The Arrangement
Dallas, TX
March is Women’s History Month to highlight women leaders and their contributions to history and contemporary society. ART salutes Katherine Snedeker of The Arrangement for her commitment to sustainability.
By investing in sustainability, ART member and Texas-based retailer Katherine Snedeker of The Arrangement is investing in its customers, its community and the business.
“What does furniture have to do with that? Furniture gets handed down. If we do a spectacular job on the furniture, it gets passed down to the next generation,” said Katherine Snedeker, president of the store, which has locations in Dallas and Houston. “It’s our goal to create a fabulous, timeless design so the legacy of the family furniture gets handed down.”
“For us, the education of the clients when they come in is what our brand is about. If we do our job right, sustainability is not an add-on bonus. It’s the cachet; it’s the reason you buy it,” Snedeker said.
Snedeker said The Arrangement has bolstered its sustainable efforts by having Susan Inglis, executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, to the store a few times to help educate her staff. Snedeker has also completed many of the SFC’s courses and is a certified Green Leader.
Snedeker said 87% of The Arrangement’s case goods are made from reclaimed and recycled woods and she designs pieces that will use that as a wood source. Additionally, the store uses premium leather that will last for 30-50 years, which makes it sustainable, despite tanning methods.
“It’s like music. You have to hit certain notes to be of value to the consumer,” she said. “It’s not just that it’s sustainable but it’s the right style, the right price point AND it’s sustainable.”
Sustainability is important in Snedeker’s selection of home accents as well. She chooses items made with natural elements like rock, glass, copper, pottery, wood, handcrafted items and original art from artisans.
Elsewhere, Snedeker said The Arrangement has made itself part of the community fabric in other ways. It has donated furniture to its local Hospice center and with a local horse therapy center to furnish its lobby, with furniture, design time and installation. Additionally, she said the store works frequently and exclusively with the Houston Furniture Bank.