Williams-Sonoma could be paying a hefty fine for claiming a small chunk of its products were "Made in USA" when they weren't.
Williams-Sonoma settled those charges and was required to pay $1 million to the FTC, and the following year, it submitted a report describing how it had complied with every provision in the order.
However, the FTC's new claims state the company has violated the order with multiple deceptive U.S.-origin claims in the years since — including on three products in July 2021, when it filed the compliance order.
The federal body said in numerous instances, those products were actually "wholly imported" from China.
With brands under its own moniker, Pottery Barn, West Elm and more, the company raked in nearly $8.7 billion in sales last year.
It's interesting to question, however, if U.S.-made labels have at all contributed to the company's success.
Another survey from the Reshoring Institutein 2020 found over 69% of respondents preferred American-made products, and more than 80% were willing to pay 10% to 20% more for them. »
