Latest news with #PotteryBarnTeen
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mom buys product she thought was U.S.-made, but warns of misleading labels
As President Trump's trade war continues, some consumers are searching for products made in the U.S. When Mary Schubart set out to buy bedding for her twins heading off to college, she was looking for products that were safe, provided comfort and, if possible, she wanted to buy American-made. "I like the idea of buying to support the local economy, but my overriding concern was safer," Schubart said. Schubart said she thought she found the perfect mattress pads from Pottery Barn Teen. It was advertised online as "crafted in the USA," but when they arrived, she was surprised to see one of the tags read "made in China." "I knew it is one of the countries that has less stringent regulations pertaining to health and pertaining to final product production, so I was disappointed," she said. Schubart reported her findings to Truth in Advertising, a nonprofit watchdog group that investigates when companies make false claims. Laura Smith, the Truth in Advertising legal director, said they had already flagged false claims by Pottery Barn Teen to the Federal Trade Commission. "We had found 800-plus examples of products marketed as 'made in the USA' or 'crafted in America' when they were actually imported," Smith said, of the merchandise found on seven William Sonoma websites in 2019. Schubart's complaint led to the largest "Made in the USA" civil penalty in history, with more than $3 million against Williams Sonoma, the parent company of Pottery Barn Teen. In a statement, Williams Sonoma apologized for what it called an "administrative mistake," saying, "Last year, we received an FTC fine due to an unintentional administrative mistake associated with the online product descriptions of seven items we sell. We are deeply sorry for any confusion that may have been caused by the inaccurate information that was shared, and we have improved our processes to help prevent similar incidents in the future." "Civil penalties, as long as they're more than a slap on the wrist, they can have a real impact. But it needs to be a fine that's big enough to hurt," Smith said. What qualifies as "Made in the USA?" The Federal Trade Commission requires that products advertised as "Made in the USA" be all or virtually all manufactured domestically. Plus, the ingredients or components must be made and sourced in the United States, which is the issue in a current lawsuit against Reynolds Aluminum foil for its "Made in the USA" label. The suit claims the product's key raw material, Bauxite, is not mined in the U.S. Reynolds says the claims have no merit and it will defend the case. How to know if a product is American-made Amid Mr. Trump's tariffs on certain products, some companies have said they plan to invest more in U.S. manufacturing. To verify if a product is "Made in the USA," check the label for that exact wording. Beware of qualifying language like "Assembled in the USA" or "with imported parts." If you're unsure, consumers can verify with the brand by going to its website or calling directly. Australian reporter covering Los Angeles protests shot with rubber bullet by police officer Kristi Noem says "we are not going to let a repeat of 2020 happen" amid L.A. crackdown Magic in the dark: The fantastical worlds of Lightwire Theater
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Mom buys product she thought was American made, but warns of misleading labels from companies
One mom's goal to buy American-made products can teach us all something How to know if products are made in the U.S. How to know if products are made in the U.S. As President Trump's trade war continues, some consumers are searching for products made in the U.S. When Mary Schubart set out to buy bedding for her twins heading off to college, she was looking for products that were safe, provided comfort and, if possible, she wanted to buy American-made. "I like the idea of buying to support the local economy, but my overriding concern was safer," Schubart said. Schubart said she thought she found the perfect mattress pads from Pottery Barn Teen. It was advertised online as "crafted in the USA," but when they arrived, she was surprised to see one of the tags read "made in China." "I knew it is one of the countries that has less stringent regulations pertaining to health and pertaining to final product production, so I was disappointed," she said. Schubart reported her findings to Truth in Advertising, a nonprofit watchdog group that investigates when companies make false claims. Laura Smith, the Truth in Advertising legal director, said they had already flagged false claims by Pottery Barn Teen to the Federal Trade Commission. "We had found 800-plus examples of products marketed as 'made in the USA' or 'crafted in America' when they were actually imported," Smith said, of the merchandise found on seven William Sonoma websites in 2019. Schubart's complaint led to the largest "Made in the USA" civil penalty in history, with more than $3 million against Williams Sonoma, the parent company of Pottery Barn Teen. In a statement, Williams Sonoma apologized for what it called an "administrative mistake," saying, "Last year, we received an FTC fine due to an unintentional administrative mistake associated with the online product descriptions of seven items we sell. We are deeply sorry for any confusion that may have been caused by the inaccurate information that was shared, and we have improved our processes to help prevent similar incidents in the future." "Civil penalties, as long as they're more than a slap on the wrist, they can have a real impact. But it needs to be a fine that's big enough to hurt," Smith said. What qualifies as "Made in the USA?" The Federal Trade Commission requires that products advertised as "Made in the USA" be all or virtually all manufactured domestically. Plus, the ingredients or components must be made and sourced in the United States, which is the issue in a current lawsuit against Reynolds Aluminum foil for its "Made in the USA" label. The suit claims the product's key raw material, Bauxite, is not mined in the U.S. Reynolds says the claims have no merit and it will defend the case. How to know if a product is American-made Amid Mr. Trump's tariffs on certain products, some companies have said they plan to invest more in U.S. manufacturing. To verify if a product is "Made in the USA," check the label for that exact wording. Beware of qualifying language like "Assembled in the USA" or "with imported parts." If you're unsure, consumers can verify with the brand by going to its website or calling directly.
