Company official says timing was right for Room & Board’s new outdoor offering

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — When the team from Carl Hansen & Son (CHS) contacted Room & Board officials with an outdoor furniture collection opportunity, executives at the Top 100 furniture retailer knew the line would be a good fit.

“CHS reached out with an opportunity for one of their newer outdoor lines designed by Alfred Homann, which uses Forest Stewardship Council-certified teak,” said Gene Wilson, Room & Board’s vice president of vendor management/merchandising. “We were very interested in bringing wood into our outdoor assortment and so this was an intriguing idea, especially since we have long admired Carl Hansen & Son and the design, quality and craft they bring to their products. And with so many points of alignment — a focus on sustainability, quality and craftsmanship as well as timeless design — it’s a strong fit.”

The new collection checks several boxes for Room & Board, according to Wilson. Along with the addition of the FSC-certified teak for outdoor, the CHS collection offers an exclusive line created by Alfred Homann, an award-winning Danish architect and designer who founded his own studio in Copenhagen in 1978 at the age of 30. Proficient in architecture as well as furniture and lighting design, Homann’s outdoor collection offers 10 items including seating and dining for outdoor spaces.

“Both CHS and Room & Board were interested in making the introduction while customers are thinking about their outdoor spaces to bring them just one more beautiful option to consider,” said Wilson. “Customers have absolutely prioritized extending their living spaces to the outside: the desire is for comfortable, timeless, quality products that enhance their outdoor experience and that can also withstand the elements.”

Room & Board launched its first outdoor products in 2002, according to Wilson. Since that time, the retailer has expanded its offering in seating, dining tables and chairs, pillows and rugs, and recently added its first outdoor kitchen and entertaining storage pieces that integrate refrigeration from Room & Board’s partner, True Residential. The CHS collection is priced from $705 for a deck chair to $2,480 for a dining table.

Wilson noted that the strategy for outdoor mirrors the goals for indoor items.

“Room & Board is known for timeless, modern design and artisan-crafted products that are designed to last,” he said. “Like our indoor business, our goal is to have a variety of collections and materials across the line, all fitting a modern point of view. We believe outdoor living is a natural extension of the home, and there’s no difference in our approach to indoor and outdoor products—our goal is to help customers create homes they love. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with CHS to build upon our extensive outdoor offerings.”

Founded in 1980 and 100% employee owned, Room & Board has more than 1,100 staff members and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

See also: