Williams-Sonoma

Williams -Sonoma, Inc. is a U.S. company headquartered in San Francisco that special cooking utensils and other household goods as well as a selection of foods, such as, for example, sells gourmet coffee.

Generally

In 2005, the Company had a total of 560 department stores, which were distributed in the U.S. and Canada. However, it contributed only 255 stores the name of Williams -Sonoma, 180 stores were running under the brand name Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids under 90 more and smaller brands like Williams - Sonoma Home, Hold Everything and West Elm. In 2005, Williams -Sonoma, Inc was able to generate a net income of 3.539 billion U.S. dollars. In addition, the company employs in the same year, 7,700 full-time workers and had 522 shareholders.

History

Williams -Sonoma was founded in 1956 by Chuck Williams in Sonoma, California. Even then, quality cooking utensils were sold for home use. At the suggestion of customers and friends 1958 Williams moved his shop to San Francisco, where is the headquarters of Williams -Sonoma, Inc. today. 1971, the first sales catalog was created to make the department store via the Bay Area also publicized.

A sequence of increasing success of the company, was the official registration as a public company in 1973. During the same year also began today continued expansion of Williams -Sonoma. First, Williams opened new stores in California, such as in Beverly Hills. This, however, the new board indebted the company, which is why Chuck Williams sold his entire shareholding. Nevertheless, he was still responsible for the creation of catalogs and trade.

After addressing the economic crisis of Williams -Sonoma brand in 1983 was generally known to the public. 1986 Williams bought the company Pottery Barn, which is the largest subsidiary of Williams -Sonoma, Inc. today. The Pottery Barn Kids brand but was not founded until 1999. In 2003, the formation of the West Elm brand was.

His first international store opened Williams -Sonoma on 20 October 2001 in Toronto, Canada. Meanwhile, 13 more stores were opened in cities like Calgary and Vancouver in Canada.