Chicago (December 11, 2018) — Watson Smith, a trusted trade resource for carpets, rugs, hardwood flooring and more, has expanded its presence in Design Center at theMART. A showroom known for its extensive collection and 90 years of excellent customer service, Watson Smith’s new showroom opened its doors on the sixth floor of theMART earlier this week.
The company relocated from a 1,600-square-foot space to a 4,800-square-foot showroom to better serve its large customer base with new, coveted product lines, expanded customization options, and areas dedicated to commercial product. Designers will also enjoy increased space to view large-scale area rugs and compare selections.
“Throughout our decades of providing quality product and excellent service to design professionals in Chicago and beyond, we have built wonderful relationships with an array of brands and customers,” said Nick LaCalamita, owner at Watson Smith. “We designed our new showroom to allow these relationships to continue to grow and new ones to blossom, particularly with contract designers and those who require large-scale custom rugs.”
With the expansion comes the addition of designer favorite luxury vinyl brand Chilewich, New York City’s largest rug purveyor Doris Leslie Blau and trendsetting prestige wood finishings company Jamie Beckwith to Watson Smith’s offerings. The addition of Doris Leslie Blau is particularly notable as this is the first time the company has expanded beyond its popular Manhattan location.
Doris Leslie Blau Owner Nader Bolour said, “The Chicago design community is remarkably active and innovative, and our client base in the region has a strong desire to access our products in person. We are excited to respond to demand by joining forces with Watson Smith, a company that shares our values of integrity and service.”
Design Center is pleased to serve as the home base for the brand, continuing its long-standing partnership. Beth Hicks, managing director, marketing for Design Center and Casual Market Chicago said, “Watson Smith is a wonderful partner and an invaluable resource for designers and homeowners with flooring needs of all kinds. The company sets the standard for hands-on collaboration and customer service, making it a go-to destination we are proud to support.”
The new Watson Smith showroom is located at 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 622.
About Watson Smith
Watson Smith is a wholesale flooring showroom that has served professionals in the design industry for 90 years. The showroom features an extensive selection of stocked and custom products including carpets, rugs, hand finished hardwood flooring and additional hard surface materials. Watson Smith tailors to each client’s needs and provides a full-service experience from product selection to fabrication and installation.
About Design Center at The Merchandise Mart (theMART)
Design Center, located in Chicago’s historic Merchandise Mart, is home to four floors constituting the world’s largest and finest design center. As a leader in the $65 billion residential home furnishings market, Design Center offers the largest presentation of high-end, customizable, residential and outdoor home furnishings worldwide, all under one roof. Encompassing 750,000 square feet, boasting more than 125 showrooms and featuring more than 2,500 product lines, it is the ultimate resource for designers and design enthusiasts of luxury furniture, fabrics, floor coverings, wall coverings, lighting and much more. For more information, visit designcenter.com.