10-K 1 a2016-12x31form10xk.htm 10-K Document

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-K
 
x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                to     
Commission File Number: 001-36666
 
Wayfair Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
36-4791999
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
4 Copley Place, 7th Floor, Boston, MA
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
02116
(Zip Code)
(617) 532-6100
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value
 
The New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x     No o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x    No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x    No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer x
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o
 (Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o    No x
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2016 computed by reference to the closing sale price of $39.00 per share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on that date was $1.2 billion.
Class
 
Outstanding at January 31, 2017
Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share 
 
50,338,973
Class B Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
 
35,617,581



DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain sections of the registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 14A not later than 120 days after end of this fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.


Wayfair Inc.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
PAGE
 
 
 
 



SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations of future events. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors described in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results, events, and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events, or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Investors are therefore cautioned not to unduly rely on any forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and, except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.


1

PART I
Item 1.    Business
Overview
Wayfair is one of the world's largest online destinations for the home. Through our e-commerce business model, we offer visually inspired browsing, compelling merchandising, easy product discovery and attractive prices for over eight million products from over 10,000 suppliers.
The target Wayfair customer is a 35- to 65-year-old woman with an annual household income of $50,000 to $250,000, who we consider to be a mass-market consumer and who we believe is underserved by traditional brick and mortar and other online retailers of home goods. Because each of our customers has a different taste, style, purchasing goal, and budget when shopping for her home, we have built one of the largest online selections of furniture, décor, decorative accents, housewares, seasonal decor, and other home goods. We are able to offer this vast selection of products because we hold minimal inventory. Products are shipped to our customers directly from our suppliers, or increasingly from our CastleGate fulfillment network, "CastleGate." Our CastleGate solution enables our suppliers to forward-position their inventory, allowing faster delivery to the customer with lower rates of damage and lowering our cost per order over time. We believe providing superior customer service is key to delighting our customer, and our customer service locations are staffed with approximately 1,400 highly-trained sales and service employees located in the United States of America ("U.S.") and Europe.
We founded our company in May 2002. From 2002 through 2011, the Company was bootstrapped by our co-founders and operated as hundreds of niche websites, such as bedroomfurniture.com and allbarstools.com. In late 2011, we made the strategic decision to close and permanently redirect over 240 of our niche websites into Wayfair.com to create a one-stop shop for furniture, décor and home goods and to build brand awareness, drive customer loyalty and increase repeat purchasing. From 2012 to 2016, our aided brand awareness in the U.S. grew from 6% to 77%. Over the last few years, we have invested in expanding our international business in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany by building our international infrastructure, growing our international supplier networks, and establishing our brand presence in select countries.
Our co-founders are lifetime tech innovators who have worked together in the commercial internet sector since 1995. As engineers themselves, they have created a company culture deeply rooted in technology and data. Their significant equity ownership in Wayfair has informed their leadership and allowed them to take a long-term view when building our company.
Segments
Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2016, Wayfair changed its operating and reportable segments from one segment to two operating and reportable segments, U.S. and International. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Segment and Geographic Information, included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. While Wayfair manages its business through the two segments, net revenue of the U.S. segment represented 92% of consolidated net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Our Industry
The home goods market is large and characterized by specific consumer trends, structural challenges and market dynamics that are shaping the future of our industry.
Addressable Market Size and Growth
We believe the annual U.S. market for home goods is approximately $270 billion, of which approximately 9% is sold online today. We believe the mass market for home goods represents the largest addressable opportunity within the home goods sector and that the mass market consumer is under-served due to structural limitations of brick and mortar and other online retailers. According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 65 million households in the U.S. with annual incomes between $50,000 and $250,000. Moreover, we believe there are approximately 70 million millennials (which we define as individuals currently between the ages of 21 to 34) in the U.S., many of whom are accustomed to purchasing goods online. As millennials age, start new families and move into new homes, we expect online sales of home goods to increase. In addition, we believe the online home goods market will further grow as older generations of consumers become increasingly comfortable purchasing online. With our more recent entry into Canada and western Europe, we believe we have more than doubled the size of our total addressable market.

