How Williams-Sonoma Thrives Amid the Retail Apocalypse

With the rise of e-commerce, much has been made of how famous retail brands like Macy's, Sears, and J.C. Penney are headed toward extinction or are already there. In fact, a record number of retail stores, including Forever 21 and Payless ShoeSource, have declared bankruptcy in recent years despite a strong economy.  And it's possible there are more to come. 

Meanwhile, Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM), founded in the 1950s, has not only weathered the storm, but also thrived amid the modern era of digital shopping. In its recently-released Q3 earnings report, same-store sales rose 5.5% from Q3 2018, and the company raised the low end of its full-year guidance. This followed an equally-strong Q2 report.

How has this storied retailer succeeded where many of its contemporaries among consumer discretionary stocks have failed? Here's how Williams-Sonoma is flourishing.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com