It’s no longer news that Wayfair is the biggest online-only home goods and furniture retailer out there. They also boast over 20 million active customers.
Now, what about Walmart? Firstly, it’s almost impossible to encounter someone from the United States who doesn’t know Walmart. It’s a popular multinational retail corporation and the go-to store for many online shoppers these days.
Walmart is also a massive eCommerce company in terms of revenue size, reach, and status. But then, you never know how businesses are collaborating these days until you dig deeper.
Most people think Wayfair is part of Walmart, and we understand why. Firstly, both brands’ names start with the letter “Wa,” and they almost sounded the same way. Other reasons might cause people to think Wayfair and Walmart are related.
But then, we have to dig deeper. We can’t take a standpoint based on mere assumptions. Now here goes the question!
Is Wayfair Part Of Walmart?
The straightforward answer is no! Wayfair and Walmart are two distinct brands. Furthermore, different entrepreneurs founded each company.
However, the only similarity Walmart and Wayfair share are the first two letters of their names. They both start with the letter “Wa.” Again, both companies have their headquarters in the United States of America.
But make no mistake; these businesses sell almost the same thing. Thus, they may choose to collaborate in the future. Besides, there are rumors that Wayfair and Walmart collaborated for a while way back.
Keep reading to unravel more facts about the Wayfair and Walmart relationship.
What Wayfair Is
Founded in August 2002, Wayfair was formerly called CSN stores. But that name only lasted from 2002 to 2011.
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Wayfair appears to be one of the leading online-only eCommerce stores around the globe. However, they don’t have a physical store.
Wayfair only operates a digital platform. And the five branded retail platforms they operate in include Birch Lane, Joss & Main, Perigold, AllModern, and Wayfair, which is the main site.
Now, since they don’t have a physical store, how do they sell products? Well, Wayfair operates a form of drop shipping business model. They boast 11,000 global suppliers, which provide the goods they supply to interested buyers.
When you place your order on Wayfair’s official website, the company will purchase the item from their global supplier and then supply it to you. That’s how they operate.
A Handy Tip: Wayfair supplies over 18 million products, which include home goods and furniture. They also have approximately 17,100 employees.
Who Founded Wayfair?
Wayfair’s emergence in 2002 shook the eCommerce sector. The company’s presence increased the competition and made life a breeze for online furniture and home goods shoppers.
Niraj Shah and Steve Conine founded Wayfair. And the former has been the chief executive officer since inception.
Today, Wayfair boasts several subsidiaries. And it’s only a matter of time before more of that emerges.
Here are Wayfair’s subsidiaries:
- Wayfair Stores Limited
- Trumpit Inc.
- DwellStudio Holdings LLC
- Buyster Pty Ltd
- Wayfair LLC
- DwellStudio
When Did Wayfair Go Public?
Wayfair officially went public in 2014. That is twelve years after inception. Then, a share went for $29, which pegged the company’s share value at $3 billion.
Today, things have drastically changed for the better. In 2017, the company’s share rose to $70. But it didn’t stop there. In 2019, Wayfair’s share value skyrocketed again. This time, a share went for as high as $171, raising the company’s share value to $10 billion.
So, since 2017, Niraj Shah and Steve Conine, Wayfair’s founders, were already billionaires. In 2019, each had a net worth of approximately $2.3 billion.
A Handy Tip: All businesses have their good and bad moments. And Wayfair isn’t an exception. It will also interest you to know that the company recorded a significant loss in 2019. The reason was because of its aggressive advertising. The value in losses recorded in 2019 was $642 million.
Is Wayfair Safe?
When you conduct a search using terms such as “how safe is it to buy on Wayfair,” several positive reviews about the eCommerce platform will pop up. However, not everyone would have good things to say about the company.
But that doesn’t make Wayfair a bad place to shop. The negative reviews are obviously from unhappy customers. As you know, it isn’t an easy thing to please every customer. But the company has done well in this regard.
So, is Wayfair safe? Yes, it’s safe! You can shop and make payments online without fear. The platform is a breeze to navigate, and you can find great deals there too.
Wayfair’s business practices are safe regarding shopping, shipping of products, and safeguarding customers’ privacy.
They offer a one-stop shop that allows interested buyers to purchase numerous items from one platform. These include furniture, appliances, and home goods.
Wayfair collaborates with hundreds of top brands, such as Samsung, Kohler, Bosch, Three Posts, and others.
How Wayfair Generates Revenue
Since Wayfair doesn’t manufacture or contribute a dime in manufacturing the products it sells, most people may think that the company won’t be earning much. But that’s far from the truth.
Wayfair may not have a physical store or personal products, but it still generates huge revenue. Net revenue generated in 2019 was $9.1 billion.
So, how does Wayfair generate its revenue? It’s simple. They do so from product sales, interest and interchange fees, advert on their website and installation services.
What Type Of Products Does Wayfair sell?
