We’re starting 2023 off strong with our first store opening in one of our very favorite cities…Boston! Once again, our Southern Californian-based team is braving the breezy winters of the North to welcome in our new community to the cozy Parachute way of life. We talked to Kevin Anderson, our Head of Stores, about what it was like to open Parachute Boston and how he maintains his energy as we ramp openings across the country.
Congrats on opening the 24th Parachute store! Where can we find it?
The Parachute Home team was so excited to open our Boston location and connect with the local community in the heart of one of the world's best shopping areas – Newbury Street! Located in the Back Bay neighborhood, we are just steps from busy Copley Square which is flanked by 1800's landmarks, Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library, the nation's first large free municipal library. We’re also just a couple of blocks away from the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common which is the oldest city park in the United States. We are in such an amazing neighborhood and look forward to connecting with the local community! Come see us at 154 Newbury St.
Congrats on opening the 24th Parachute store! Where can we find it?
The Parachute Home team was so excited to open our Boston location and connect with the local community in the heart of one of the world's best shopping areas – Newbury Street! Located in the Back Bay neighborhood, we are just steps from busy Copley Square which is flanked by 1800's landmarks, Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library, the nation's first large free municipal library. We’re also just a couple of blocks away from the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common which is the oldest city park in the United States. We are in such an amazing neighborhood and look forward to connecting with the local community! Come see us at 154 Newbury St.
Why Boston?
We’re excited to open a store for Boston’s diverse community! We love Boston’s focus on education and innovation, while retaining such a rich cultural heritage. Plus, we have an amazing fan base of Parachute online customers who will love being able to feel our fabrics and see our colors IRL. Newbury Street is one of the prime retail locations in the country, and we think our homey aesthetic is a great fit for the street and for the city of Boston.
Why Boston?
We’re excited to open a store for Boston’s diverse community! We love Boston’s focus on education and innovation, while retaining such a rich cultural heritage. Plus, we have an amazing fan base of Parachute online customers who will love being able to feel our fabrics and see our colors IRL. Newbury Street is one of the prime retail locations in the country, and we think our homey aesthetic is a great fit for the street and for the city of Boston.
What local Boston eats did your team try while you were building out the store?
We love Blue Bottle coffee for our morning coffee and Tatte for a great start to our day. For lunch, some favorite staff picks are Laneta for tacos and Parish Cafe and Bar for an amazing sandwich or two! For dinnertime, it's always ideal to start around the corner at Saltie Girl for oysters and seafood which of course Boston is known for. Lolita has fantastic Mexican options and fun cotton candy as a surprise and delight for dessert! For a great nightcap or just a guilty-pleasure cocktail, we would highly recommend checking out Hecate in our neighborhood.
What local Boston eats did your team try while you were building out the store?
We love Blue Bottle coffee for our morning coffee and Tatte for a great start to our day. For lunch, some favorite staff picks are Laneta for tacos and Parish Cafe and Bar for an amazing sandwich or two! For dinnertime, it's always ideal to start around the corner at Saltie Girl for oysters and seafood which of course Boston is known for. Lolita has fantastic Mexican options and fun cotton candy as a surprise and delight for dessert! For a great nightcap or just a guilty-pleasure cocktail, we would highly recommend checking out Hecate in our neighborhood.
Is the Boston store hiring? If so, where can people apply?
Yes! We have openings for Sales Associates. We love hiring associates with experience selling home products or designing home interiors. However, Parachute has many great Sales Associates and leaders who don’t have home experience, but who have a retail or customer service background, and a real curiosity and passion for Parachute’s brand and products. Check us out and apply on our careers page.
Is the Boston store hiring? If so, where can people apply?
Yes! We have openings for Sales Associates. We love hiring associates with experience selling home products or designing home interiors. However, Parachute has many great Sales Associates and leaders who don’t have home experience, but who have a retail or customer service background, and a real curiosity and passion for Parachute’s brand and products. Check us out and apply on our careers page.
What advice would you give to those joining the Parachute retail team?
I would emphasize the word ‘team.’ We are truly one big family – the Parafam! New team members should be ready to learn from peers, ask lots of questions, share your experience and learn by doing. We are not on commission, so we work together to help our customers find the perfect home solution – often bouncing styling ideas off of each other or sharing what has worked for other customers with similar questions. I’d also encourage them to try Parachute products for themselves – we have a generous employee discount, we give all new employees new bedding when they’re hired and every Parachute team member gets $300 in free product a year. Our best ‘product knowledge’ comes from experiencing Parachute products first-hand!
What advice would you give to those joining the Parachute retail team?
I would emphasize the word ‘team.’ We are truly one big family – the Parafam! New team members should be ready to learn from peers, ask lots of questions, share your experience and learn by doing. We are not on commission, so we work together to help our customers find the perfect home solution – often bouncing styling ideas off of each other or sharing what has worked for other customers with similar questions. I’d also encourage them to try Parachute products for themselves – we have a generous employee discount, we give all new employees new bedding when they’re hired and every Parachute team member gets $300 in free product a year. Our best ‘product knowledge’ comes from experiencing Parachute products first-hand!
What’s the most exciting part about opening a new store?
One of the things I love about working in retail is you can see the output of your work, whether it's styling a new bed display, receiving and storing a shipment, or helping a customer solve a problem or make a purchase that will enhance their home and life. Opening a new store is the extreme example of this – we take over a space that is empty, like a blank canvas. We then work like crazy to make the store warm, immersive and inviting – and full of beautiful things for your home. Finally opening and sharing this experience with customers – whether long-time online Parachute customers or those who are new to the brand – is magical, and just so satisfying.
What’s the most exciting part about opening a new store?
One of the things I love about working in retail is you can see the output of your work, whether it's styling a new bed display, receiving and storing a shipment, or helping a customer solve a problem or make a purchase that will enhance their home and life. Opening a new store is the extreme example of this – we take over a space that is empty, like a blank canvas. We then work like crazy to make the store warm, immersive and inviting – and full of beautiful things for your home. Finally opening and sharing this experience with customers – whether long-time online Parachute customers or those who are new to the brand – is magical, and just so satisfying.
Can you share any hints about where we’ll open next?
We’re excited to open our new store in Studio City, CA at Sportsmen’s Lodge next month! And, we’re about to start construction on a new store in Manhattan, our third New York location. Stay tuned!
Can you share any hints about where we’ll open next?
We’re excited to open our new store in Studio City, CA at Sportsmen’s Lodge next month! And, we’re about to start construction on a new store in Manhattan, our third New York location. Stay tuned!
