SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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.
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.
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