Pottery Barn: More newness, more often

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 11/17/2005 1:17:00 PM

SAN FRANCISCO --Pottery Barn brands plan to be less promotional in January by focusing on fresher regular-priced goods, changing floor visuals and offering better merchandise assortments, Williams-Sonoma said executives this morning during the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

This year, Pottery Barn has significantly improved its trim-a-tree and holiday assortments, added a new floor set between Halloween and Thanksgiving, and held off on holiday merchandise until November to be more in line with customers’ buying patterns.

According to executives, third-quarter results at Pottery Barn brands have been driven by growth in textiles, furniture and decorative accessories. The company stated that textiles and furniture continue to exceed expectations, particularly at Pottery Barn Kids.

Helped by growing strength at its Pottery Barn and outlet units, Williams-Sonoma drove third quarter profits up 30.3 percent to $73.1 million, while sales advanced 14.5 percent to $827.6 million. Comps moved up 3.1 percent, held in check by some softness in the core Williams-Sonoma stores and a slide at Hold Everything, which offset gains of more than 4 percent in every other operating unit.