Business of Home Podcast The Thursday Show: Lindsey Adelman makes a change. Plus: Will Wayfair ever be profitable?
Feb 27, 2025
Lindsey Adelman, an influential lighting designer known for her sculptural work, joins to discuss her studio's new direction. She highlights the shift from relentless growth to a focus on creativity and stability. The conversation dives into the challenges of adapting business models in a changing market and the influence of social media on design. They also tackle the current state of Wayfair’s profitability and explore the impact of wealthy consumers on spending trends. This blend of design insights and market analysis makes for a compelling listen!
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Wealth Drives Consumer Spending
- The wealthiest 10% of Americans now account for nearly half of all consumer spending, a historic high.
- This spending gap highlights a split economy with different market behaviors between wealthy and average consumers.
Wayfair’s Profitability Question
- Wayfair has yet to prove profitability except during the COVID boom, raising doubts about its business model's sustainability.
- Despite revenue gains and cost cuts, ongoing losses highlight fundamental challenges in online furniture retail.
Showroom Tech Barriers
- The multi-line showroom business is complex with small inventories and complicated order flows, deterring tech investment.
- Lack of tailored and affordable management software leaves many showrooms with outdated, inefficient systems.