SAN JOSE, Calif. – Outward, Inc., an independent Williams-Sonoma Inc. company, recently appointed industry veteran, Taylor Ward, as senior sales manager. In addition to establishing and strengthening customer relationships, he will focus on the growing customer base for Outward’s Aperture Platform, which has attracted nearly 170 retailers and manufacturers across the country who have expressed interest in the platform or have already adopted it.
An experienced sales leader in the home furnishings industry, Ward previously served as national sales manager of Hughes Furniture. During his tenure at Hughes, he raised the company’s overall sales by more than 25 percent.
Ward has been recognized in Home Furnishing Business magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40,” an annual feature that celebrates industry professionals under the age of 40 who have made contributions to the industry.
“With an impressive background and a rolodex of industry contacts, Ward has been an asset to our team since he joined. His connections with well-known professionals have already made an impact,” said Gaurav Sethi, co-founder of Outward, Inc. “We’re excited to see how he can transform the growth of the Aperture Platform.”
“I’ve been on the photography side for multiple manufacturers and vendors, so Outward felt like a great fit right out of the gate, coupled with the fact that I believe this is exactly what the industry needs,” said Ward. “I’ve heard from vendors, retailers, and they all have the same issues with product photography that they’re trying to manage. It doesn’t matter which side of the fence you’re on in the industry – whether you’re direct-to-consumer or business-to-business – it’s a platform everyone can use.”