Business Wire
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
POTTERY BARN TEEN INTRODUCES DORM CONCIERGE
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pottery Barn Teen, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., the world's largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home furnishings retailer, announced today the launch of Dorm Concierge, a new complimentary, personalized service designed to assist customers shopping for dorm products to Pick Up Near Campus TM. The Dorm Concierge service expands on Pottery Barn Teen's robust customer service offerings, which currently include free design services, a convenient mobile app, a bedding visualizer tool and a wishlist feature for room planning. Customers who utilize the new Dorm Concierge service are assigned a dedicated customer service representative upon selecting Pick Up Near Campus TM when placing a dorm order. Once a customer has checked out and opted to Pick Up Near Campus TM, the Dorm Concierge representative will reach out via email to provide personalized updates, coordinate logistics, and handle any last-minute adjustments to the order. Pottery Barn Teen's Pick Up Near Campus TM feature allows customers to order in advance and to pick up their items conveniently near a school or campus at any of the over 450 participating Williams-Sonoma, Inc. retail locations, including Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen stores. When a customer selects their college or university during the checkout process, all eligible nearby locations will automatically populate, and customers can select a preferred store. The selected store can hold items for up to 30 days after the selected pick-up date to allow for additional flexibility. The Dorm Concierge experience provides customers with: A personalized representative to guide customers through the order process Bi-weekly updates (or as often as preferred) on order status Proactive support for replacements, backorders, refunds, and cancellations Seamless coordination for final pick-up details and a post pick-up check-in 'Dorm living marks a major milestone, and we're proud to support that transition with thoughtfully designed products and elevated customer service offerings,' said Jennifer Kellor, President, Pottery Barn Teen. 'Dorm Concierge reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and our deep understanding of what students and families need to make shopping for school an inspiring and convenient experience.' To learn more about Pottery Barn Teen's Dorm assortment and complimentary customer service offerings, please visit: or a Pottery Barn Teen store. Select Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids retail stores will feature a curated 'Dorm Shop' starting in summer 2025. Join the conversation on social media with @potterybarnteen and @potterybarndorm. ABOUT WILLIAMS-SONOMA. INC. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life at home and at all places our customers work, stay and play. The company's brands — Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, Mark and Graham, and GreenRow — represent distinct merchandise strategies that are marketed through e-commerce, direct-mail catalogs and retail stores. These brands collectively support The Key Rewards, our loyalty and credit card program that offers members exclusive benefits. We operate in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom and have unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea and India. ABOUT POTTERY BARN TEEN Introduced in 2003, Pottery Barn Teen offers home furnishings and solutions to create spaces that reflect who teens are and how they live. Available online and in stores globally, Pottery Barn Teen brings the best in quality design with a focus on eco-friendly and sustainable materials that have a low impact on the environment. Pottery Barn Dorm, launched in 2010, is Pottery Barn Teen's offering of dorm furniture and essentials with the same quality and commitment to style. Pottery Barn Teen is a member of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) and participates in The Key Rewards, a free-to-join loyalty program that offers members exclusive benefits across the family of brands. WSM-PR
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
POTTERY BARN TEEN INTRODUCES DORM CONCIERGE
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2025-- Pottery Barn Teen, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., the world's largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home furnishings retailer, announced today the launch of Dorm Concierge, a new complimentary, personalized service designed to assist customers shopping for dorm products to Pick Up Near Campus TM. The Dorm Concierge service expands on Pottery Barn Teen's robust customer service offerings, which currently include free design services, a convenient mobile app, a bedding visualizer tool and a wishlist feature for room planning. Customers who utilize the new Dorm Concierge service are assigned a dedicated customer service representative upon selecting Pick Up Near Campus TM when placing a dorm order. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Pottery Barn Teen Once a customer has checked out and opted to Pick Up Near Campus TM, the Dorm Concierge representative will reach out via email to provide personalized updates, coordinate logistics, and handle any last-minute adjustments to the order. Pottery Barn Teen's Pick Up Near Campus TM feature allows customers to order in advance and to pick up their items conveniently near a school or campus at any of the over 450 participating Williams-Sonoma, Inc. retail locations, including Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen stores. When a customer selects their college or university during the checkout process, all eligible nearby locations will automatically populate, and customers can select a preferred store. The selected store can hold items for up to 30 days after the selected pick-up date to allow for additional flexibility. The Dorm Concierge experience provides customers with: 'Dorm living marks a major milestone, and we're proud to support that transition with thoughtfully designed products and elevated customer service offerings,' said Jennifer Kellor, President, Pottery Barn Teen. 