Yesterday I had the very great pleasure of interviewing Vanessa Holden, senior vice president of West Elm, one of the four American super brands (with Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and Williams Sonoma) opening in Australia this May. She’s an Aussie now living in New York, with a seriously impressive career behind her and a passion for her job which can’t be faked.
In early May, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and Williams Sonoma will all open in Bondi’s Exchange Building in Sydney. It’s the most hyped retail import since Zara. And for Sydney girl Vanessa, bringing West Elm, where she’s worked since 2011, to her old stomping ground, is a dream. Not surprisingly she has been a great cheerleader for Australia and expanding the West Elm brand to the Southern Hemisphere, but says she can’t claim all the credit.
“We began selling online here 18 months ago and Australians very quickly embraced us. There’s a really nice fit between the Australian lifestyle and the West Elm brand. It’s really exciting to be bringing it to Bondi, especially for me, being an Eastern Suburbs girl, it’s amazing.”
Vanessa, who revealed the brand will also open in Melbourne by the end of the year (no dates or locations have been revealed yet but they’re recruiting now), said Sydney’s always had some great homewares inspiration but West Elm in particular will offer great design at great prices and a store and customer service experience like no other.