Since its inception, Wayfair has been selling furniture and home goods. And yes, it has been working for them. They generate mouthwatering revenues from the sales of these products. So, the decision to focus on only these products is paying off.
Now, can Wayfair sell multiple products like Walmart? Yes, they can. However, most people only know and regard them as specialists in furniture and home goods. So, it would be better if they stick to that.
Does Wayfair Boast Delivery Trucks?
Items ordered on Wayfair will arrive at customers’ homes at the stipulated time. It’s usually within the allotted 4-hour delivery window.
When the truck arrives, please note that you have to unload your item(s) from it and transport it to your home all by yourself. You may decide to get help from the neighbors or a relative.
But if you want Wayfair’s deliveryman to help transport and set up the item, it’s going to cost you some extra bucks.
What Walmart Is
Founded in July 1962 and formally called Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Walmart is the biggest retail corporation in the United States of America. And unlike Wayfair, they boast physical stores, which house a wide array of products.
Walmart also operates online stores. So, if you don’t fancy going to the physical store, you can stay at home and order whatever you want online.
Headquartered in Rogers, Arkansas, Walmart currently operates in diverse countries. Interestingly, they boast 10,526 stores, including clubs under 48 unique banners. And all these are in 24 different countries and eCommerce platforms.
Walmart operates in several countries under different brand names. For example, in India, it’s called Flipkart Wholesale. In the United States of America, it’s known as Walmart but called a different name in Mexico and other Central American countries.
Compared to Wayfair, Walmart has a massive number of associates. They boast over 2.2 million employees, making them the largest private employers in the United States of America.
A Handy Tip: Texas has the highest number of Walmart employees, with over 166,131 associates scattered across the different Walmart stores in the state. Second on the list is Virginia, with 42,915 associates.
Who Founded Walmart?
Walmart has been in operation since 1962. It was at this time that the eCommerce giant opened its first store in Rogers, Arkansas. But they started building their supercenters, precisely in 1988.
Sam Walton founded Walmart. It’s a family-owned business, with the Walton Family controlling 50.85 percent of the company’s shares.
The company also boasts an impressive list of products and appears more superior to Wayfair in the list of products it offers.
As of the time of writing, Carl Douglas McMillion is the company’s chief executive officer. He’s been the CEO since February 2014, to be precise.
Walmart also boasts an impressive list of subsidiaries. They own over 20 companies as of the time of writing. Here’s a list of some of those companies.
- Vudu
- Sam’s Club
- Asda Stores, Limited
- Moosejaw
- Jet.com
- ModCloth
- Art.com
- Flipkart
- Massmart
- Bonobos
- Shoes.com
When Did Walmart Go Public?
A company of Walmart’s size will undoubtedly go public at some point. It was quite evident from the get-go of the company’s journey.
However, Walmart didn’t take long before it went public. Sam Walton founded the company in 1962, and in 1970, it made its initial public offering. Then, Walmart only offered 300,000 shares, with each costing $16.50.
But interestingly, if you had bought a hundred shares during Walmart’s IPO in 1970, you would be over $4.3 million richer today.
Now, the company’s share price has risen to $141.
Is Walmart Safe?
Buying items from Walmart online is as safe as walking into their physical store to purchase the same product. The platform makes online shopping smooth and super fast. Plus, you can purchase tons of items there.
Walmart also allows customers to pay for items via various means. So, you won’t experience issues with payment.
The eCommerce platform accepts American Express credit and debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, EBT cards, and Walmart Credit cards. But keep in mind that Walmart doesn’t accept or support Afterpay.
A Handy Tip: Even though you’re shopping online at Walmart, you still need to be extremely careful. Firstly, ensure your device’s security is up-to-date, avoid too-good-to-be-true deals, and know-how the platform will utilize your data.
How Walmart Generates Revenue
Walmart makes its money via direct sales of products and services to business owners and individuals. Their business model practically centers on brick-and-mortar retail.
But that’s not to say they aren’t doing well in the eCommerce world. They’re building momentum in that aspect too.
Walmart isn’t only the largest private employer in the United States of America. It also boasts an impressive net worth to show that its business model and employees are working hard. Its net worth was $514.405 billion in 2020.
What Type Of Products Does Walmart Sell?
Walmart offers a wide range of products, making it a one-stop shop for online shoppers.
- Toys
- Hardware
- Family apparel
- Automotive products
- Home furnishings
- Sporting goods
- Pet supplies
- Health and beauty products
- Garden and lawn products
- Housewares and jewelry
Conclusion
Firstly, Wayfair isn’t part of Walmart. They are two different companies with varied revenue streams and modus operandi. In terms of size, Walmart is bigger than Wayfair. They also generate more revenue than Wayfair.
Walmart also boasts physical stores and runs an eCommerce platform, while Wayfair only operates an eCommerce store. Wayfair also sells home goods and furniture, whereas Walmart sells a large range of products.