2

Why Home is Different
Home is Shopped Differently than Other Retail Verticals: Homes are personal expressions of self and identity, which is why many consumers seek uniqueness, crave originality and enjoy the feeling created by home design, furniture and décor. Consumers shopping for home goods often cannot articulate what they are looking for other than to describe a feeling or visual image that they want to capture in their home. In addition, while consumers typically know the names of big box and specialty retailers that offer various home products, we believe they rarely know the names of the product brands or suppliers. We believe traditional search-based sites that rely on directed product search (e.g., "running sneakers") or brand name search (e.g., "Samsung 32-inch LCD television") have difficulty serving customers shopping for home products in this more emotional, visual and inspirational manner.
Home Shoppers Desire Uniqueness, which Requires Vast Selection: In the mass market for home goods, consumers with different tastes, styles, purchasing goals and budgets require a broad selection of products and choices. This need for selection applies across many home categories, including furniture, décor, lighting, kitchen, bed & bath, outdoor, home improvement and baby & kids, each of which has dozens of sub-categories with thousands to tens of thousands of products. Brick and mortar home goods retailers must balance a consumer's desire for uniqueness, which requires massive selection, with the challenges of high inventory carrying costs and limited showroom and storage space.
Time Consuming and Inconvenient for Consumers to Shop across Brick and Mortar Home Retailers: To browse a vast selection of products across highly-fragmented brick and mortar retailers, consumers must shop multiple stores. For example, if a nearby furniture retailer has 20 bedroom sets on its showroom floor, a consumer may feel she must visit multiple stores to see a wide enough selection to make an informed purchase decision that satisfies her style and budget needs. We believe the lack of an easy-to-browse, one-stop shopping experience with massive selection has led to dissatisfaction with brick and mortar home goods shopping. In contrast, Wayfair.com offers over 2,400 bedroom sets across many styles and prices, which mitigates the need for a consumer to visit multiple stores to find the perfect item at a price she can afford.
Challenging Logistics for Retailers and Consumers: Logistics, fulfillment and customer service for home goods products are challenging given the variety of categories and price points and the mix of heavy and bulky items. Home goods often have a low dollar value to weight ratio compared to other categories of retail, therefore requiring a logistics network that is optimized for items with those characteristics. Many consumers also seek first-rate customer service so they are not burdened with managing delivery, shipping and return logistics on their own. However, we believe big box retailers that serve the mass market for home goods are often unable or unwilling to provide this level of service. In addition, many regional retailers do not ship nationally, which we believe is because they lack the required scalable technology, operations and distribution infrastructure.
Our Solution
Key Benefits for Our Customers
We offer our consumers vast selection, convenience and value, inspirational content, personalized and mobile shopping experiences and superior customer service to help them find the perfect item at a price they can afford.
Broad Selection and Choice: We offer one of the largest online selections of furniture, décor, decorative accents, housewares, seasonal décor and other home goods with over eight million products from over 10,000 suppliers.
Convenience and Value: We offer consumers a one-stop shop with home goods pricing designed to be on par with big box retailers and a merchandising experience designed to be on par with specialty retailers. Through our CastleGate warehouses, we are able to deliver many products to a majority of the U.S. population in 2 days or less.
Inspirational Photography and Editorial Content: To inspire customers, we produce beautiful imagery and highly-tailored editorial content both in house and through third parties.
Personalized and Mobile Shopping Experiences: We use personalization, based on past browsing, shopping patterns and personal preferences, to create a more engaging consumer experience, and we allow customers to create their own personalized Idea Boards filled with products from our sites. Our investment in mobile allows us to deliver value, convenience and inspiration to consumers anytime and anywhere.
Superior Customer Service: Our customer service organization has approximately 1,400 employees who help consumers navigate our sites, answer questions and help complete orders. This team helps us build trust with consumers, build our brand awareness, enhance our reputation and drive sales.

