Latest news with #LauraAlber
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Popular US homeware brand ‘that beats Ikea' is finally launching in the UK
The site will offer a 'curated' selection of its homeware products, plus a personalised interior styling assistance service for shoppers who need design inspiration A popular US homeware brand is finally launching online in the UK this autumn. Pottery Barn is known for its home furniture and accessories and has now confirmed plans for a UK webstore. The site will offer a "curated" selection of Pottery Barn products, plus a personalised interior styling assistance service for shoppers who need design inspiration. Pottery Barn operates in over 60 countries, including the US, Canada, Mexico and Australia. It is owned by Williams-Sonoma, which is also the parent company of furniture retailer West Elm. Fans have previously compared Pottery Barn to Ikea. In an online forum, one person said: "You get what you pay for at IKEA, sometimes they'll have some of the nicer sofas at right around the same price as everyone else. Generally though, Pottery Barn Items are much much higher quality." Williams-Sonoma president and chief executive Laura Alber said: 'We are committed to long-term growth and expanding the reach of our brands where we see meaningful market opportunity. 'We believe great design and quality craftsmanship have universal appeal and we look forward to bringing Pottery Barn's signature aesthetic to the UK.' Pottery Barn president Monica Bhargava added: 'Whether furnishing a new flat, refreshing a family home, or entertaining with family and friends or thoughtful gifting, we are proud to be providing the UK market with thoughtfully designed pieces that meet the needs of modern living.' Pottery Barn isn't the only US company to be making ground in the UK. Slim Chickens - which some people say is "better than KFC" - revealed it will open 16 new restaurants across the UK in 2025. Slim Chickens was founded in Arkansas in 2003 and specialises in Southern-style chicken tenders and wings. It opened its first UK site in 2018 and now has more than 70 branches over here. In the states, it has over 200. Some of the items on the Slim Chickens menu includes buttermilk marinated chicken tenders, chicken wings, boneless bites, sandwiches, salads, wraps, fries, and a range of 14 house dipping sauces. The dipping sauces include blue cheese, buffalo, cayenne ranch, gravy mayo, honey mustard, Korean BBQ, Slim Sauce and a limited-time "Unknown" sauce. On social media, fans have raved about the chain over the last few years. On Instagram, one person said the food "looks phenomenal", while on Reddit, another said "prefer it over KFC". Meanwhile on X, one person said: "Slim Chickens is the best chicken place I have ever been to and it's not even close.." Another added: "What is the best fried chicken franchise and why is it Slim Chickens?" A third said: "Slim chickens is much better if you want good chicken, better than both KFC and Popeyes imo."
Scottish Sun
16-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Legendary US homeware brand ‘better than Ikea' is launching in the UK this autumn – offering huge Halloween range
OPENING DOORS Legendary US homeware brand 'better than Ikea' is launching in the UK this autumn – offering huge Halloween range US homeware favourite is finally making its way to Britain – with an online UK launch set for this autumn. The cult-favourite brand, known for its chic furniture, cosy bedding and Pinterest-worthy décor, will finally be available direct to UK customers for the first time. 3 The stylish Stateside brand, Pottery Barn, will soon be available to UK shoppers Credit: Getty Swanky US homeware chain Pottery Barn is set to launch online in the UK this autumn – and shoppers are buzzing to finally get their hands on the brand's famous furniture and décor without the overseas faff. Known for its cosy-chic vibe, the cult American label will offer Brits a selection of stylish furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative bits through a dedicated UK website. Pottery Barn, owned by home retail giant Williams-Sonoma – which also runs West Elm – says it's eyeing up Britain as its next big market. Williams-Sonoma boss Laura Alber said: 'We believe great design and quality craftsmanship have universal appeal and we're excited to bring Pottery Barn's signature look to the UK.' Pottery Barn president Monica Bhargava added: 'Whether you're kitting out a new flat or refreshing your family home, our designs are made for modern living.' It's not just the goods Brits will love – free design services will also be on offer, giving customers personal styling help for their homes, both online and in-person. And just in time for spooky season, Pottery Barn's UK site is expected to launch with its huge Halloween collection — packed with ghostly glassware, gothic table décor, creepy candles and luxe pumpkin accents. The brand is famous Stateside for going all out on seasonal styling, and Brits will