The mass tech migration to Berlin continues, with Wayfair the latest to announce a move to Berlin. The online home furnishings retailer will shift its German operations to the banks of the River Spree, with the historic Kreuzberg Mortar Works set to become the new home for the American company that launched KuecheUndHaushalt and CSN Stories before rebranding last year.
The move, scheduled for October 15, is further recognition of the vibrance of Berlin’s startup scene, with the company looking to tap into and recruit the city’s talent while enjoying plenty of space for expansion.
Nothing will be left behind in Munich; category management, buying and supply chain management teams are all heading north, while customer service and finance is based in Galway, Ireland.
Senior director of Wayfair International Joe Noonan revealed the switch has been in the pipeline for a while, with representatives checking out the tech scene – and what it has to offer – at networking events. He said: “More than anything, we think being in Berlin will free up a recruitment bottleneck that we’ve seen during periods of rapid growth in Munich.”
Already this problem seems to have been addressed: “Since posting open roles for category managers and product managers, we’ve received a tremendous number of CVs, and the overall quality has been amazing.”
The Mortar Works also houses other internet startups and is a short walk to the buzzing streetlife of Schlesisches Tor. That will help Wayfair maintain its great reputation for employees – it was named one of the best places to work by Business Insider in August.
Joe said of the company’s working culture: “The ability to socialize after work or get a coffee with co-workers is key for us – at all of our locations, we aim to create a driven, fast-paced culture, but also one where team members get to know each other and genuinely enjoy coming to work.”