3

Key Benefits for Our Suppliers
Through our technology platform, we offer our suppliers a cost-effective channel, the ability to leverage our technological expertise, a real-time view of our demand and proven logistics capabilities to help sell their products.
Cost-Effective Access to Our Large Customer Base: We sell products from over 10,000 suppliers, many of which are small, family-run operations without well-known product brands and without easy retail access to a large customer base. We provide our suppliers with access to our customer base of 8.3 million active customers, enabling them to increase their sales and access the growing e-commerce market.
Ability to Leverage Our Technological Expertise to Drive Sales: Our technology platform is designed to allow suppliers to easily provide us with their full product selection. Through our technology platform, we believe many of our suppliers have increased their sales, which has strengthened their loyalty to us.
Real-Time View of Demand and Inventory Needs via Data and Analytics: We offer our suppliers a real-time view of our demand and inventory needs via powerful data and analytics.
Proven Logistics Capabilities: Our logistics infrastructure allows us to ship directly to our customers from our suppliers or from our CastleGate warehouses. This fulfillment network is a key component of our custom-built and seamlessly integrated technology and operational platform.
Sites and Brands
Each of our customers has a different taste, style, purchasing goal and budget when shopping for her home. To help her find the right products for her home, we offer five distinct sites, including websites, mobile-optimized websites and mobile applications (collectively "sites"): Wayfair, which represents a significant majority of our revenue, Joss & Main, AllModern, DwellStudio and Birch Lane. Each site has a unique brand identity that offers a tailored shopping experience and rich product selection to a different target audience.
Wayfair: an online destination for all things home
Joss & Main: where beautiful furniture and finds meet irresistible savings
AllModern: your home for affordable modern design
DwellStudio: a design house with a decidedly modern vibe
Birch Lane: a collection of classic furnishings and timeless home décor
Wayfair is the only one of our sites that also operates internationally, operating as Wayfair.ca in Canada, Wayfair.co.uk in the United Kingdom and Wayfair.de in Germany.
On our sites, we also feature certain products under our house brands, such as Three PostsTM and Mercury RowTM. Through these house brands, we help our customers navigate our sites to find items quickly that match her particular style and price point.
"Direct Retail" sales include net revenue generated through the five distinct sites described above. In additional to Direct Retail, we also generate "Other" net revenue through the following sources:
Retail Partners: A portion of our net revenue is generated from sites operated by third parties. These relationships allow consumers to purchase Wayfair products through the retail partners' sites. We made the strategic decision starting in 2014 to deemphasize this part of our business.
Wayfair Media Solutions: A smaller portion of our net revenue is generated through third-party advertisers that pay for advertisements placed on our sites. Wayfair helps selected manufacturers, retailers and other advertisers market to our large consumer audience.