finally get to join the party with high-end Halloween buys that are a far cry from the bargain-bin basics. Fan reaction British shoppers can't wait to swap flat-pack frustration for Pottery Barn's polished pieces — with many already calling it a classy upgrade from IKEA. Fans online have hailed the brand's timeless aesthetic and quality finishes, with one saying: "You get what you pay for at IKEA, sometimes they'll have some of the nicer sofas at right around the same price as everyone else. "Generally though, Pottery Barn Items are much much higher quality." Another added: "Everything I've ever bought from IKEA has been a cheap piece of c*** that fell apart immediately. I did a haul of the new Oxford Street Ikea whilst on my lunch break & I managed to kit out with bargains under £3 "While Pottery Barn isn't the best of quality, it's on a significantly higher level than IKEA. "The other thing is that Pottery Barn style is quite different from the IKEA style." A third penned: "IKEA's hit and miss. Everything I have from them is pretty good, but you do have to go into the IKEA and have a look at what you're buying. "Some of their stuff is c*** and price is no indicator of what's what." With stylish staples and designer vibes, Pottery Barn's UK debut is shaping up to be the ultimate homeware shake-up. How to upcycle garden furniture in 3 steps There's really no need to spend a fortune on new garden furniture. Rebecca Miller, Fabulous' Associate Editor and gardening enthusiast has shared her tips to transforming grotty second-hand furniture into pieces that look brand new. "Recycling centres, dump shops, charity shops and Facebook Marketplace are brilliant places to pick up second hand items for cheap. And all you need to do is have a spare afternoon to spruce them up - and it's something you can get your kids involved in! Clean Everything looks better after a good scrub. If in doubt, opt for a simple washing-up liquid and warm water solution, and get to work removing all the grime and dirt. If the piece of furniture can withstand some pressure, why not pressure wash it? Leave it to dry, then you can see what you're dealing with. Fix-up If the item of furniture is a little wonky, or you're unsure how sturdy it is, take a moment to check all the fixtures and either replace them or tighten them up. Colour The quickest way to transform a piece of furniture is with a lick of paint. When choosing a new colour, base it on shades that will fit with your existing garden design and plants - but most importantly, pick a colour that will bring a smile to your face." Inside IKEA's new Oxford Street shop IKEA opened a new shop on London's Oxford Street in May. It's set over three floors and 5,400 square metres compared with the average size of 30,000 square meters for most of IKEA's locations - but it's for a very good reason. It's the second of IKEA's smaller format stores and while 6,000 IKEA products are on display you can only purchase 3,500 of these in-store. But, importantly of course, you'll still be able to grab the Swedish retailer's iconic meatballs and 85p hot dogs - and it's all available for takeaway. The shop's location on ever-busy Oxford Street means it's geared more towards shoppers popping in for smaller home items. You won't be able to pick up larger furniture items, but you can order them for home delivery, click and collect, or get them sent to pick-up locations across the UK. 3 Shoppers are buzzing to finally get their hands on the brand's famous furniture and décor without the overseas faff Credit: Shutterstock
The Sun
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Legendary US homeware brand ‘better than Ikea' is launching in the UK this autumn – offering huge Halloween range
US homeware favourite is finally making its way to Britain – with an online UK launch set for this autumn. The cult-favourite brand, known for its chic furniture, cosy bedding and Pinterest-worthy décor, will finally be available direct to UK customers for the first time. 3 3 Swanky US homeware chain Pottery Barn is set to launch online in the UK this autumn – and shoppers are buzzing to finally get their hands on the brand's famous furniture and décor without the overseas faff. Known for its cosy-chic vibe, the cult American label will offer Brits a selection of stylish furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative bits through a dedicated UK website. Pottery Barn, owned by home retail giant Williams-Sonoma – which also runs West Elm – says it's eyeing up Britain as its next big market. Williams-Sonoma boss Laura Alber said: 'We believe great design and quality craftsmanship have universal appeal and we're excited to bring Pottery Barn's signature look to the UK.' Pottery Barn president Monica Bhargava added: 'Whether you're kitting out a new flat or refreshing your family home, our designs are made for modern living.' It's not just the goods Brits will love – free design services will also be on offer, giving customers personal styling help for their