How Wayfair Can Compete With Amazon and Consider an IPO

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E-commerce site Wayfair, a portfolio of home goods brands founded and still based here in Boston, can count many "firsts" among its successes since its 2002 inception. A recent Boston Globe article breaks down the company's expected plans to go public this year, a major turning point for a brand dubbed "a 21st century Crate & Barrel" and certainly not a territory many retailers often venture into, especially in Boston.

That said, Wayfair is already unusual in Boston's e-commerce community simply given its size. With 1,600 employees spread across its brands (the ever modern DwellStudio and flash sale site Joss & Main among them), it's reportedly the largest e-commerce company ever seen locally. The article is also quick to highlight that unlike Amazon, Wayfair doesn't stock most of its merchandise in its own warehouses—rather, manufacturers ship directly to the client, keeping operations competitive, and full of options.
· Two big Boston startups prepare to go public [Boston Globe]
· Wayfair [Official Site]