Online home furnishings retailer moves into virtual reality

Wayfair Inc. has launched an in-house developed virtual reality app to help customers plan their outdoor patio area.



The retailer’s new Patio Playground application uses Facebook’s Oculus Rift platform, Developed by Wayfair Next, the company’s in-house research and development team, the app allows shoppers to immerse themselves in an inspirational landscape, where they can explore, rearrange, and discover furniture and décor from Wayfair’s catalog.



“At Wayfair, we’re continuously looking for new ways to enhance the online retail experience through technological innovation,” said Steve Conine, co-chairman and co-founder, Wayfair. “By combining our advanced first-party 3-D scanning and visualization capabilities with Facebook’s virtual reality headset, the Wayfair Next team has created an interactive and entertaining way for customers to get inspired and browse items for their home.”



Wearing the Oculus Rift headset with a controller in-hand, shoppers are introduced to a lakeside scene where they can browse Wayfair’s virtual catalog, selecting outdoor furniture and décor to design the perfect backyard setting. The app features more than 85 products.



“Patio Playground provides users with a new way to find design inspiration,” added Conine. “Virtual reality is a truly transformative discovery platform, and we are excited to harness this technology as we continue to deliver an exceptional shopping experience.”



Wayfair’s Patio Playground can be downloaded on the Oculus Rift Experiences store.