Williams-Sonoma CEO: Amazon isn't 'killing retailers' and we aren't in a 'retail apocalypse'
Getty / Spencer Platt
"I certainly don't think we're in the midst of a retail apocalypse," CEO Laura Alber said at Recode's Code Commerce event. "I do not believe that and I do not believe that Amazon is killing retailers. I believe retailers' bad service is killing retailers."
More than 6,400 store closures in the US have been announced so far in 2017. Many of these closures are brands, such as Sears, Radio Shack, and Payless, that have struggled to compete with swiftly growing e-commerce companies such as Amazon.
Alber said that Williams-Sonoma is investing in customer service to better compete as digital sales rise across the US.
"While Amazon does really so many things really well, have you ever tried calling them and asking them if they could please come refurnish your living room?" Alber said in a call with investors in late August. "It's a big thing that we do and our customers really love that service."
Same-store sales across Williams-Sonoma brands - which include Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm - grew 2.8% in the most recent quarter.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema
- SC rejects pleas seeking cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with VVPAT
- Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 electric sports bike launched in India starting at ₹2.99 lakh
- Deloitte projects India's FY25 GDP growth at 6.6%
- Italian PM Meloni invites PM Modi to G7 Summit Outreach Session in June
- Markets rally for 6th day running on firm Asian peers; Tech Mahindra jumps over 12%
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market