4

Technology
We have custom-built our proprietary technology and operational platform to deliver the best experience for both our customers and suppliers. Our success has been built on a culture of data-driven decision-making, operational discipline and an unwavering focus on the customer. We employ over 1,000 engineers and data scientists and believe we are able to attract and retain some of the best technological minds. We believe that control of our technology systems and the ability to update them often is a competitive advantage.
Our engineering team has built a full set of technology solutions specific for the home goods market, including:
Storefront: A large set of tools and systems with which our customers directly interact. Our team develops an experience specifically tuned for shopping the home goods category by mixing lifestyle imagery and design inspiration with easy-to-use navigation tools and personalization features designed to increase customer conversion.
Operations: A majority of the software we have written is designed to deliver the reliable and consistent experience consumers desire, but is not consumer facing. Examples of the areas of our business that are powered by our proprietary software include our technology integrations with our suppliers, our warehouse and logistics network and our customer service centers.
Advertising Technology: Much of our advertising technology was internally developed, including campaign management and bidding algorithms for online advertising. This allows us to leverage our internal data and target customers efficiently across various channels. We also partner selectively with marketing partners where we find solutions that meet our marketing objectives and deliver strong return on investment.
Much of the underlying infrastructure for storefront, operations and advertising technology is common across all of our sites and countries. Our systems are managed in three geographically distributed, highly secure data centers and are engineered for high availability. These systems are monitored 24x7 by our network operations center for performance and security.
Marketing
Our marketing efforts bring new and repeat customers to our sites and help us acquire their email addresses through various paid and non-paid advertising methods. Our paid advertising efforts consist primarily of online channels, including search engine marketing, display advertising, and paid social media, and to a lesser extent catalog and television advertisements. Our non-paid advertising efforts include search engine optimization, non-paid social media, mobile "push" notifications and email. Upon acquiring a customer or a potential customer's email address, we seek to increase their engagement with our sites and drive repeat purchases. This effort to increase engagement and repeat purchasing is driven by all of our marketing tools, including email marketing efforts and customer retargeting. We rigorously manage our paid marketing efforts towards the goal that each new spending initiative is cost-effective with a measurable return on investment within a short period of time.
Logistics
Our logistics network was built specifically for the home category, where items can be bulky, heavy and prone to damage. Historically, our primary method of fulfillment was a drop-ship network where integration into our suppliers' back-end technology infrastructure allowed us to process an order and send it directly to a supplier's warehouse. We would then arrange for shipment from the loading dock of the supplier's warehouse to the customer's home. Depending on the size of the package, the delivery would be made either through carriers such as FedEx or UPS or third party line haul trucking companies and third party last mile home delivery agents. In addition to this drop-ship network, we now also operate our own CastleGate warehouses and our own Wayfair Delivery Network ("WDN"), including consolidation centers and cross dock facilities, line haul, and last mile home delivery locations to increase delivery speed to customers, reduce damage rates, and enable a higher quality delivery experience for our customers.
Customer Service
Our customer service team consists of approximately 1,400 Wayfair sales and service consultants and employees located in five locations across the U.S. and two locations in Europe who are available to help our customers with sales and service via phone, email or online chat. Because we view superior customer service as one of our key values, our sales and service employees receive extensive training as well as competitive compensation and benefit packages. The team consists of generalists as well as specialists who have deeper expertise and training in select areas of our catalog, such as lighting, flooring and upholstery.

5

Our Growth Strategy
Our goal is to further improve our leadership in the home goods market by pursuing the following key strategies:
•
continue building our leading retail home brands by delighting our customers;
•
acquire new customers and increase repeat purchases from existing customers;
•
invest in technology to further improve our customer experiences;
•
grow certain categories where we under index the broader home goods market today, such as home improvement (e.g. plumbing, lighting and flooring), housewares, seasonal decor and decorative accents;
•
increase delivery speed and lower damage rates through the continued build-out of our proprietary logistics network;
•
continue to expand internationally; and
•
opportunistically pursue strategic acquisitions.
Competition
The market for online home goods and furniture is highly competitive, fragmented and rapidly changing. While we are primarily focused on the mass market, we compete across all segments of the home goods market. Our competition includes furniture stores, big box retailers, department stores, specialty retailers and online retailers and marketplaces in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, including:
•
Furniture Stores: Ashley Furniture, At Home, Bob's Discount Furniture, Havertys, Raymour & Flanigan, Rooms To Go;
•
Big Box Retailers: Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, IKEA, Lowe's, Target and Walmart;
•
Department Stores: JCPenney and Macy's;
•
Specialty Retailers: Crate and Barrel, Ethan Allen, HomeGoods, Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware;
•
Online Retailers and Marketplaces: Amazon and eBay; and
•
International: Leon's, Canadian Tire, John Lewis, WorldStores, Otto and Home24, in addition to several of the companies listed above who also compete with us internationally.
We believe that the primary competitive factors in the mass market are vast selection, visually inspiring browsing, compelling merchandising, ease of product discovery, price, convenience, reliability, speed of fulfillment and customer service. We believe our technological and operational expertise allows us to provide our customers with a vast selection of goods, attractive price points, reliable and timely fulfillment, plus superior customer service, and that the combination of these capabilities is what provides us with a sustainable competitive advantage.
Employees
As of December 31, 2016, we had 5,637 full-time equivalent employees. Additionally, we rely on independent contractors and temporary personnel to supplement our workforce, primarily in our fulfillment centers. None of our employees is represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.
Seasonality
Our business is affected by seasonality, which historically has resulted in higher sales volume during our fourth quarter, which ends December 31.