homes, both online and in-person. And just in time for spooky season, Pottery Barn's UK site is expected to launch with its huge Halloween collection — packed with ghostly glassware, gothic table décor, creepy candles and luxe pumpkin accents. The brand is famous Stateside for going all out on seasonal styling, and Brits will finally get to join the party with high-end Halloween buys that are a far cry from the bargain -bin basics. Fan reaction British shoppers can't wait to swap flat-pack frustration for Pottery Barn's polished pieces — with many already calling it a classy upgrade from IKEA. Fans online have hailed the brand's timeless aesthetic and quality finishes, with one saying: "You get what you pay for at IKEA, sometimes they'll have some of the nicer sofas at right around the same price as everyone else. "Generally though, Pottery Barn Items are much much higher quality." Another added: "Everything I've ever bought from IKEA has been a cheap piece of c*** that fell apart immediately. "While Pottery Barn isn't the best of quality, it's on a significantly higher level than IKEA. "The other thing is that Pottery Barn style is quite different from the IKEA style." A third penned: "IKEA's hit and miss. Everything I have from them is pretty good, but you do have to go into the IKEA and have a look at what you're buying. "Some of their stuff is c*** and price is no indicator of what's what." With stylish staples and designer vibes, Pottery Barn's UK debut is shaping up to be the ultimate homeware shake-up. How to upcycle garden furniture in 3 steps There's really no need to spend a fortune on new garden furniture. Rebecca Miller, Fabulous' Associate Editor and gardening enthusiast has shared her tips to transforming grotty second-hand furniture into pieces that look brand new. "Recycling centres, dump shops, charity shops and Facebook Marketplace are brilliant places to pick up second hand items for cheap. And all you need to do is have a spare afternoon to spruce them up - and it's something you can get your kids involved in! Clean Everything looks better after a good scrub. If in doubt, opt for a simple washing-up liquid and warm water solution, and get to work removing all the grime and dirt. If the piece of furniture can withstand some pressure, why not pressure wash it? Leave it to dry, then you can see what you're dealing with. Fix-up If the item of furniture is a little wonky, or you're unsure how sturdy it is, take a moment to check all the fixtures and either replace them or tighten them up. Colour The quickest way to transform a piece of furniture is with a lick of paint. When choosing a new colour, base it on shades that will fit with your existing garden design and plants - but most importantly, pick a colour that will bring a smile to your face." Inside IKEA's new Oxford Street shop IKEA opened a new shop on London's Oxford Street in May. It's set over three floors and 5,400 square metres compared with the average size of 30,000 square meters for most of IKEA 's locations - but it's for a very good reason. It's the second of IKEA's smaller format stores and while 6,000 IKEA products are on display you can only purchase 3,500 of these in-store. But, importantly of course, you'll still be able to grab the Swedish retailer's iconic meatballs and 85p hot dogs - and it's all available for takeaway. The shop's location on ever-busy Oxford Street means it's geared more towards shoppers popping in for smaller home items. You won't be able to pick up larger furniture items, but you can order them for home delivery, click and collect, or get them sent to pick-up locations across the UK.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jim Cramer Says Williams-Sonoma's CEO 'Moved a Ton of Manufacturing to Vietnam'
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) is one of the 22 stocks Jim Cramer recently talked about. Coming to the company, Cramer stated: 'Laura Alber, CEO of Williams-Sonoma, moved a ton of manufacturing to Vietnam. Her stock's down more than 6% for the year, intriguing. [It] jumped more than 2% on the tariff news, but that's nothing.' An interior of a modern home with a wide selection of cookware, tools and cutlery on display. Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) sells a wide range of home products, including cookware, furniture, decor, and personalized items, through both digital and physical retail channels. Additionally, the company operates a 3-D imaging and augmented reality platform for home design. Vltava Fund stated the following regarding Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) in its Q1 2025 investor letter: 'We sold the rest of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) stock. This was a very profitable investment for us. How do we evaluate its feedback? We did not hold the stock for very long, only about 3-1/2 years. During that time, the stock price moved from less than $50 to more than $200. In the beginning, we could buy the shares at single digit earnings multiples. The