In episode 493 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Liza Lefkowski, vice president and chief merchant of stores at Wayfair,  a leading home and furniture retailer. The interview was recorded at Shoptalk Fall in Chicago last month. Lefkowski discusses Wayfair's strategy of using design, storytelling, and product curation to connect emotionally with customers (2:00) and assist them in making confident purchasing decisions (4:00). She explores the integration of online and in-store experiences, emphasizing personalized and continuous interactions across touchpoints (6:00).

Additionally, Lefkowski shares insights on Wayfair's expansion into physical retail, discussing how its stores reflect the brand (11:00), the importance of listening to customer feedback (14:00), and the blend of data and artistry in creating engaging in-store retail environments (15:30).

Liza Lefkowski is vice president, curation, brands, and stores at Wayfair. She oversees all curated experiences for the Wayfair portfolio of brands. This includes the specialty brands (AllModern, Joss & Main, Birch Lane), the exclusive private-label brands and collections on Wayfair, the global promotions agenda, and seasonal vision. Liza is also responsible for physical retail stores across all brands. Prior to joining Wayfair, Liza was a principal in the Private Equity and Retail practices at Bain and Company. She earned her MBA at Harvard Business School and her ScB in Computer Science at Brown University.