Williams-Sonoma Smart Thermometer Coming in 2014

Williams-Sonoma’s Smart Thermometer for Android is coming soon in 2014. The device is a tool with a Wi-Fi-enabled kitchen thermometer. The retailer has made mobile upgrades to better serve its customers. Williams-Sonoma also worked to improve the customer experience of its furniture home delivery. In addition, another supply chain enhancement made is in personalization. The device retails for $199.95.

Williams Sonoma

The tool keeps users posted on an array of cooking details anywhere within range of a Wi-Fi connection—a revolutionary way to take the guesswork out of a perfectly cooked meal. Plan and track your entire meal—one thermometer does it all through one-screen monitoring of temperature, cooking progress and time remaining. Schedule separate timers for side dishes and alerts for tasks like basting the turkey so everything gets to the table.

Williams-Sonoma trained its seasonal associates in personalization techniques. Personalization helps make gifts more meaningful, and we are leveraging our state-of-the-art monogramming, etching and embossing capabilities this holiday to grow the gift businesses in all of our brands. The retailer also upgraded its information technology infrastructure in advance of its peak selling season.

Multi-year e-commerce investments are yielded returns. This year, Williams-Sonoma launched more than 50 products and projects, with over 400 customer-facing enhancements across all of our websites. The combination of its open platform, agile development processes and an aligned organizational structure is a competitive advantage that allows the company to deliver new functionality every 6 weeks.

Driving engagement is also a crucial element for the retailer. The company enhanced order tracking visibility for its customers leveraging a new AB testing platform to better optimize the customer experience across virtually every section of its site through a robust test versus control and rollout strategy. Mobile devices have become a significant tool for connected customers at every stage of the purchase decision.

Williams-Sonoma is currently testing enhancements to its mobile sites to be more user-friendly, more image-driven, easy to search and shop, and more useful for finding a local store. The first site where its mobile upgrades were deployed is Pottery Barn, where changes are being met with great response. And also, its e-marketing strategies encompass many different programs which continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, with the result that we are driving more revenue from existing customers and acquiring new ones at lower cost.

Merchandise inventories increased 19.6 percent to $737 million versus $616 million at the end of Q2 12. Excluding the impact of additional inventory in transit due to taking ownership of our inventory earlier in the supply chain in Q2 13 versus Q2 12, merchandise inventories increased 13.4 percent on a comparable basis. The retailer’s second quarter results reported net revenues grew 12.3 percent to $982 million versus $874 million in Q2 12 with comparable brand revenue growth of 8.4 percnt.

The Williams-Sonoma Smart Thermometer is available for Android soon for purchase at the website.