Wayfair, an online-only retailer that has been in business for more than two decades, is making a significant shift by venturing into brick-and-mortar stores. In May, the company opened its first physical store outside Chicago, and I recently had the pleasure of visiting it. To my surprise, the experience was more enjoyable than a typical trip to Ikea.
For 22 years, Wayfair operated solely online. However, with the opening of its first brick-and-mortar store in Wilmette, Illinois, the company is now offering a variety of furniture, decor, appliances and more to customers in person. This move is rare for a $7.25 billion e-commerce brand to transition into physical retail. As a journalist, I couldn’t resist visiting the store to see what it had to offer.
The store spans 150,000 square feet and two stories and offers customers an immersive shopping experience that they can’t get online. The store’s layout is designed to make it easy for customers to find what they are looking for without getting overwhelmed by too many choices. The employees were friendly and knowledgeable about their products and were happy to help customers with any questions they may have had.
Overall, my visit to Wayfair’s brick-and-mortar store was a pleasant experience that exceeded my expectations. It was great to see how the company has adapted its business model to include physical retail while still maintaining its online presence. If you have never been to Wayfair’s brick-and-mortar store before now, I would highly recommend checking it out if you ever find yourself in the Chicago area.
