Home goods website Wayfair, in the midst of logistics transformation, opens Tampa distribution center

Wayfair, an online retailer that specializes in home goods from sofas to wall art, is opening a Tampa distribution center as part of a major Florida expansion.

The new Tampa location is just over 45,000 square feet, according to Gov. Rick Scott’s office, which also announced Wayfair distribution centers in Orlando and Miami on Tuesday.

The Tampa warehouse is technically in Riverview, in Oak Creek Commerce Park, at 8147 Eagle Palm Drive. Kris Courier and Rian Smith, a team of brokers from CBRE Group Inc. in Tampa, represented the landlord, EastGroup, in the transaction.

Courier said Tuesday that Wayfair started searching for warehouse space in the Tampa area about a year ago and was considering another spot in Oak Creek — but another company snatched that up. When Smith Cargo Transportation Services Inc. moved into another building within the park, Courier said, he and Smith reached out to Wayfair, and they were interested in backfilling that space.

Wayfair moved into the space about three months ago, Courier said.

Combined, the new distribution centers represent 100 jobs, including management and customer positions. Wayfair has current job listings in Tampa for home delivery concierge positions.

“Our new Florida distribution centers are part of our growing logistics network, which allows us to expand our world-class delivery experience with fast shipping of furniture, décor, home improvement items and more to millions of consumers,” a Wayfair spokeswoman wrote in an email Tuesday.

The Florida locations come more than a year after Wayfair opened a Southeastern hub in the metro Atlanta area, creating 150 jobs there.

An October story in the New York Times details Wayfair’s plans to overhaul its logistics operations, bringing much of it in-house instead of using third-party companies, particularly for last-mile deliveries.

“The expansion of our operations in Tampa, Orlando and Miami will ensure that we continue to provide exceptional service every step of the way as we transform the shopping experience for home all the way through to delivery,” James Savarese, Wayfair’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “We are pleased to open three new state-of-the-art facilities in Florida and contribute to the creation of new job opportunities across the state.”

Based on the size and location of Wayfair’s Tampa distribution center — on the small side for a warehouse user and closer to the city’s population base than Plant City or Lakeland —  it is likely for last-mile deliveries.

“That’s right in the same size range as we’ve seen other e-commerce groups for last mile delivery,” Courier said.