Wayfair’s CEO Shares Its Secrets to Success

At NRF 2021, Wayfair’s co-founder and CEO Niraj Shah sat down with Bloomberg’s Matthew Townsend to explore these questions and where the industry and Wayfair are headed in the face of unpredictable and ongoing disruption. “The Power of Vision to Reshape Retail and the Consumer Experience” fireside chat was presented to the NRF virtual audience during Chapter 1 of The Big Show experience earlier this month.

Niraj and Townsend opened the discussion with a quick history of Wayfair, how it grew from a collection of more than 200 relatively small e-commerce sites into the digital powerhouse we know today. And while the retailer experienced impressive growth in those early years it was nothing compared to the monumental expansion it has enjoyed since going public in 2014.

A little more than six years ago Wayfair was posting annual revenues just north of $1 billion, a massive number, but just a drop in the bucket compared to what it would become. Fast forward to today and Wayfair’s annual sales are $14 billion, representing a doubling of revenue every two years, a feat that would make even the most established retail players salivate with envy.

How did Wayfair achieve this hockey stick top line growth? According to Niraj it was not any one thing, or two things, or three things…it was Wayfair’s ability to be good at all aspects of e-commerce that has allowed it to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. A market their success helped create.

“E-commerce is a very tough business,” Niraj said. “It is like an athletic competition that rewards the well-balanced athlete versus someone who's maybe has particularly strong arms or particularly strong legs.

“Perhaps you are great at merchandising, but not great at logistics. Or perhaps you are great at those but do not have like the kind of the deep supplier relationships and technology that are needed. Whatever you are not good at actually limits your growth.”

Niraj said that whatever your weakness is will draw resources and sap your strengths. What is the solution? According to Niraj the answer is easier said than done — just be good at everything.

“Our approach is to invest in every area of the company, trying to get differentiation,” he said “Which also ties in with our vision of using technology in every area of the company. That is the recipe that helps you win.”

By having an open mind toward innovation and not letting your vision be impaired by the current reality has helped Wayfair not only establish an e-commerce foothold, but to position itself as a market leader. When asked to pontificate on the future of retail, e-commerce, and particularly the home goods segment Niraj was quick to point to technological innovations that have yet to become mainstream.

As an example, he discussed a cutting-edge digital screen Wayfair has in its offices that has the ability to alter its texture. The implications in the home furnishings space are immense. Imagine a customer being able to run their fingers over a couch’s “fabric” before making a purchase or examining the stitch work on an embroidered tablecloth. The possibilities are endless and although that technology is not ready for widespread use, the thought is that within a few years it could be.

Smart and innovative companies like Wayfair, with its commitment to being the best at everything, are exploring all potential differentiation. The key to long-term retail success is to think long-term and continue to invest in a variety of solutions and technologies and be prepared to leverage them once they become a viable reality.