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 store that sells high-quality cookware, kitchen appliances, and home furnishings. It is part of a larger company called Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and was started by Charles E. (Chuck) Williams in 1956.
Contents
The Story of Williams Sonoma
A Trip to France Changes Everything
The story begins in 1947 when Chuck Williams opened a hardware store in Sonoma, California. A few years later, in 1953, he took a trip to France. There, he fell in love with the amazing French kitchen tools, like shiny copper pots and pans.
Williams realized that people in America couldn't easily buy such high-quality kitchenware. He said, "I knew this was something that wasn't found in America, but thought people would want." When he returned home, he made a plan. In 1956, he changed his hardware store into a cookware shop. This was the beginning of Williams Sonoma, a store that sold professional-quality kitchen tools for everyday home cooks.
From a Small Shop to a Famous Store
As the store became more popular, customers asked Williams to move to a bigger city. In 1958, he relocated the shop to San Francisco. It wasn't long before the store became a famous destination. Even well-known chefs like Julia Child and James Beard shopped there.
To help his business grow, Williams started a mail-order catalog in 1972. This was like a magazine full of products that people could order from home and have delivered by mail. This allowed people outside of the San Francisco Bay Area to buy his products.
That same year, a friend suggested he expand the company even more. Williams agreed and formed the corporation Williams-Sonoma, Inc. to manage the growing business.
New Leadership and Big Ideas
In 1973, the second Williams Sonoma store opened on the famous Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The company also introduced the Cuisinart food processor to the United States through its stores and catalog, which was a huge hit.
In 1978, Williams decided to sell most of his part of the company to W. Howard Lester, an entrepreneur from Oklahoma. Williams stayed with the company to help choose the products and create the catalogs. Lester became the new president and helped the company grow from earning $4 million to much more.
Williams Sonoma in Modern Times
The company continued to come up with new ideas. In 1992, it worked with Time-Life Books to create a series of cookbooks called the Williams Sonoma Kitchen Library.
As the internet grew, Williams Sonoma launched its own e-commerce website in 1999. This allowed customers to shop online. The company also started a bridal registry, where couples getting married could ask for gifts from the store.
In 2004, Williams Sonoma partnered with the TV program The Early Show for a cooking segment. It was filmed at the company's big store in New York City. A year later, the company launched Williams Sonoma Home, a new brand focused on high-end furniture and home decor.
In 2014, the company celebrated its history by opening a new store in Sonoma, California, right where the very first shop was located. The founder, Chuck Williams, was there to celebrate his 99th birthday at the grand opening.
