Special Product Groups

Brand:
Pottery Barn is a United States-based upscale home furnishing store chain with
retail stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Mexico and
Australia. Pottery Barn began as a single store in Lower Manhattan in 1949. Founded
by Paul Secon and his brother Morris, they sold the company in 1986.
Company history:
The original Pottery Barn opened in 1949, among the docks and warehouses of
West Chelsea in lower Manhattan. The founder, Paul Secon, took a sacred
approach to well-designed merchandise. He specialized in tabletop seconds and
closeouts, offering customers great value on fashionable, exclusive home wares.
Over the years, the brand started to offer a variety of kitchen and decorative
household items.
It expanded to the West Coast and was purchased by The Gap
Stores, Inc. in 1983 and then Williams-Sonoma, Inc. three years later. The worldfamous Pottery Barn catalog, is now mailed to millions of customers each year,
launched in 1987.
The brand has continued to evolve, including the addition of the Design Studio and
an increased emphasis on craftsmanship and high-quality materials.
They focus heavily on four areas:
innovating the designs, giving back to
the
planet
and
global communities, offering top-notch
service to the customers and creating
enduring products.
Age Specific Stores:

Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn Teen
Pottery Barn Kids

PRODUCT CATEGORIES:

FURNITURE
LIVING & FAMILY ROOM
Sofa & Sectional Collections
Leather Sofas & Sectionals
Sofas & Loveseats
Chairs & Ottomans
Coffee & Accent Tables
Coffee Table Collections
Benches, Cubes & Trunks
Media
Bookcases & Cabinets
Game Tables
Mirrors
DINING ROOM & KITCHEN
Tables
Chairs & Benches
Bar & Counter Stools
Buffets & Cabinets
Bars & Bar Carts
Dining Table & Chair Sets
Dining Collections
HOME OFFICE
Desks
Modular Systems
Desk Chairs
Storage
Home Office Collections
BEDROOM
Beds & Headboards
Bedside Tables & Dressers
End of Bed
Mattresses
Bedroom Collections
ENTRYWAY
Modular Systems
Benches & Storage
Console Tables
Entryway Collections
ROOM SOLUTIONS
Closet
Laundry
Entryway
OUTDOOR
Lounge Furniture
Dining Furniture
Accent Tables

Furniture Cushions & Covers

Patio Umbrellas
OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING
Dinnerware
Drinkware
OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES
Outdoor Pillows
Outdoor Rugs & Doormats
Outdoor Lighting
Lanterns & String Lights
Planters & Gardening
Wreathes, Garlands & Plants
Front Door Decor
Pool Storage
Outdoor Drapes & Hardware
BEDDING
Duvet Covers & Shams
Quilts
Comforters
Sheet Sets
Blankets & Throws
Decorative Pillows
Bed Skirts & Daybed Covers
BEDDING BASICS
Pillows
Duvet Inserts
Mattress Pads & Toppers
Mattresses
BATH
Bath Towels
Bath Rugs & Mats
Shower Curtains
Robes & Slippers
Beach Towels
BATH ACCESSORIES
Cosmetic Bags & Totes
Wastebaskets & Hampers
FURNITURE & MIRRORS
Sink Consoles
Floor Storage & Cabinets
Mirrors & Medicine Cabinets
Wall Shelves
LIGHTING & FIXTURES
Sconces
Flush mounts
Bath Fixtures
Bath Faucets
RUGS&WINDOWS
Patterned Rugs
Solid Rugs

Natural Fiber Rugs

Oriental & Persian-Style Rugs
Hand-Knotted Rugs
Outdoor Rugs & Doormats
Custom Rugs
Bath Rugs
Rug Pads
Drapes & Curtains
Roman Shades
Window Hardware

LIGHTING
Chandeliers
Pendants
Flush mounts
Table & Task Lamps
Floor Lamps
Sconces
Bath Lighting
Outdoor Lighting
Custom Lighting
Decorative Lanterns & String Lights
Shades & Accessories
Light bulbs
PILLOWS&DCOR
Pillows
Throws
DECOR
Lanterns & String Lights
Candleholders
Candles
Decorative Objects
Vases & Flowers
Planters & Gardening
Wreaths, Garlands & Plants
Front Door Decor
MIRRORS
All Mirrors
Wall Mirrors
Floor Mirrors
TABLETOP:
DINNERWARE

Dinner Plates
Appetizer & Dessert Plates
Bowls
Outdoor Dinnerware
Dinnerware Collections
TABLE LINENS & ACCESSORIES

Napkins
Runners & Tablecloths
Placemats & Chargers
Napkin Rings & Place Card Holders
SERVEWARE
Serving Platters
Serving Bowls
Cheese Boards & Knives
Trays & Stands
Pitchers
Coffee Mugs & Teacups
Salt & Pepper Shakers
FLATWARE
Place Settings
Serving Utensils
GLASSWARE & BAR
Tumblers
Wine Glasses
Wine Accessories & Storage
Beer Glasses
Cocktail Glasses
Bar Accessories
Drink Dispensers & Pitchers
Outdoor Drinkware
KITCHEN
Organization & Food Storage
Kitchen Accessories
HOLIDAY COLLECTION
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
FEATURED
Thanksgiving Checklist

SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS:

Name Recognition of the brand.

High Quality Merchandise
30-90 day return policy (depending on item) & 1 year warranty on all
furniture.
Merchandise is stylish and classic
Can purchase products in store, online or through a catalogue.
Store Credit Card (Membership card)
Curated Merchandise.

WEAKNESSES
Price points are higher than those of the competitors.
Most of the Merchandise is Seasonal.
Limited Availability of Merchandise in Stores. (customers complaints)
Limited Locations.
OPPORTUNITIES
Become more Eco-Friendly.
Offer more items in stores.
More Advertising and promotional activities.
Pottery Barn could Sponsor Mall Furnishings.
Expansion.

THREATS

Creation of lower-priced home furnishings from Ikea.

The Pottery Barn Rule Controversy.

Pottery Barn Rule!

The Pottery Barn rule is an American expression alluding to a "you break it, you buy it" policy, by
which a retail store holds a customer responsible for damage done to merchandise on display. It is
an analogy often used in the political or military arena to suggest that if an actor inadvertently
creates a problem, the actor is obliged to provide the resources necessary to correct it.
In reality, Pottery Barn does not have a "you break it, you bought it" policy, but instead writes
off broken merchandise as a loss, as do most large American retailers. Legal doctrine also holds
that a retailer incurs the risk that merchandise will be destroyed by placing it where customers can
handle it and not doing anything to discourage them.

CSR: HER project

In 2015, the brand launched a partnership with the nonprofit Business for Social Responsibility and the
HER project (Health Enables Return), a workplace training program that empowers low-income men and
women working in factories, including those where some of our products are made.
Over the next five years, they pledge to impact the lives of 100,000 factory workers in China, India,
Indonesia and Vietnam by providing them with education on health and financial literacy.

Submitted by: Arya Kshirsagar

Submitted to: Mr. Venkat
Subramaniam