'Dorm Concierge reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and our deep understanding of what students and families need to make shopping for school an inspiring and convenient experience.' To learn more about Pottery Barn Teen's Dorm assortment and complimentary customer service offerings, please visit: or a Pottery Barn Teen store. Select Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids retail stores will feature a curated 'Dorm Shop' starting in summer 2025. Join the conversation on social media with @potterybarnteen and @potterybarndorm. ABOUT WILLIAMS-SONOMA. INC. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life at home and at all places our customers work, stay and play. The company's brands — Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, Mark and Graham, and GreenRow — represent distinct merchandise strategies that are marketed through e-commerce, direct-mail catalogs and retail stores. These brands collectively support The Key Rewards, our loyalty and credit card program that offers members exclusive benefits. We operate in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom and have unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea and India. ABOUT POTTERY BARN TEEN Introduced in 2003, Pottery Barn Teen offers home furnishings and solutions to create spaces that reflect who teens are and how they live. Available online and in stores globally, Pottery Barn Teen brings the best in quality design with a focus on eco-friendly and sustainable materials that have a low impact on the environment. Pottery Barn Dorm, launched in 2010, is Pottery Barn Teen's offering of dorm furniture and essentials with the same quality and commitment to style. Pottery Barn Teen is a member of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) and participates in The Key Rewards, a free-to-join loyalty program that offers members exclusive benefits across the family of brands. WSM-PR View source version on [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HOME GOODS ONLINE RETAIL LUXURY RETAIL SPECIALTY SOURCE: Pottery Barn Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/15/2025 08:55 AM/DISC: 05/15/2025 08:54 AM
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
POTTERY BARN TEEN INTRODUCES DORM CONCIERGE
The First-of-Its-Kind Service Offers Dedicated Customer Support to Orders Shipped Near Campus SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pottery Barn Teen, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., the world's largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home furnishings retailer, announced today the launch of Dorm Concierge, a new complimentary, personalized service designed to assist customers shopping for dorm products to Pick Up Near CampusTM. The Dorm Concierge service expands on Pottery Barn Teen's robust customer service offerings, which currently include free design services, a convenient mobile app, a bedding visualizer tool and a wishlist feature for room planning. Customers who utilize the new Dorm Concierge service are assigned a dedicated customer service representative upon selecting Pick Up Near CampusTM when placing a dorm order. Once a customer has checked out and opted to Pick Up Near CampusTM, the Dorm Concierge representative will reach out via email to provide personalized updates, coordinate logistics, and handle any last-minute adjustments to the order. Pottery Barn Teen's Pick Up Near CampusTM feature allows customers to order in advance and to pick up their items conveniently near a school or campus at any of the over 450 participating Williams-Sonoma, Inc. retail locations, including Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen stores. When a customer selects their college or university during the checkout process, all eligible nearby locations will automatically populate, and customers can select a preferred store. The selected store can hold items for up to 30 days after the selected pick-up date to allow for additional flexibility. The Dorm Concierge experience provides customers with: A personalized representative to guide customers through the order process Bi-weekly updates (or as often as preferred) on order status Proactive support for replacements, backorders, refunds, and cancellations Seamless coordination for final pick-up details and a post pick-up check-in "Dorm living marks a major milestone, and we're proud to support that transition with thoughtfully designed products and elevated customer service offerings," said Jennifer Kellor, President, Pottery Barn Teen. "Dorm Concierge reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and our deep understanding of what students and families need to make shopping for school an inspiring and convenient experience." To learn more about Pottery Barn Teen's Dorm assortment and complimentary customer service offerings, please visit: or a Pottery Barn Teen store. Select Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids retail stores will feature a curated "Dorm Shop" starting in summer 2025. Join the conversation on social media with @potterybarnteen and @potterybarndorm. ABOUT WILLIAMS-SONOMA. INC. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life at home and at all places our customers work, stay and play. The company's brands — Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, Mark and Graham, and GreenRow — represent distinct merchandise strategies that are marketed through e-commerce, direct-mail catalogs and retail stores. These brands collectively support The Key Rewards, our loyalty and credit card program that offers members exclusive benefits. We operate in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom and have unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea and India. ABOUT POTTERY BARN TEEN Introduced in 2003, Pottery Barn Teen offers home furnishings and solutions to create spaces that reflect who teens are and how they live. Available online and in stores globally, Pottery Barn Teen brings the best in quality design with a focus on eco-friendly and sustainable materials that have a low impact on the environment. Pottery Barn Dorm, launched in 2010, is Pottery Barn Teen's offering of dorm furniture and essentials with the same quality and commitment to style. Pottery Barn Teen is a member of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) and participates in The Key Rewards, a free-to-join loyalty program that offers members exclusive benefits across the family of brands. WSM-PR View source version on Contacts PR@
