Image source:
The Citizenry
Image source:
Pottery Barn

The Citizenry vs Pottery Barn

What's the difference between The Citizenry and Pottery Barn

The Citizenry and Pottery Barn are two furniture retailers that prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing. The Citizenry believes in creating homes with soul, story, and purpose by partnering with master artisans from different countries. They sell directly to customers online, eliminating middlemen, and offer handmade goods at reasonable prices. They also participate in the World Fair Trade Organization Guarantee. Pottery Barn, on the other hand, has been known for exceptional quality and value for over 70 years. They are a member of the Williams-Sonoma family of brands and have a global reach through their site, catalog, and stores. In terms of certifications, The Citizenry offers GOTS Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, FSC Certified, and SVLK Timber Legality Verification products. Pottery Barn is GOTS Certified, FSC Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, and Greenguard Gold Certified. Both retailers prioritize sustainability by obtaining certifications for some of their products. However,the notable difference is that The Citizenry offers organic cotton options as well as reclaimed/recycled materials while Pottery Barn does not make any unverified sustainable claims. In terms of equitable labor programs, The Citizenry participates in the World Fair Trade Organization Guarantee while Pottery Barn is involved in initiatives such as the Better Cotton Initiative,Renewal Workshop HERproject,Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program,and Fair Trade USA Certified. Overall both retailers focus on sustainability but The Citizenry places emphasis on partnerships with artisans worldwide to create unique collections while Pottery Barn has a long-standing reputation for exceptional quality,value,and global presence.

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

- The Citizenry focuses on partnering with master artisans from different countries and blending their modern style with time-tested techniques, while Pottery Barn has been representing exceptional quality and value for over 70 years. - The Citizenry sells directly to customers online, eliminating the middleman and offering handmade goods at more reasonable prices than traditional luxury boutiques, while Pottery Barn has a website, catalog, and physical stores that reach around the world. - The Citizenry emphasizes sustainability by using local materials and establishing sustainable relationships with artisans, while Pottery Barn focuses on responsibly made and ethically sourced products. - The Citizenry offers small batch creations that are handcrafted and available in limited quantities, ensuring they are as extraordinary as the culture that inspired them. Pottery Barn offers a wider range of products. - The Citizenry is committed to fair wages for artisans through fair trade standards, while Pottery Barn's initiatives focus on sustainable cotton production.

Company Description

The Citizenry
The Citizenry is a Dallas-based retailer founded in 2014 that specializes in ethically crafted and sustainably sourced home goods. With a focus on celebrating the people behind their products, they travel the world to partner with master artisans, blending modern style with time-tested techniques. By eliminating middlemen and selling directly to customers online, The Citizenry offers handmade goods at more reasonable prices than traditional luxury boutiques. They prioritize fair trade standards, paying artisans fairly for their skills, and are committed to sustainability with organic materials, non-toxic certifications, responsible forestry methods, and ethical sourcing of wool and leather.
Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn is an iconic home furnishings retailer that has provided quality, value and beautiful design for over 70 years. It has stores and catalogs around the world, as well as a website. Its sustainability mission includes planting 6 million trees by 2023, reaching 100% responsibly sourced cotton, investing in Fairtrade Community Development Funds, and reducing its carbon footprint. Its headquarters are based in San Francisco, California where it was founded in 1949.

Differences at a Glance

The Citizenry

Pottery Barn

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

Dallas, Texas

2014

Online, Showroom

Furniture, Furnishings

Global Modern

None

None

$$$$

Mid-High

Yes

No

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

No

Yes

Available for a Fee

Not Available

Yes

10%

San Francisco, California

1949

Online, Showroom

Furniture, Furnishings

Traditional, Transitional

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

None

$$$

Mid-High

No

No

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Free

Yes

20%

Sustainability Mission Comparison

The Citizenry participates in the World Fair Trade Organization Guarantee, while Pottery Barn is involved in several equitable labor programs including the Better Cotton Initiative, Renewal Workshop, HERproject, Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program, and Fair Trade USA Certified.
Image source:
The Citizenry
Image source:
Pottery Barn

Sustainable Product Certifications and Programs

The Citizenry

Pottery Barn

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Warranty

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.

National Hardwood Lumber Association

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

Sustainability Mission

The Citizenry
The Citizenry is a retailer that prioritizes people and the planet, offering home goods with soul and a story. They celebrate the individuals behind their products, fostering connections across cultures and continents. Their designs combine ethical craftsmanship with elevated design, guaranteeing fair trade processes and paying double the wage requirement. Partnering with master artisans, they create exclusive collections using all-natural materials and age-old craft techniques that have low carbon emissions and zero waste. The Citizenry is committed to sustainability, sourcing organic cotton, ensuring nontoxic bedding, responsibly sourcing wood products, and ethically sourcing wool and leather materials.
Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn is committed to sustainability by planting 6 million trees in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, sourcing 100% responsibly sourced cotton, keeping products and materials out of landfills, investing $7.2M in Fairtrade community development funds and reducing their carbon footprint. All products are organic cotton, reclaimed, recycled, handcrafted, or contract grade. This helps reduce collective carbon footprint and restore vulnerable forests. Pottery Barn is dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment.

Sustainable Product Certifications

The Citizenry offers several product certifications, including GOTS Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, FSC Certified, and SVLK Timber Legality Verification. On the other hand, Pottery Barn is GOTS Certified, FSC Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, and Greenguard Gold Certified. Both retailers prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing by obtaining certifications for some of their products.

The Citizenry

Pottery Barn

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

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

The Citizenry participates in the World Fair Trade Organization Guarantee, while Pottery Barn is involved in several equitable labor programs including the Better Cotton Initiative, Renewal Workshop, HERproject, Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program, and Fair Trade USA Certified.

The Citizenry

Pottery Barn

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

No

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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