After more than two decades as an online-only retailer, Wayfair is venturing into brick-and-mortar stores. In May, the housewares company opened its first-ever store outside Chicago. I recently visited the store and found the experience to be more enjoyable than a typical trip to Ikea.
For its entire 22 years in business, Wayfair has operated solely online. However, in a significant shift, the company opened its first brick-and-mortar store in May in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, Illinois. Spanning 150,000 square feet and two stories, the store offers a variety of furniture, decor, appliances, and more. It’s a rare move for a $7.25 billion e-commerce brand to transition into physical retail, prompting my curiosity to visit the store in person.
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