I visited Williams Sonoma and got a glimpse at why business is booming, from its free perks to high-

• I shopped at Williams Sonoma for the first time, visiting the Columbus Circle location in New York.
• I was impressed by the wide range of kitchen tools, helpful resources, and free perks.
• I'll definitely be back to take a cooking class, get some interior-design advice, or shop for gifts.

With over half of its business conducted online, kitchen and home furnishings company Williams Sonoma is one of the largest e-commerce retailers in the US, Business Wire reported.

That's partly why I'd never been inside one of its stores before.

I've purchased Williams Sonoma cookware from friends' online wedding registries many times, but I had never actually set foot inside one of its brick-and-mortar locations. I buy most of my kitchen items from big-box stores like Walmart and Target, or online on Amazon, so I'd never ventured to a specialty cookware store.

With William Sonoma's share price rising 67% over the last year, Zacks Equity Research reported in January, I decided to see what the hype was about by visiting one of its New York City stores. Zacks Equity Research attributes the recent success of Williams Sonoma to its expanding line of products and collaborations with brands like Netflix, its bolstered e-commerce platform, and its business-to-business strategy.

I went in not knowing much about the chain but came out already planning my next shopping trip.

I visited a two-story Williams Sonoma store located inside The Shops at Columbus Circle in New York City.

There are 152 Williams Sonoma stores in the US, according to its official website. California has the most locations with 29, followed by Florida with 11 and Texas with nine.

At The Shops at Columbus Circle, the Williams Sonoma store was hard to miss. Located at the main entrance, it looked like the centerpiece of the luxury shopping complex.

Outside the entrance to the store, posters advertised cooking classes with celebrity chefs and cookbook authors.

Bake from Scratch magazine editor in chief and cookbook author Brian Hart Hoffman was scheduled to demonstrate how to bake chocolate brioche at the store.

Walking into Williams Sonoma for the first time, I was greeted with colorful tablescapes and kitchen tool displays.

The display table was set for an Easter dinner featuring floral dishes and linens.

With tasteful floral displays and artfully stacked dishes, it seemed much higher-end than the big-box stores I typically shop at.

The first section I walked past featured a beloved kitchen classic and wedding-registry staple: the KitchenAid stand mixer.

The stand mixers retailed for $449.95, with some on sale at 15% off for $379.95.

I also encountered a GE Profile Smart Mixer, an advanced piece of technology I'd never seen before.

The $799.95 mixer featured a built-in scale, WiFi connectivity, voice-control capabilities, and Auto Sense technology that can detect when a batter or dough is at the right consistency.

I couldn't believe how many different knives there were for a variety of tasks and foods.

There were chef's knives, bread knives, carving knives, paring knives, cheese knives, and larger tools like cleavers.

There were also lots of colors of Le Creuset cast-iron cookware to choose from.

Le Creuset cookware has become known as a "quiet luxury" item that lasts for years and never goes out of style. Williams Sonoma sells an exclusive cream color of Le Creuset cookware called "brioche."

The prices ranged from $22 for a miniature round cocotte to $750 for a 15.5-quart dutch oven that can serve 15 people.

I was impressed by the wide range of colorful kitchen tools.

The monogrammed spatulas, which cost $19.95, would make perfect housewarming presents or birthday gifts for baking enthusiasts.

Williams Sonoma stocked some licensed merchandise like Mickey Mouse-shaped spoons and Star Wars ice-cube molds.

The Mickey Mouse olivewood spoons cost $34.95, and the Darth Vader ice cube molds were priced at $24.95.

I hadn't expected to see Disney characters and Star Wars paraphernalia at the upscale store, but the Zacks reports concluded that Williams Sonoma's partnerships are part of its recent success since they appeal to people in various life stages.

I was also delighted to find an assortment of teas and cookies themed around the Netflix series "Bridgerton."

The $39.95 set of teas, cookies, jams, and other treats would be excellent additions to a "Bridgerton" watch party when season three premieres on May 16.

The espresso machines were some of the most expensive kitchen items I came across in the store.

They ranged from $219.95 for a Nespresso machine to $2,799.95 for a Breville Oracle Touch espresso machine.

The lofty price tags of fancier appliances were balanced out by more affordable items, like monogrammed mugs.

The mugs cost $14.95 each.

Another kitchen tool I'd never heard of was a smoking box used to give cocktails a more complex flavor.

The smoking box, manufactured by Crafthouse by Fortessa, was priced at $299.95.

The highlight of the store was the enormous open kitchen where employees and guest chefs teach and offer demonstrations.

All Williams Sonoma stores offer free cooking classes teaching how to use some of the kitchen tools they sell, according to the retailer's website. In February, the classes focused on learning how to use features of KitchenAid stand mixers to make homemade pasta or grind meat, while March classes will explore uses of Le Creuset cast-iron cookware.

The kitchen even included a free treat: chilled water with orange slices.

The unexpected refreshment elevated my shopping experience, even as I perused shelves of expensive items that were outside my budget.

The upper level of the store housed furniture, rugs, linens, and other furnishings.

I was surprised to learn that Williams Sonoma offers free interior design consultations that can be held virtually, in-store, or in-home.

With its wide range of kitchen tools, helpful resources, and free perks, I'd definitely shop at Williams Sonoma again.

At Williams Sonoma, I encountered a balanced mix of affordable kitchen tools alongside high-end items like espresso machines and Le Creuset cookware, which made shopping at the luxury retailer feel attainable. With items like Disney spatulas and Bridgerton tea, I can see how the brand is branching out to appeal to a broad range of customers as part of its business strategy. I also found that the elevated shopping experience, including aesthetic displays and orange-infused water, made me want to return since I found simply browsing the store so enjoyable.

Until my first trip to Williams Sonoma, I mostly thought of it as a place where people go to create wedding registries. Now that I know I can take cooking classes, pick up cute gifts, and try out unique kitchen tools, I'll probably visit the store a lot more often.

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