Online home furnishings retailer Wayfair establishing customer service center in Meridian Township

Expansion will create 503 new jobs in the Lansing region, generate up to $8.9 million in private investment • Global e-commerce company chooses Michigan for expansion, becomes first recipient of Jobs Ready Michigan grant

Photo courtesy of Wayfair

LANSING, Mich. – Wayfair LLC, one of the world’s largest online-only home furnishings retailers, is establishing a customer support center in Meridian Township, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today.

The project is expected to generate a total private investment of up to $8.9 million and create 503 jobs. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in numerous other states.

“This is great news for Mid-Michigan and the families and businesses that have put down roots here,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “This new customer service center will help connect hundreds of Michiganders with good jobs and will send a message to the world that Michigan is a great place to do business. I’m excited to welcome the Wayfair team here to Michigan, and I’m hopeful that more businesses will follow their lead and move to our state.”

By establishing a customer support center in Meridian Township, Wayfair is able to diversify its geographical coverage for customers throughout North America. The facility will house customer service representatives, support functions — including human resources, training, recruiting, workforce management and more — along with management.

The company’s decision to invest up to $8.9 million and create 503 jobs in Michigan has resulted in MSF approval of a $1,760,500 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The company is also receiving a $750,000 Jobs Ready Michigan Program performance-based grant to assist with training needs.

Wayfair LLC, founded in 2002, carries more than 10 million home furnishings and décor items from more than 11,000 suppliers every year. Headquartered in Boston, the company has offices throughout North America and Europe. Wayfair employs more than 16,000 people worldwide.

“We are excited to expand our operations in the State of Michigan and bring more than 500 jobs to the Lansing area with the opening of a new customer service center in Meridian Township,” said Niraj Shah, CEO, co-founder and co-chairman, Wayfair. “At Wayfair, exceptional service is the cornerstone of our business. Our new location will allow us to even better serve our customers as we continue to raise the bar in creating the best possible shopping experience for home. We look forward to joining the greater Lansing community, creating exciting new job opportunities, and contributing to economic development in the region.” 

Meridian Township plans to support the project with expedited permitting. Individuals interested in careers with Wayfair should visit https://www.wayfair.com/careers.

“Wayfair’s decision to establish a customer service center in Michigan underscores the strength of our business environment and talented workforce,” said Jeff Mason, CEO of MEDC, the state’s chief marketing and business attraction agency, responsible for enabling long-term economic opportunity for all Michiganders.

“We’re pleased to support this project with the first grant from our Jobs Ready Michigan program, which allows us to address the talent needs of companies looking to expand in the state in a targeted and impactful way as part of an overall attraction effort,” Mason said. “It is through the efforts of many partners that this project has come to fruition, and we look forward to working with the company as it continues to grow and add jobs in Michigan.”

The Jobs Ready Michigan Program is designed to provide grants for business expansion and location projects that lead to job creation and investments in Michigan that have a demonstrated training need, particularly in pursuing new opportunities for high-tech, high-demand, and high-wage jobs.

“The competition was fierce to win these many and very competitively paying jobs within a premier international company like Wayfair, but LEAP was relentless about our regional pitch, and won this one for the community and our people,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.