# Furniture Store Incubators The West Elm Local Program Supports Independent Designers By Meghan Young | Published 2016-04-07 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/west-elm-local References: [fastcodesign](http://www.fastcodesign.com/3058099/how-west-elm-became-an-unlikely-incubator-of-independent-design/1) & [westelm](http://www.westelm.com/shop/collaborations/all-local/) Brands that support their community are brands that create a long-lasting relationship not only with more than its consumers. The [West Elm Local](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lalo-1) program helps facilitate this kind of genuine connection by supporting [independent designers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beauty-entrepreneurship). Although an unlikely incubator, the furniture company recognizes that there are a slew of incredible designers out there that need a helping hand when it comes to production and exposure. Through the West Elm Local program, that can be achieved. And it works to West Elm's benefit as well. President Jim Brett says, "I wanted to bring personality and soul and handmade into the business." It also recognizes that there is a careful process that needs to be set when [growing a small business](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-founders-program) and it supports that by growing with the small business. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.0/10 - Popularity: 89% | Activity: 82% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/furniture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Community-supportive Incubators:** Creating community-supportive incubators benefits both independent designers and the supporting brands by creating long-lasting relationships. - **Handmade Design:** Incorporating personality, soul, and handmade creations into businesses through incubator programs can create unique and successful brands. - **Growth Support Programs:** Supporting a careful growth process through incubator programs helps small businesses thrive and creates opportunities for mutually beneficial relationships. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Furniture:** Furniture companies can incorporate incubator programs to support independent designers and protect unique design and style. - **Retail:** Through community-supportive incubator programs, retail companies can help independent designers grow and create successful, long-lasting relationships. - **Small Business:** Supporting independent designers through specialized incubator programs can create opportunities for growth and development in small businesses. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Infant-Focused Furniture Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lalo-1.md) - [Sustainable Furniture Capsule Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/light-and-dwell.md) - [Emerging Designer Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collaborative-series.md) - [Creativity-Centered Workshops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gap-workshop.md) - [Human-First Incubators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/with-life-cultivator.md) - [Workplace-Integrated Store Locations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hejworkshop.md) - [Innovation-Focused Furniture Design Collectives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/design-collective.md) - [Eight-Month Design Residency Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/design-residency-program.md) - [Compact In-Retail Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-shopin.md)