6

Intellectual Property
Our intellectual property, including any trademarks, copyrights, domain names, patents, trade dress, trade secrets and proprietary technologies, is an important part of our business. To protect our intellectual property, we rely on a combination of laws and regulations, as well as contractual restrictions. We pursue the registration of our trademarks, including "Wayfair" and certain variations thereon, copyrights and domain names in the U.S. and certain foreign locations. We also rely on the protection of laws regarding unregistered copyrights for our proprietary software and certain other content we create. We will continue to evaluate the merits applying for copyright registrations in the future. We have an issued patent regarding our proprietary technology and we are evaluating additional patent applications. We expect to consider filing patent applications for future technology inventions. We also rely on trade secret laws to protect our proprietary technology and other intellectual property. To further protect our intellectual property, we enter into confidentiality and assignment of invention assignment agreements with employees and certain contractors and confidentiality agreements with other third parties, such as suppliers.
Company Information
We began operating as Smart Tech Toys, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, in May 2002 and changed our name to CSN Stores, Inc. in February 2003. In March 2008, we formed, and contributed all of the assets and liabilities of CSN Stores, Inc. to a subsidiary, CSN Stores LLC, and we continued operating our business through this Delaware limited liability company. In late 2011, we changed the name of CSN Stores, Inc. to SK Retail, Inc. and changed our name from CSN Stores LLC to Wayfair LLC. In connection with our initial public offering, we completed a corporate reorganization, as a result of which Wayfair Inc. was formed to be a holding company with no material assets other than 100% of the equity interests in Wayfair LLC and SK Retail, Inc. For additional information regarding our corporate reorganization, see Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, Basis of Presentation, included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our executive offices are located at 4 Copley Place, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, and our telephone number is (617) 532-6100. Our corporate website address is www.wayfair.com. The information contained in, or accessible through, our website does not constitute part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Available Information
We encourage investors to use our investor relations website, investor.wayfair.com, to find information about us. We promptly make available on this website, free of charge, the reports that we file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and corporate governance information (including our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics). We file annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy and information statements and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All material we file with the SEC is publicly available at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding Wayfair and other issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not a part of, or incorporated into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Further, our references to website URLs are intended to be inactive textual references only.
Item 1A.    Risk Factors
Our operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described below. We caution you that the following important factors, among others, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf in filings with the SEC, press releases, communications with investors and oral statements. Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any other public statements we make may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors mentioned in the discussion below will be important in determining future results. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Actual future results may differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosure we make in our reports filed with the SEC.

