Williams Sonoma facts for kids
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Williams Sonoma at The Summit (Alabama)
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Retail, e-commerce |
| Founded | September 15, 1956 |
| Founders | Charles E. Williams |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
| Products |
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| Parent | Williams-Sonoma, Inc. |
Williams Sonoma is an American company that sells things for your kitchen and home. They sell cookware, kitchen appliances, and furniture. The company is owned by Williams-Sonoma, Inc. It was started by a person named Charles E. (Chuck) Williams in 1956.
How Williams Sonoma Started
In 1947, Chuck Williams moved to a town called Sonoma, California. He opened his first shop there, but it was a hardware store.
In 1953, Chuck took his first trip to France. He really loved the kitchen items he saw there, like shiny copper pots. He said, "I knew this was something that wasn't found in America, but thought people would want."
When he came back home, he decided to bring French cooking tools to America. In 1956, he changed his hardware store into a cookware shop. This is how Williams Sonoma began! They sold high-quality kitchen tools, like those used by professional chefs, for people to use at home. Chuck Williams became known as a very important person in the American food world.
Growing the Business
After many customers asked for it, Williams moved his store to San Francisco in 1958. The store quickly became a popular place. Famous chefs like Julia Child and James Beard even became customers!
In 1972, a customer named Jackie Mallorca suggested that Williams start a mail order catalog. This allowed the company to sell items to people outside the San Francisco Bay Area. Another friend, Edward Marcus, suggested that Williams make the company bigger. So, in 1972, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. was officially formed as a larger company.
The second Williams Sonoma store opened in 1973 on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. In the same year, Williams Sonoma was the first to bring the Cuisinart food processor to America. They sold it in their stores and through their catalog.
In 1978, Chuck Williams decided to sell most of his share of the company. He sold it to two businessmen, W. Howard Lester and James McMahan. Chuck still helped choose the products and create the catalog. At that time, Williams Sonoma was making about $4 million in sales.
New Ideas and Expansion
In 1992, the company worked with Time-Life Books to create their first series of cookbooks. These were called the Williams Sonoma Kitchen Library. In 1999, Williams Sonoma started an e-commerce website. This meant people could shop online! They also started a bridal registry service.
In 2004, Williams Sonoma teamed up with the TV show The Early Show on CBS News. They had a cooking segment called "The 5-Minute Cooking School." This show taught people cooking tips and recipes. It was filmed at the Williams Sonoma store in New York City. In 2005, they launched a new line of upscale home furnishings called Williams Sonoma Home.
In 2014, Williams Sonoma opened a new store in Sonoma, California. This was the same town where Chuck Williams opened his very first shop! Chuck Williams celebrated his 99th birthday on the day this new store opened, October 2, 2014.
