Williams-Sonoma, Inc. : Announces the Launch of New Lifestyle Brand, Mark and Graham
11/08/2012| 06:05am US/Eastern

Recommend:
New brand featuring personalized gifts and accessories debuts just in
time for holiday shopping
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM), the North America-based retailer that
specializes in high-quality products for the home, today announced that
it has launched its newest direct-to-customer brand, Mark and Graham,
specializing in personalized
gifts and accessories. As the newest brand to join the
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. portfolio, Mark and Graham will offer colorful and
timeless products personalized with a choice of more than 50 custom
monograms and creative type treatments. The brand will offer its
products through an exclusive direct mail catalog and an e-commerce
website markandgraham.com.
Mark and Graham's Typographer's Linen Napkins. (Photo: Business Wire)
At the heart of Mark and Graham is a complimentary monogramming and
personalization experience on its products, making it a destination for
seasonal and personal gifts. The brand's website showcases a collection
of custom
monograms and a variety of dynamic fonts, colors and techniques -
from embroidery to engraving - available to transform an everyday gift
into a modern-day heirloom. Whether customers are shopping for
themselves or for family and friends, they have the opportunity to
combine typography and design to make their own unique mark and create
something deeply personal.
"I'm extremely proud to launch Mark and Graham, as it is an example of
our innovative culture here at Williams-Sonoma, Inc.," said Laura Alber,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. "One of the
things that differentiates our company is our ability to incubate and
launch new brands that can grow into substantial businesses. With Mark
and Graham, our goal is to create a destination for beautiful,
high-quality, thoughtful gifts that are personalized by the artful use
of typography."
The brand Mark and Graham was conceived in San Francisco by a small
team, led by Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development
for Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Marta Benson, and in collaboration with
award-winning graphic designer Jennifer Morla. The concept originated
from the need to offer quality, modern and thoughtful gift options with
a personal sentiment to make the gifting experience unique and memorable.
"For a brand to resonate with people, it has to have meaning and a sense
of purpose," says Marta Benson, Senior Vice President of Strategy and
Business Development for Williams-Sonoma, Inc. "At Mark and Graham our
mission is to help you celebrate the people in your life and to make
gift giving personable and fun. The name 'Mark and Graham' is a play on
words about creating one's own mark or monogram. We want to share our
passion for typography and design, and give customers the tools to
create beautiful gifts."
Mark and Graham is designed to be a premier destination for gift buying.
The brand's specialty shops include home décor, men's and women's
accessories, small leather goods, jewelry, entertaining and bar,
do-it-yourself wrapping supplies, and seasonal items. Every purchase
comes with complimentary personalization, and arrives in a signature
linen box finished with extra-wide grosgrain ribbon and a customizable
gift card. All orders over $49.00 will also enjoy complimentary shipping
with promotional code FREESHIP and are assured to arrive within five
days.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not
fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating
to the launch of our new brand, Mark and Graham. The risks and
uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include
the risk that the launch is not successful. These and other risks and
uncertainties are described more fully in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2012, all subsequent quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. All
forward-looking statements in this press release are based on
information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
ABOUT WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a specialty retailer of high-quality products
for the home. These products, representing seven distinct merchandise
strategies - Williams-Sonoma (cookware
and wedding
registry), Pottery Barn (furniture
and wedding
registry), Pottery Barn Kids (kids'
furniture and baby
registry), PBteen (girls'
bedding and boys'
bedding), West Elm (modern
furniture and room
decor), Williams-Sonoma Home (luxury
furniture and decorative
accessories) and Rejuvenation (lighting
and hardware)
- are marketed through 579 stores, seven direct mail catalogs and six
e-commerce websites. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. currently operates in the
United States and Canada, offers international shipping to customers
worldwide, and franchises its brands throughout the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50470518&lang=en

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Leigh Oshirak, 415-438-8106
Vice
President, Public Relations
loshirak@wsgc.com
© Business Wire 2012
Recommend :