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Williams-Sonoma

TINA.org investigated Williams-Sonoma and found that seven of its websites — Williams-Sonoma, Williams-Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, Pottery Barn, PBteen, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm — were marketing products as made in the USA when they were either imported or made with imported materials, according to inconspicuous origin information.

Highlights

  • TINA.org filed complaint with FTC
  • FTC filed action resulting in $1 million consent order
  • TINA.org filed second complaint with FTC for company violating consent order
  • FTC sued company for order violation resulting in $3.17 million civil penalty

Brands

Timeline

2024
April 25

A federal district court approves a settlement reached between Williams-Sonoma and the FTC requiring the retailer to pay a record civil penalty of $3.175 million for violating the 2020 FTC Order.

April 24

Upon finding that Williams-Sonoma has continued to make false and deceptive Made in USA claims about its products, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the FTC, sues Williams-Sonoma for violating the 2020 FTC Order requiring the retailer to tell the truth about whether the products it sells are Made in USA.

2023
August 16

TINA.org sends a second complaint letter to the FTC alerting it to the fact that Williams-Sonoma is violating the 2020 Consent Order and requesting that the Commission once again reopen its investigation into the company’s Made in the USA marketing and take appropriate enforcement action.

TINA.org also sends a copy of the complaint letter to Williams-Sonoma. Later the same day, the company removes the false U.S.-origin claim at issue and replaces it with the term “Imported.”

2020
March 30

The FTC files an administrative action against Williams-Sonoma claiming it made false and deceptive U.S.-origin claims about numerous products. To settle the charges, the company agrees to pay $1 million and to stop making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated U.S.-origin claims.

2019
May 21

TINA.org sends a complaint letter to the FTC requesting that it re-open its investigation into Williams-Sonoma’s Made in the USA marketing and take appropriate enforcement action.

2018
June 13

The FTC sends a closing letter to Williams-Sonoma following an investigation into the company’s marketing of certain Chinese-made products as “Crafted in America.” The FTC decides not to pursue its investigation further due to the company’s corrective actions and Williams-Sonoma’s representation that the false U.S.-origin claim at issue was an isolated error.

2017
October 31

As shown in TINA.org’s Social Media Influencer investigation, Williams-Sonoma is promoted by social media influencer Rachel Parcell, who failed to include adequate disclosures of her material connection to the brand in her posts.

Evidence

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Pottery Barn Kids

Ad Alert

Pottery Barn Kids

E-commerce site changes pricing tactics in response to a TINA.org inquiry into back-to-school deals.

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