Wayfair, Inc. has selected the Research Valley region of Texas for its new customer service center, scheduled to open in March. The Boston-based online home decor retailer plans to hire approximately 450 employees at its Bryan-College Station location in order to service its rapidly growing customer base.
Wayfair selected the Research Valley after an almost year long, multi-state site selection process. Wayfair’s decision was based on several key factors – access to talent, the area’s thriving business community, and proximity to Texas A&M University. As a technology driven company, Wayfair will find skilled people to work at it new customer service center in the Research Valley, and be able to tap into the talent pipeline of Texas A&M University. The customer service center will be housed in a 51,000-square-foot University Drive property previously occupied by Penncro Associates and West Corp. call centers.
Liz Graham, vice president of sales and service for Wayfair, told theeagle.com that the call center is designed to keep pace with the company’s growing customer base. In addition to workers who will field calls from customers, the Bryan location will employ sales agents with expertise in areas such as upholstery, plumbing and flooring and human resources and IT positions
Per a funding agreement with the Bryan Business Council and the Research Valley Partnership, Inc. (RVP), Wayfair will be paid $50,000 over three years. As part of the agreement, Wayfair must enter into a minimum seven-year lease and invest in new personal property with an appraised value of $1 million by April 30. The agreement was based on the company creating at least 300 new jobs and employing at least 300 new permanent employees with an annual payroll of at least $10.8 million on or before Dec. 31, 2018, during the term of the agreement.
“Our strategy is economic diversification, and Wayfair’s another great company that’s going to be here,” Todd McDaniel, president and CEO of the RVP told theeagle.com. “If you look at where they’ve been and where they’re going, I think they’re a fit in culture and their focus on technology.”
“Everyone I talk to is energized by Wayfair and all the rumors about Wayfair opening a facility here,” said City of Bryan Mayor Jason Bienski. “It’s absolutely the brand! On behalf of Brazos County Judge Duane Peters and the Honorable Mayor of College Station, Nancy Berry, thank you for choosing us. You have our commitment to do everything we can to support Wayfair as a corporate citizen. We too believe that strong communities and good business are inextricably linked.”
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