Wayfair.com takes on office superstores

A week after disclosing plans for a public stock offering, online retailer Wayfair has launched a commercial business that puts it in greater competition with the likes of Staples and Office Depot.



The new business called Wayfair Supply Premier Program is designed to serve businesses ranging in size from two employees to 200,000 across all types of industries, according to the company. The new service offers businesses and organizations access to exclusive pricing on more than seven million products from thousands of brands with fast and free shipping and a 3% rewards opportunity.



“Beyond our core customer base of consumers looking to furnish and decorate their homes, Wayfair also addresses the specific furnishings needs of businesses and institutions via our WayfairSupply.com destination,” said Melissa Yanagi, director of marketing for Wayfair Supply. “To meet growing demand across a variety of industries, we are announcing our Premier Program which delivers personalized service for our business customers. The Wayfair Supply Premier Program makes it easier than ever for business owners, corporate purchasing officers, office managers, facility managers and other business professionals to find the furniture and essentials they need, when they need it, at prices they will love.”



The new service offering comes as Wayfair.com prepares to offer shares to the public. In 2013, Wayfair’s sales increased 52% to $916 million from $601 million in 2012. During the first six months of 2014, Wayfair’s sales have continued their upward trajectory, increasing 49.8% to $547 million from $383 million. Wayfair.com in 2013 delivered 3.3 million orders to 2.1 million customers. During the first six months of this year, the company has delivered 2.2 million orders to 2.6 million customers.