“As we meet and exceed our company-wide goals, we reshape the industry and ourselves. At the center of everything we do, every day, is our customer.”
Laura Alber, CEO, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Industry Impact
In 2019, for the first time, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. was named among the Fortune 500 largest companies in the United States. In 2020, for the third consecutive year, we were recognized as the only home furnishings retailer on Barron’s annual list of the 100 most sustainable companies in the U.S. We are in a unique position to drive positive change in our industry, and we recognize the importance of long-term, sustainable growth.
Products with Purpose
Across our brands, we produce thousands of organic, sustainably sourced, Fair Trade Certified™, and handcrafted products. Through partnerships with the Organic Content Standard (OCS) among others, we’re working towards a goal of 100% responsibly sourced cotton by 2021. Our achievements have earned us recognition from the Textile Exchange as a top 10 purchaser of preferred fibers, and the Sustainable Furnishings Council as a top 10 company sourcing responsible wood. At Pottery Barn Kids and Teen, our proprietary bedroom and nursery furniture is GREENGUARD Gold certified and contributes to healthier indoor air.
Fair Trade & Worker Wellbeing
We were the first home goods retailer to make a commitment to Fair Trade with West Elm, and by 2017, all our brands were participating in the Fair Trade economy. Since 2015, we have partnered with HERproject to empower workers through education, health and finance programs. In 2017, we expanded our reach and began a partnership with VisionSpring to provide vision screenings and corrective eyewear to over 23,000 workers. By 2020, we will have provided education and empowerment for more than 100,000 workers.
Inclusion & Innovation
We truly believe that a culture of inclusion leads to innovation, creates healthy teams and delivers a better experience for our customers. We’re proud that over 40% of our board members, and over 50% of our executives at the VP level and above, are women. In 2018, we signed onto CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, expanding our networks of LGBTQ+, African American and Veteran associates and organizing celebrations for Diwali, Pride and Veteran’s Day, as well as our second annual company-wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Forbes named us a Best Employer for Women 2019-2021, and a Best Employer for Diversity in 2020. As we grow, we continually seek ways to deepen sustainability initiatives in service of our associates, customers and communities.