Within the contemporary furniture industry, there have never been so many choices for consumers to choose from. There are numerous companies offering their own original take on quality, timeless furniture for every room in your home.
One great example of an affordable furniture company is World Market. This is a company that prides itself on quality and affordability. But, who exactly owns World Market furniture company, and what else should customers know before making a purchase?
Who Owns World Market Furniture?
Formerly known as Cost Plus World Market until 2021, World Market is a specialty chain of domestic and imported furniture focused on the American consumer market.
With a company motto centered around high quality products at affordable prices, World Market is a firm favorite for many – especially those who want quality products without breaking the bank.
While the original company was founded by William Amthor and Lincoln Bartlett in 1958 – then known as Cost Plus Store – the company is now owned by the parent company Kingswood Capital Management. Now, with Alex Smith serving as the executive chairman of the entire company as of 2023.
What Are Their Prices Like?
While there are varied price ranges of different prices within the company and their catalog, the cheapest prices for their key items are as follows:
- Cheapest bed – Keily charcoal steel spindle queen size bed $399.99
- Cheapest sofa – Burns charcoal tufted convertible sofa lounger $229.99
- Cheapest dining table – Matthias metal and wood counter height dining table $249.99
- Cheapest storage piece – Archer pine mid-century nightstand $199.99
What Do They Have To Offer?
World Market offers many different aspects of home decoration and furnishing, including bedroom, study, living room, and dining room furniture. There are bed frames, storage items, sofas, ottomans, side tables, dressers, and much more.
Are They Legit?
Not only is the company considered one of the most affordable in the country, they are also inherently trustworthy, meaning that they are indeed legit. They can be trusted to deliver on their promises, and take care of you as their customer.
Why Are They Cheaper Than Other Brands?
While still maintaining a high level of quality, World Market furniture maintains their cheaper price tag by utilizing more affordable materials. They also deliver self-assembly furniture, and outsource production to further afield to keep costs down.
This allows American consumers to access great quality, affordable furniture that isn’t going to break the bank.
Can You Negotiate With World Market Furniture?
While the company does not offer negotiations in terms of price, they do offer some other things to sweeten the pot.
Firstly, they have seasonal discounts on all of their products, meaning you can get a sweet deal come the end of the current season. What’s more, they also have regular sales, meaning more bargains can be acquired.
They also have a gift card system. This allows people to use various forms of generic and store-centric gift cards to get money saving deals on their great products and accessories.
Where Is World Market Furniture Made?
Many of their products are produced right here in the United States – making them a domestic company, and one that supports American industry.
Do They Offer Free Delivery?
World Market does not offer free shipping on every item they sell. However, they do allow for free shipping on all items and purchases above $49.
This means that those looking to buy entire living room collections, as well as numerous accessories, will get the items shipped to their home for free.
Do They Offer Warranties?
Unfortunately, World Market does not offer coverage or warranties on their products. Meaning that following the 60-day return window, it can become difficult to make returns in some cases.
However, their helpline is open and happy to help if problems or queries arise.
Do They Credit Check?
World Market do not run credit checks on their customers. This means that customers can purchase using credit cards – and other means – without having to run such information through the company.
What Is Their Returns Policy?
World Market furniture offers a money-back guarantee on all of their products within the first 60 days of purchase. So, if your items are damaged, not as expected, or are otherwise not to your liking, then you can get a refund or an exchange in no time at all.
If you want to return a product once the 60 days has elapsed, then do not fret. The company has a helpline and customer service center where you can make your case and see what can be done to correct the problem.
World Market Furniture Quality
As well as being affordable for a multitude of budgets, World Market furniture is also considered to be of good quality. Their products are comparable to companies such as IKEA and various other world furniture manufacturers.
This means that you can purchase affordable products that you can rely on for years to come, and all products are easy to assemble.
Who Bought Them?
Throughout their company history, World Market has undergone many different names, and owners.
The company was first started by William Amthor and Lincoln Bartlett, and was located on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. This was then joined with the Tandy Corporation and new locations were opened.
These were changed to Pier 1 Imports in 1965, but then sold a year later in 1966. They were then purchased in 1987 by Bechtel Investments, and then again in the 1990s, where the company was publically owned.
Ownership changed to Bed, Bath, and Beyond in 2012, before being closed again. Eventually, the company was purchased by Kingswood Capital Management in 2021.
Final Thoughts
It’s certainly true that, within the world of affordable furniture, World Market leads the way with their range of high quality products. However, as this article shows, there are still things that customers need to know before they dive in and make a purchase.