Williams-Sonoma has opened its first stores in South Korea under its strategic franchise agreement with home and furniture retailer Hyundai Livart Furniture.
Setting up shop in Seoul, the US furniture firm has unveiled its first Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids chains — as a combined store, as well as a West Elm store, located at Hyundai City Mall Garden 5.
In addition, a Williams-Sonoma store has opened at Hyundai Department store in Mokdong.
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“This is an exciting milestone in our global expansion,” said Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. “We are proud to open our first stores in Seoul and introduce our distinctive brands, excellent customer service, and exceptional products to customers in South Korea.”
The Korean openings are the first of 30 stores from the Williams-Sonoma brand stable slated to enter South Korea over the next ten years.
This October, Williams-Sonoma and Livart will open a five-story flagship store in Nonhyun-dong, Seoul.
The superstore will include Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and West Elm, and will represent a retail first — with three Williams-Sonoma brands being offered at a single standalone location.
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An additional Williams Sonoma store will be opened in the Hyundai City Mall Daegu branch in the latter half of this year.
The comes as the firm opens debut stores in new markets such as Australia, as well as offering the franchise of its brands to third parties in the Philippines.