The Millstone Times April 2020

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Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Settles with FTC Agrees to Stop Making Overly Broad and Misleading ‘Made in USA’ Claims about Houseware and Furniture Products Home products and kitchen wares company Williams-Sonoma Inc. has agreed to stop making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims that all of its Goldtouch Bakeware products, its Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furni- ture products are all or virtually all made in the United States. As part of the proposed settlement, Williams-Sonoma is required to pay $1 million to the FTC. “Many of us want to buy products that are made in the USA, and we trust companies like Williams-Sonoma to tell us the truth,” said Andrew Smith, the Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “When a company falls short, we will hold it accountable.” The San Francisco-based company, also doing business as Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pot- tery Barn Teen, West Elm, Rejuvenation, Outward, and Mark & Graham, markets its products throughout the United States, in stores and on its websites and social media platforms. According to the FTC’s complaint, Williams-Sonoma deceptively claimed in advertisements and promotional materials that certain cate- gories of its products were all or virtually all made in the United States. In 2018, the Commission received reports that Williams-Sonoma claimed in ads and promotional materials for Pottery Barn Teen organic mattress pads that those products were “Crafted in America from local and imported materials.” When consumers purchased the mattress pads, they discovered that the pads, in fact, were made in China, according to the complaint. Williams-Sonoma quickly corrected the country-of-origin information for the mattress pads and agreed to comply with the FTC’s requirement that it undertake a larger review of its country-of-origin ver- ification process. Consequently, on June 13, 2018, the FTC staff issued a letter closing the investigation. The FTC alleges that since the closing letter was issued, Williams-Sono- ma has made misleading claims that all Goldtouch Bakeware, Rejuve- nation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products, including raw materials and subcomponents, were all or virtually all made in the United States. These claims include: Goldtouch Bakeware is made in America or in the USA. This claim appeared on the company’s website and in its catalogue. In fact, according to the complaint, numerous Goldtouch Bakeware products, Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products are whol- ly imported or contain significant imported materials or components. Therefore, Williams-Sonoma allegedly deceived consumers with its broad claims that all items in these product lines are all or virtually all made in in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC- HELP (382-4357).

5/30/2020.

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