardwood Lumber Association. On the other hand, Arhaus only has the Sustainable Forestry Initiative certification. It is important to note that these certifications apply to only some of their products and not to the retailers themselves.

Room and Board

Arhaus

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

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

Room and Board participates in equitable labor programs, while Arhaus participates in the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act.

Room and Board

Arhaus

Goodweave

Fair Trade USA

Better Cotton Initiative

Craftmark

HERproject

Nest Ethical Handcraft Program

Fifteen Percent Pledge

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

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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