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Williams Sonoma

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Williams Sonoma
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail,e-commerce
FoundedSeptember 15, 1956;67 years ago(1956-09-15)
FoundersCharles E. Williams
Area served
Worldwide
Products
ParentWilliams-Sonoma, Inc.
Websitewww.williams-sonoma

Williams Sonomais an American retailer of cookware, appliances, andhome furnishings.It is owned byWilliams-Sonoma, Inc.and was founded byCharles E. (Chuck) Williamsin 1956.

History[edit]

Williams Sonoma store - Portland, Oregon
Williams-Sonoma inCalgary

In 1947, Chuck Williams settled inSonoma, California,and opened his first shop as a hardware store. In 1953, Williams took his first trip to France, where he quickly fell in love with French kitchenware such as copper cookware, and is quoted as saying, "I knew this was something that wasn't found in America, but thought people would want."[2]Shortly after returning home, he formulated a plan to import French cooking and serving equipment into America and eventually converted his store into a cookware shop in 1956.[3]Thus, Williams Sonoma was founded, selling professional and restaurant-quality kitchenware for home use, leading to founder Chuck Williams being recognized as one of the titans of the American food revolution.[4]

After customer requests,[5]Williams relocated the store toSan Franciscoin 1958. The store quickly became a destination with culinary figures such asJulia ChildandJames Beardbecoming customers of the flagship location.[3]In 1972, along with—and at the suggestion of—regular customer Jackie Mallorca, Williams began publishing amail order catalogto expand his business beyond theSan Francisco Bay Area.[5]At the suggestion of customer and friend Edward Marcus, of Dallas-basedNeiman Marcus,Williams decided to expand the company and formed the corporation, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. in 1972.[6]

The second Williams Sonoma store opened onRodeo DriveinBeverly Hillsin 1973.[7]The same year, Williams Sonoma introduced theCuisinartfood processor to the American market through its stores and catalog.[8]Williams decided to sell his share of the company in 1978 toW. Howard Lester,an Oklahoma entrepreneur,[9]and businessman James McMahan. Williams maintained an ownership interest and guided the selection of merchandise and the production of the catalog. Lester took an active role as president and chief executive, while McMahan was the company director.[10]At the time, Williams Sonoma had revenues of $4 million.[11]

The company partnered withTime-Life Booksin 1992 to release its first series of Williams Sonoma Kitchen Library cookbooks.[12]In 1999, Williams Sonoma launched ane-commercewebsite andbridal registry.[13]

In 2004, Williams Sonoma entered into an agreement with theCBS Newsweekday programThe Early Showto broadcast a segment, "The 5-Minute Cooking School", which presented cooking techniques, styles, and recipes. The special weekly series was televised from Williams Sonoma's East Coast flagship store atThe Shops at Columbus CircleinNew York City'sTime Warner Center.[14]This was followed by the debut of upscale Williams Sonoma Home in 2005.

Williams Sonoma opened a store at the site of its original location in Sonoma, California, in 2014. Williams Sonoma founder Chuck Williams celebrated his 99th birthday on the store's opening on October 2, 2014.[15]

In popular culture[edit]

Williams Sonoma's stores and gift registries have been referenced on television shows includingSex and the City(Season 1, Episode 3: "Bay of Married Pigs"),American Dad!(Season 2, Episode 16: "When a Stan Loves a Woman"),Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist(Season 6, Episode 7: "Used Car" ),Frasier,Mike Tyson Mysteries,Friends(Season 5, Episode 4: "The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS"),The Office (American TV series)(Season 8, Episode 9: "Mrs. California"),The Simpsons(Season 31, Episode 8: "Thanksgiving of Horror" ), andFamily Guy(Season 19, Episode 13: "PeTerminator" ).

Williams Sonoma products have been featured numerous times onThe Oprah Winfrey Show'sOprah's Favorite Thingsspecials including Williams Sonoma Home bedding (2004), Williams Sonoma's croissants (2002, 2005, and 2010),[16]Williams Sonoma'smelaminemi xing bowls, measuring cups, and measuring spoons (2007), Perfect Ending Cupcakes andBreville'sIkonPaniniPress (sold by Williams Sonoma) (2007),[17]and Williams Sonoma's Waring Popcorn Maker (2014).[18]

In the filmThe Muse,all the kitchen supplies used to manufacture the wives' cookies were purchased at Williams Sonoma. In the musicalDear Edwina,one song references "Williams" and "Sonoma" as being people that sing along with the Fairy Forkmother to teach a chef how to set a table.

References[edit]

  1. ^"About Williams Sonoma".williams-sonoma.Retrieved2020-03-06.
  2. ^"Williams-Sonoma".Retail Merchandiser Magazine.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
  3. ^abJordan, Michele Anna (September 3, 2014)."The Comeback Kid".Sonoma Magazine.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
  4. ^"A New Source for Cookware".Smithsonian National Museum of American History. 21 August 2013.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
  5. ^abFletcher, Janet (October 4, 2014)."Williams-Sonoma returns home to celebrate heritage".SFGate.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
  6. ^Allen, Gary J.; Albala, Ken (2007).The Business of Food: Encyclopedia of the Food and Drink Industries.ABC-CLIO. p. 395.ISBN9780313337253.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
  7. ^"Williams-Sonoma, Inc. History".International Directory of Company Histories. 2002.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
  8. ^Kamp, David (2006).The United States of Arugula: How We Became a Gourmet Nation.Broadway Books. p. 92.ISBN9780767915793.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
  9. ^"Chuck Williams".Williams-Sonoma.RetrievedNovember 8,2013.
  10. ^Douglas Martin (November 18, 2010)."W. Howard Lester, Williams-Sonoma Owner, Dies at 75".The New York Times.
  11. ^Shambora, Jessica (July 26, 2010)."Williams-Sonoma's Secret Sauce".Fortune.162(2): 46.RetrievedJuly 17,2010.
  12. ^Dowling, Melissa (December 1, 1992). "Williams-Sonoma Cooks up a deal with Time-Life". Stamford, Connecticut: Catalog Age.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  13. ^"Williams-Sonoma, Epicurious Make Recipe for Online Sales".technewsworld.Archived fromthe originalon 2015-05-18.Retrieved2020-03-06.
  14. ^Kaplan, David (November 8, 2004)."CBS' 'Early Show' Partners With Williams-Sonoma For Thanksgiving Segments".Media News Daily.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
  15. ^Kurutz, Steven (October 15, 2014)."Back to the Cutting Board".New York Times.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
  16. ^Gorton, Laurie (September 3, 2014)."'Oprah Effect' opens doors for California bakery ".Baking Business.RetrievedNovember 9,2015.
  17. ^"Oprah's Favorite Things 2007".WSOC-TV. November 21, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon March 5, 2016.RetrievedNovember 9,2015.
  18. ^Willet, Megan (November 7, 2014)."All 72 Of Oprah's 'Favorite Things' Will Cost You $13,407".Business Insider.RetrievedNovember 9,2015.

External links[edit]

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