7

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Our recent growth rates may not be sustainable or indicative of our future growth.
Our historical growth rates may not be sustainable or indicative of future growth. We believe that our continued revenue growth will depend upon, among other factors, our ability to:
•
build our brands and launch new brands;
•
acquire more customers and retain existing customers;
•
develop new features to enhance the consumer experience on our websites, mobile-optimized websites and mobile applications;
•
increase the frequency with which new and repeat customers purchase products on our sites through merchandising, data, analytics and technology;
•
add new suppliers and deepen our relationships with our existing suppliers;
•
grow certain categories where we under index the broader home goods market today, such as home improvement, housewares, seasonal decor and decorative accents;
•
enhance the systems our consumers use to interact with our sites and invest in our infrastructure platform;
•
expand internationally; and
•
opportunistically pursue strategic acquisitions.
We cannot assure you we will be able to achieve any of the foregoing. Our customer base may not continue to grow or may decline as a result of increased competition and the maturation of our business. Failure to continue our revenue growth rates could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. You should not rely on our historical rate of revenue growth as an indication of our future performance.
If we fail to manage our growth effectively, our business, financial condition and operating results could be harmed.
To manage our growth effectively, we must continue to implement our operational plans and strategies, improve and expand our infrastructure of people and information systems and expand, train and manage our employee base. We have rapidly increased employee headcount since our inception to support the growth in our business. The number of our employees increased from 3,809 full-time equivalents as of December 31, 2015 to 5,637 full-time equivalents as of December 31, 2016. To support continued growth, we must effectively integrate, develop and motivate a large number of new employees. We face significant competition for personnel, particularly in the Boston, Massachusetts area where our headquarters are located. Failure to manage our hiring needs effectively or successfully integrate our new hires may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Additionally, the growth of our business places significant demands on our management and other employees. For example, we typically launch hundreds of promotional events across thousands of products each month on our sites via emails, "push" notifications and personalized displays. These events require us to produce updates of our sites and emails to our customers on a daily basis with different products, photos and text. The growth of our business may require significant additional resources to meet these daily requirements, which may not scale in a cost-effective manner or may negatively affect the quality of our sites and customer experience. We are also required to manage relationships with a growing number of suppliers, customers and other third parties. Our information technology systems and our internal controls and procedures may not be adequate to support future growth of our supplier base. If we are unable to manage the growth of our organization effectively, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.

8

If we fail to acquire new customers or retain existing customers, or fail to do so in a cost-effective manner, we may not be able to achieve profitability.
Our success depends on our ability to acquire and retain customers in a cost-effective manner. In order to expand our customer base, we must appeal to and acquire customers who have historically used other means of commerce to purchase home goods and may prefer alternatives to our offerings, such as traditional brick and mortar retailers, the websites of our competitors or our suppliers' own websites. We have made significant investments related to customer acquisition and expect to continue to spend significant amounts to acquire additional customers. Our paid advertising efforts consist primarily of online channels, including search engine marketing, display advertising, and paid social media, and to a lesser extent catalog and television advertisements. These efforts are expensive and may not result in the cost-effective acquisition of customers. We cannot assure you that the net profit from new customers we acquire will ultimately exceed the cost of acquiring those customers. If we fail to deliver a quality shopping experience, or if consumers do not perceive the products we offer to be of high value and quality, we may not be able to acquire new customers. If we are unable to acquire new customers who purchase products in numbers sufficient to grow our business, we may not be able to generate the scale necessary to drive beneficial network effects with our suppliers, our net revenue may decrease, and our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.
We believe that many of our new customers originate from word-of- mouth and other non-paid referrals from existing customers. Therefore, we must ensure that our existing customers remain loyal to us in order to continue receiving those referrals. If our efforts to satisfy our existing customers are not successful, we may not be able to acquire new customers in sufficient numbers to continue to grow our business, or we may be required to incur significantly higher marketing expenses in order to acquire new customers.
We also utilize non-paid advertising. Our non-paid advertising efforts include search engine optimization, non-paid social media, mobile "push" notifications and email. We obtain a significant amount of traffic via search engines and, therefore, rely on search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo!. Search engines frequently update and change the logic that determines the placement and display of results of a user's search, such that the purchased or algorithmic placement of links to our sites can be negatively affected. Moreover, a search engine could, for competitive or other purposes, alter its search algorithms or results, causing our sites to place lower in search query results. A major search engine could change its algorithms in a manner that negatively affects our paid or non-paid search ranking, and competitive dynamics could impact the effectiveness of search engine marketing or search engine optimization. We also obtain a significant amount of traffic via social networking websites or other channels used by our current and prospective customers. As e-commerce and social networking continue to rapidly evolve, we must continue to establish relationships with these channels and may be unable to develop or maintain these relationships on acceptable terms. If we are unable to cost-effectively drive traffic to our sites, our ability to acquire new customers and our financial condition would suffer.
Our success depends in part on our ability to increase our net revenue per active customer. If our efforts to increase customer loyalty and repeat purchasing as well as maintain high levels of customer engagement are not successful, our growth prospects and revenue will be materially adversely affected.
Our ability to grow our business depends on our ability to retain our existing customer base and generate increased revenue and repeat purchases from this customer base, and maintain high levels of customer engagement. To do this, we must continue to provide our customers and potential customers with a unified, convenient, efficient and differentiated shopping experience by:
•
providing imagery, tools and technology that attract customers who historically would have bought elsewhere;
•
maintaining a high-quality and diverse portfolio of products;
•
managing our suppliers to deliver products on time and without damage; and
•
maintaining and further developing our mobile platforms.
If we fail to increase net revenue per active customer, generate repeat purchases or maintain high levels of customer engagement, our growth prospects, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

