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Byline: Cord Cooper
5 A unit of San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn has become a leading home furnishings retailer for two reasons: Management has hired forward-looking people--and given them the freedom to act.
The endgame? The Barn has thrived during tough economic times, combining casual chic with affordability.
Part of the chain's secret: hot seasonal products mixed with an expanding line of core merchandise.
A force behind the mix? Celia Tejada, senior vice president of design and product development. Since she joined Pottery Barn seven years ago, the number of sites has rapidly grown throughout the U.S. and into Canada, and the chain has added two spinoffs -- Pottery Barn Kids and the new catalog Pbteen.
A Standout
Before she came aboard, Pottery Barn bought products from a predictable list of vendors. It then grouped inventory into cookie-cutter collections.