stock price was well below our estimate of the company's value. The business itself is of very high quality, with high returns on capital, no debt, and an exemplary asset allocation. As such, we see the purchase itself as a good move and entirely in line with our investment philosophy. When we sold the shares, they were trading at about 25 times earnings. This was significantly higher than our current estimate of the company's value. Any company, however good and promising it may appear, is a good investment at a low price but a poor investment at a high price. We are always reminded of this and therefore we sold the WSM shares. So far, we see this also as a good move and entirely consistent with our investment philosophy. At the same time, however, we are aware that the large total return on this investment was only partly the result of our transactions and analysis. Luck also played a large part. We expected that WSM would do well in its business. This was confirmed, and the shares also had been objectively very cheap when we bought them. However, all of this falls far short of justifying the rapid quadrupling of the share price. We therefore do not succumb to the temptation to attribute more to our own skills than is prudent. It remains important for us to stick to our investment philosophy and investment process in our stock selection and individual transactions. On average and over the longer term, they should continue to bring us solid returns, although in individual cases or over shorter periods they may deliver returns both much better than they deserve and much poorer than they deserve.' While we acknowledge the potential of WSM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Benjamin Moore Announces Multi-Year Home Partnership with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Brands
Iconic Design Brands to Collaborate on Color Palettes, Events and More MONTVALE, N.J., June 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Benjamin Moore, a leader in paint, color and coatings, announced its multi-year partnership with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. portfolio brands Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Teen, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Rejuvenation. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) is the world's largest, digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer. The partnership aligns the legacy paint brand known for its premium paints and colors with the distinctive high-quality home furnishings brands. Benjamin Moore and these select Williams-Sonoma, Inc. brands will collaborate on curated color palettes that match back to seasonal furniture and décor, in-store experiences and more. "Benjamin Moore is proud to partner with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. to bring exceptional design and unmatchable color to customers looking to elevate their spaces," said Dan Calkins, Chairman and CEO at Benjamin Moore. "With a shared commitment to manufacturing the highest-quality products and offering best-in-class retail experiences, we look forward to delivering design solutions for every style to both professional and consumer audiences alike." "Partnering with Benjamin Moore enhances our collective customer experience," said Laura Alber, President and CEO of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. "Benjamin Moore offers our customers a path to creating cohesive, beautifully designed spaces with custom paint palettes, resources, and superior expertise as a premier paint brand." The partnership will also include branded digital and social content, which includes expertly curated photography brought to life using premium Benjamin Moore paints and unmatchable colors. In addition, Design Crew teams across Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm and Rejuvenation retail locations will be equipped with Benjamin Moore design and color tools to enable color consultations and pairings for any project. For more information and to get inspired by the brands curated palettes, visit and About Benjamin Moore Benjamin Moore, a Berkshire Hathaway company, was founded in 1883 and remains one of the world's leading paint, color and coatings brands. A manufacturer of premium quality residential and commercial coatings, Benjamin Moore maintains a relentless commitment to innovation and sustainable manufacturing practices. The portfolio spans the brand's flagship paint lines including Aura®, Regal® Select, Ben®, Ultra Spec®, Advance®, Scuff-X®, Insl-X® and more. Benjamin Moore is renowned for its more than 3,500 unmatchable colors, and its design tools and expertise for consumers and professionals alike. Benjamin Moore products are available exclusively from more than 8,500 locally owned and operated paint, decorating and hardware retailers throughout the United States, Canada and another 74 countries globally. View source version on Contacts Kimberly Flores Benjamin Moore pressrequests@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
