Business of Home Podcast West Elm president Day Kornbluth is quietly transforming the brand
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Apr 14, 2025 Day Kornbluth, President of West Elm and former leader at One Kings Lane and RH, discusses her journey of transforming the West Elm brand. She reveals insights on balancing mass appeal with design integrity, and how AI could reshape creativity in retail. Kornbluth also emphasizes the evolving meaning of home, highlighting product innovation and customer engagement post-pandemic. Learn about the challenges of navigating a dynamic market while maintaining core values and fostering genuine partnerships in the competitive home goods industry.
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Starting at One Kings Lane
- Day Kornbluth was the first employee and buyer at One Kings Lane, starting in 2009. - She helped build the business from her apartment, convincing brands to sell online.
Flash Sale to Business Confusion
- One Kings Lane struggled due to tensions between marketplace and retail models. - The VC funding environment pushed the company to grow beyond its sustainable scale.
Learning at Restoration Hardware
- Day joined RH as Chief Digital Officer, working for a true merchant CEO, Gary Friedman. - She learned the power of singular focus and brand building from him.