Williams-Sonoma, Inc.(NYSE: WSM) reported a revenue as well as comp growth of 6.2% and 5.4% respectively during the fourth quarter of 2017. Revenue rose 4.1% during the year surpassing the guidance, while the comp revenues enhanced 3.2%, boosted by a 450 basis point acceleration in Pottery Barn, a 190 basis point rise in Williams-Sonoma, and another year of double-digit comp growth in West Elm and in their newer businesses, Rejuvenation and Mark and Graham. The stock rose over 5.3% in the after-hours session on March 14th, 2018 (Source: Google finance) For Fiscal year of 2017, the group delivered a net revenue growth of 4.1%, including comparable brand revenue growth of 3.2%, which was an acceleration of 250 basis points year-over-year. Pottery Barn also returned to growth with revenue comps enhancing 450 basis points year-over-year post the group’s aggressive efforts to revitalize the brand. The Williams-Sonoma brand revenue comp on the year of 3.2% has more than doubled from last year mainly boosted by a thriving e-commerce business and the strong momentum in Williams-Sonoma Home. West Elm performance was also solid with >$1 billion revenue threshold in 2017 which is the eighth consecutive year of double-digit comp growth at 10.2%. The group’s newer businesses, Rejuvenation and Mark and Graham, along with their company-owned global businesses, all generated another year of double-digit profitable growth. E-commerce revenues accelerated almost 100 basis points to 5% growth, expanding to 52.5% of their total revenues. Their retail channel also improved, accelerating over 400 basis points from a negative 3.2% comp last year to a positive 0.9% comp this year despite a nationwide decline in mall traffic of 7.3%. The group continues to penetrate their international presence wherein they entered South Korea and Ireland in 2017, launched e-commerce presence in Canada and expanded their presence in the current markets. Their global presence rose almost by 40% as compared to last year to a total of 128 selling locations. For 2018, the group intends to open new West Elm locations in the U.K., both company-owned as well as with current partners. They introduced Pottery Barn Kids to the U.K. market through their John Lewis Partnership, as well as enhanced their retail presence which would drive growth in their fast growing U.K. e-commerce business. Their current franchise partners are planning to open over 20 locations during 2018, and over the next 3 to 5 years. The group continues to focus on multi-channel expansions into larger-sized market, particularly Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, which have a combined addressable market of approximately $350 billion.

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