World Market Opens Store in Kansas City

Business Wire, Oct 3, 2002

Business Editors

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2002

World Market celebrated the grand opening of its new Westport store, Thursday, October 3 at 9 a.m. The new store is located at 535 Westport Road and marked the Company's first store in Kansas City.

World Market offers a uniquely different shopping experience featuring an ever-changing array of home decor, tabletop accessories, decorative gifts, gourmet foods and beverages, imported from 50 countries around the world. "The exciting combination of competitively priced international home furnishings with gourmet food and wine has proven a great recipe for success," said Murray Dashe, World Market's Chairman, President and CEO.

The new Westport store has approximately 18,000 square feet filled with international treasures including: handcrafted iron candlesticks from India, 18 varieties of olive oil, 500 different wines, handcarved masks from Ghana, recycled wood furniture from Indonesia, handmade birdhouses, unique kitchen utensils, handpainted ceramics from Italy, and much more.

"World Market's buyers have a heightened sense of adventure and curiosity. They travel the world visiting remote villages, centuries old factories and covered bazaars searching for unusual and unique products to bring home to our customers," said Dashe. "Baskets from Indonesia, chocolates from Belgium, and pottery from Italy are just a few of the items that take our customers on an adventure through the store where they will find special treasures to fit their homes and personalities."

World Market was founded in 1958 when a San Francisco businessman blended his passion for travel and retailing by selling shiploads of imported wicker he discovered during his travels through Asia.