When it comes to kitchen tools, cookware, high-end bakeware, and flat-out classic inspiration for the kitchen and the table, Williams-Sonoma is in a class of its own.
Williams-Sonoma was started in 1956 in Northern California, and it eventually established its headquarters in San Francisco itself. The founder, Charles Williams, was an early innovator in retail strategy and branding for the home and kitchen. He talks about how he created an upscale store experience here, in a quote we found at Wikipedia:
Not many people in this country had seen some of the things we were selling, so I thought you should see each pan in the best possible way. I put them up on a shelf in size order, with all the handles facing the same way, ensuring that anyone walking in would see the display at its best angle. If somebody wanted to buy something, he had to ask me to get it for him, thus creating conversation. As in the upscale stores I had worked in, I tried to build the place so that it demanded that customers be served.
He created a high-end store experience that focused on graciousness and fine living, and to this day, every Williams-Sonoma store has that glowing feel of a well-polished kitchen and fine dining room. Whether this is to your preferred taste or not, Williams-Sonoma has really influenced American culture and style. They also carry that strong brand presence out through exclusive partnerships with established companies like KitchenAid, Nordicware, and All-Clad, offering exclusive products only in their stores and catalog.
Their online presence, Williams-Sonoma.com, carries that strong brand presence and high-end feel through as well, with fine photography, elegant presentation of their major brands, and many well-crafted recipes to demonstrate their cookware.
We find Williams-Sonoma expensive, but not always unduly so. We enjoy shopping in the stores and finding inspiration in the table settings and foods that they group together. We love browsing their website for seasonal inspiration as well.
Do you shop at Williams-Sonoma? What do you look for there?
Related: Snowy Village Cakelet Pan from Williams-Sonoma
(Image: Williams-Sonoma)
Store History
- Founded: 1956
- Founded by: Charles Williams
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California
- Sister stores: Pottery Barn, PB Kids, PB Teen, West Elm
Williams-Sonoma was started in 1956 in Northern California, and it eventually established its headquarters in San Francisco. The founder, Charles Williams, was an early innovator in retail strategy and branding for the home and kitchen. Their online presence, Williams-Sonoma.com, carries that strong brand and high-end feel through as well, with fine photography, elegant presentation, and many well-crafted recipes to demonstrate their cookware.
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I love Williams-Sonoma and consider it a wonderful treat to shop at. Yes, it is expensive and shopping there isn't a regular occurrence but having a gift card from there in my hand makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.
I really enjoy the store because I know that they will have the newest things that can help me with my kitchen, as well as all of the staples. In my opinion they are not expensive because tools purchased there will last forever. I am still using tools I purchased from them over 40 years ago! Most of my trips now are just to find out what new items might make my life easier in the kitchen.
I love Williams-Sonoma recipes - I haven't found a bad one yet!
I loves...but it's a treat for sure. You can spend 75 bucks on dishtowels before you even know what happened to you. My suggestion is the online clearance department, unless you're a Rockafeller.
just curious, is this a sponsored post?
anyway, i do love the stores and the products. expensive, but the quality is there.
Love them! And while they high-end feel and seem expensive, I've actually found quite a few products there that are cheaper. I once bought a set of Wustof knives at Macy's that were on sale, only to stop by the Williams-Sonoma and find them cheaper (without a sale). Needless to say, I turned around, returned the Macy's purchase, and bought the knives at Williams-Sonoma.
@thedonna - no. Sponsored posts will always have clear sidebar that marks them as such. I just realized we had never had a discussion thread for W-S.
many of the things I like from them, like cakelet pans and such, get phased through pretty quickly, so I know if I can wait a couple of months it'll be a decent price when they push it to clearance.
my mom got me a pot from their italian curvy line and i love it! i feel so fancy when i use it but it's easy to clean up and just such good quality - wish i could afford the rest of the set :)
I think the key with Williams Sonoma is to go into the store and watch for sale items. If you rely on the catalog and the website, you will never find good deals.
In general, the people working in Williams Sonoma know their sh*t and will find stuff for you and help you as much as possible.