One of my favorite memories of living in Portland, Oregon for a summer was heading across the bridge every week to visit my favorite shop, Alder & Co. I first visited Alder & Co. in 2010 when I was in town to speak at IDSA and immediately felt at home when I walked in the door. Owners Carla and Rebecca have created a shop that embodies all of the things I love most about design (handmade goods, one-of-a-kind designs, pieces from across the globe, dreamy textiles and beautiful ceramics) and made it approachable. Then, to top it off, they invited florist Hilary Horvath to join them in-house to create gorgeous flowers. Throw in a bakery and I’m pretty sure I’d be ready to move in any time. During every trip to Portland since, I’ve visited Alder & Co. and picked up at least a few pieces to bring home for friends and loved ones. It’s quite simply one of my favorite places ever. So I’m honored and so thrilled that Alder & Co. kindly agreed to join us for our BIG 10 anniversary and donate a $500 gift certificate to one lucky Design*Sponge reader! xo, grace
To enter the competition all you have to do is answer this question from the Alder & Co. team in the comment section below!
We love to travel and our store is a reflection of the places we have been. What is your most treasured souvenir?
About Alder & Co.: Alder & Co. is a space of timeless and transportive things, as useful as they are beautiful. For us, having a store is about the discovery of the artist: traveling to different neighborhoods, different states, different countries. It’s also about the discovery of the customers: those from around the corner and those from across the world. Our hope is that it is magical for everyone when it comes together under one roof, or, in the age of technology, under one website.
Photos by Leela Cyd
Click through for an interview with Alder & Co. owners, Rebecca and Carla after the jump!
**Giveaway disclaimer: Shipping within the United States. Gift certificate must be used within one month of issuing and is only valid online. Not redeemable for cash. Cannot be combined with any discounts or promotional offers**
What inspired you to start Alder & Co.?
I co-owned a clothing store in Los Angeles for 5 years but we sold it when my husband was transferred to Portland in 2006. I promised myself that I’d never own a store again, but I should really just promise to never say never. I always loved the West End neighborhood and found the perfect spot for Alder & Co. right next to Gruner Restaurant in May, 2010. Rebecca was there from the start and we’ve been shopping together ever since!
What was the hardest part of starting your business?
The hardest part of starting Alder & Co. was the RECESSION. It certainly wasn’t the best time to encourage people to shop, and the goose egg days were so depressing. Looking on the bright side though, the timing allowed me to get a great space in a great neighborhood as I was one of the very few looking at that time.
What are you proudest of (or your biggest success) as a business so far?
I’m very proud of our growth. It’s been very thoughtful and measured but we outgrew our space and our website last year. We moved into a larger space in April, and launched our new website in November (a giant thank you to our friends at More & Co.) Also,Hilary Horvath joined us with her beautiful flower shop in May and the store has never looked or smelled better! I’m also proud of the relationships the store has allowed me. I’ve made lifetime friends here and it makes for a nice way to spend the day.
What are your next big goals or projects coming up?
We are working on a few proprietary Alder & Co. offerings including a line of coasters, napkins and placemats. Also we recently collaborated with Oui Presse on a small knitwear collection that should arrive any day. I love seeing the Alder & Co. care labels – we are legitimate!!! Never say never….
via:http://www.designsponge.com/2014/03/alder-co-500-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+designsponge%2Fnjjl+%28Design*Sponge%29
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