Catalogers of the Year

Such growth is impressive but was not at all easy to achieve, Connolly concedes. A sound multichannel strategy, strong branding initiatives and brave leadership have helped Williams-Sonoma succeed.

Catalog as Growth Vehicle

Connolly, who holds an MBA from Stanford University, started in direct marketing in the 1970s, working with his brother-in-law who sold tennis shoes through the mail. Connolly then branched out on his own and started the SportsWares catalog. (His financial backer for that venture was tennis legend Billie Jean King.) Then in May 1979, he met Howard Lester after Lester had purchased controlling interest in the $4 million a year Williams-Sonoma.