Pottery Barn = <3

So I looked at the assignment sheet and it said that the environment post was for over the weekend… but the updated schedule says it is due tonight… guess that means I’m ahead? Or maybe I’m behind because it looks like everyone else posted about super bowl ads.

Bah, I’m going to post about the “Pottery Barn Style” article anyway.

For starters, I thought this article was pretty ironic because I just got my PB teen catalog in the mail today and the Pottery Barn catalog came a couple days ago. The article was pretty on target (no pun intended) when it mentioned the difference between their product and Target was the design and the “total-lifestyle” look to it. Pottery Barn offers a variety of classic pieces of furniture with special accessories to go with, which is what makes them successful.

I thought Pottery Barn’s requirements of the 5-point test to their lines were pretty innovative. The product has to look good, but not too cutting edge, or fashion forward that it can’t be a classic piece. The direction has to match with the rest of the home it will be placed into. It also has to feel good and be durable against the little monsters that will most likely be jumping or spilling things on it. When you look at PB’s catalog they have a variety of covers that can be placed over furniture so, in case it does get ruined, it can easily be fixed for an affordable price. The fifth test the product or line has to go against is if the people who designed the piece would buy it or give it to their best friend. I find that to be really smart because if you design something you aren’t going to buy, who will?

Pottery Barn does a great job in selling to an audience that wants pieces of a collection that can be intertwined with what’s already in their house at an affordable price. The products and lines they sell are going to last for a really long time, and that is what gets people more bang for their buck.