Cost Plus World Market was founded by William Amthor in 1958 on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California. Amthor sold some extra rattan furniture that he had imported. The furniture sold so quickly that Amthor opened a warehouse and began importing shiploads of imported items, which he sold at cost plus 10%, thus the company name.
The company is a chain of retail stores which sell specialty and imported items such as housewares, furniture, coffee, and candles. Today, the company has 276 locations in 35 states.
Cost Plus World Market has more than 6,000 full time employees and boasts annual revenue in 2011 of $963.8 million. Cost Plus World Market went public in 2006 on the NASDAQ for a few years until Bed, Bath & Beyond purchased the company in 2012 and it now operates as a subsidiary.
