In just two years, Jim Stelter is delivering on his promises to quickly grow West Elm Workspace.
"It's getting really successful, says Stelter, president of the West Elm Workspace with Inscape, partnership of the retail behemoth West Elm and the Canadian office furniture-maker Inscape. "We are up 280 percent over last year. We hope to be up 100 percent this year."
The company, launched in 2015 on the idea of bringing retailer West Elm residential-style furniture to the workplace, is is on track to be a major competitor in the office furniture industry.
Last week, West Elm Workspace took part in its third NeoCon trade show in Chicago, and collected four industry awards for its latest products.
The Grand Rapids-based company is owned by Williams-Sonoma, the San Francisco, Calif.-based specialty home goods retailer.
"West Elm continues to gain traction in the commercial furniture market with West Elm workspace," said Laura Alber, Williams-Sonoma CEO, during a May 24 earnings call with analysts.
Since January, the brand has opened dealer showrooms in several major markets including San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Minneapolis.