FLORENCE, Ky. — Wayfair plans to open a retail outlet here early next year, the e-commerce giant confirmed.
It would be the first and, possibly, only brick-and-mortar location for the online pure-play giant that has pointed out online and in advertising that it has no stores, noting the efficiency and convenience of its e-commerce model.
The 20,000-square-foot Wayfair outlet will be located at 5101 Renegade Way. A spokesman for the Boston-based e-tailer said it will sell returns and closeouts in good condition.
“We have no other brick & mortar plans to share at this time,” he said in an email.
Wayfair, which already operates a distribution center in Erlanger, Ky., in the greater Cincinnati market, would be taking the bulk of a 260,000-square-foot distribution center under construction, carving out 20,000 square feet for retail, said Josh Hunt, Florence’s business and community development director.
The city tweeted the outlet news Tuesday with a photo of the sign going up on a corner of the building. Wayfair later corrected the opening date, noting it will open by early next year, not this fall, as the city had Tweeted.
The showroom appears to be a first for publicly held e-tailer. On a website page about “Wayfair locations,” the company says: “Wayfair does not have any physical stores.”
“If you’re trying to find Wayfair locations near you, you’ll be happy to know that Wayfair is located everywhere thanks to our online store! No more searching ‘Wayfair store near me’ or planning an all-day family trip to a furniture store to shop. Wayfair ships to all 50 states so anyone, anywhere, can enjoy shopping Wayfair.com for great deals on furniture, home goods and more!”