I Want to Visit the Anthropologie Brownstone in Brooklyn
A landscaping startup is gaining traction, and HomeGoods says you can't shop online anymore.
Hello dear readers. Today it is unseasonably warm. I have lit what is hopefully my last orange neroli candle of the season and put on Tinashe’s new album. Now let’s get into design news.
Landscaping Startup Taps New Leadership From Meta and TRR
Yardzen, a startup for home landscaping that has garnered significant attention since its inception in 2017, has hired Sara Brooks from TheRealReal as CMO and Tara Syed from Meta as CEO. The company is currently in Series A funding and backed by Freestyle Investments and Radian Capital. Radian Capital’s portfolio includes Tulip, my favorite retail SaaS company in the game right now.
I love… so much so that I must put it in all caps… LOVE THIS. It’s a great way to display products via a fun and immersive experience that seizes that cozy joy of the holiday season. ECommerce in the home market is a reality but it has been proven time and time again- from the Ikea model, to RH galleries, to legacy brands in places like in the Merchandise Mart- that customers love a showroom. Having retailers follow suit is smart, especially from retailers like Anthropologie that have built their brand outside of the home space and have a large percentage of shoppers online. I’ve always thought URBN group’s merchandising (full disclosure, worked for their wedding line, BHLDN, for two years) is a cut above. They are good at identifying customer needs, wants, and whimsy. I am also enjoying their partner, Pinterest’s, marketing centered around exploration and discovery for their users.
Interior Magazine Announces the Most Sustainable Architecture Firms of 2023
Gensler came in at number 1 and by a long shot- total fees for the Sustainability Giants were $1.8 billion. Gensler accounted for $563 million. Perkins & Will followed, then DLR, Skidmore Owings & Merrill. Interior Magazine did some great reporting, with stats on LEED and WELL as well as project fees for Sustainability Giants VS general sustainability goals. It’s also mentioned that only 37 percent of clients mention environmental, social, and corporate governance reporting as integral to their project goals. Woof.
Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams- Still Bankrupt
The ongoing saga that continues to capture my rapt attention. This week MG + BW announced that they are liquifying their assets after failing to capture any VC funding. I get it. It’s a solid brand but in order for a real relaunch that would garner significant ROI they’d need money (LOTS of money- quick refresh, the company currently owes between $10 and $50 million to its creditors), a purchasing strategy, new leadership and, realistically, all new branding. In that context, liquidation seems sadly inevitable. Furthermore, there are reportedly about 10,000 open orders that are in limbo right now and there is no immediate solution in sight. That is WILD to me.
Ok,
ciao! x