9

Our business depends on our ability to build and maintain strong brands. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our existing brands if we receive unfavorable customer complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to consumers' expectations, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth prospects.
We currently offer five distinct sites to our customers, but we do not have extensive operating history with most of these brands. Maintaining and enhancing these brands are critical to expanding our base of customers and suppliers. However, a significant portion of our customers' brand experience depends on third parties outside of our control, including suppliers and logistics providers such as FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. If these third parties do not meet our or our customers' expectations, our brands may suffer irreparable damage. In addition, maintaining and enhancing these brands may require us to make substantial investments, and these investments may not be successful. If we fail to promote and maintain our brands, or if we incur excessive expenses in this effort, our business, operating results and financial condition may be materially adversely affected. We anticipate that, as our market becomes increasingly competitive, maintaining and enhancing our brands may become increasingly difficult and expensive. Maintaining and enhancing our brands will depend largely on our ability to provide high quality products to our customers and a reliable, trustworthy and profitable sales channel to our suppliers, which we may not be able to do successfully.
Customer complaints or negative publicity about our sites, products, product delivery times, customer data handling and security practices or customer support, especially on blogs, social media websites and our sites, could rapidly and severely diminish consumer use of our sites and consumer and supplier confidence in us and result in harm to our brands.
Our efforts to expand our business into new products, services, technologies, and geographic regions will subject us to additional business, legal, financial, and competitive risks and may not be successful.
Our business success depends to some extent on our ability to expand our customer offerings by launching new brands and services and by expanding our existing offerings into new geographies. For example, in 2014 we launched Birch Lane, and in 2016 we launched Wayfair.ca in Canada as well as Wayfair Registry, our wedding registry service. Launching new brands and services or expanding internationally requires significant upfront investments, including investments in marketing, information technology, and additional personnel. Expanding our brands internationally is particularly challenging because it requires us to gain country-specific knowledge about consumers, regional competitors and local laws, construct home goods catalogs specific to the country, build local logistics capabilities and customize portions of our technology for local markets. We may not be able to generate satisfactory revenue from these efforts to offset these upfront costs. Any lack of market acceptance of our efforts to launch new brands and services or to expand our existing offerings could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
We have also entered and may continue to enter into new markets in which we have limited or no experience, which may not be successful or appealing to our customers. These activities may present new and difficult technological and logistical challenges, and resulting service disruptions, failures or other quality issues may cause customer dissatisfaction and harm our reputation and brand. Further, our current and potential competitors in new market segments may have greater brand recognition, financial resources, longer operating histories and larger customer bases than we do in these areas. As a result, we may not be successful enough in these newer areas to recoup our investments in them. If this occurs, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.
Expansion of our international operations will require management attention and resources, involves additional risks, and may be unsuccessful, which could harm our future business development and existing domestic operations.
We believe international expansion represents a significant growth opportunity for us. Today, we deliver products to customers in a number of countries, and plan to expand into other international markets in order to grow our business, which will require significant management attention and resources. For example, we have made and will continue to make significant investments in information technology, logistics, supplier relationships, merchandising and marketing in the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate or plan to operate. We have limited experience in selling our products to conform to different local cultures, standards and regulations, and the products we offer may not appeal to customers in the same manner, if at all, in other geographies. We may have to compete with local companies which understand the local market better than we do and/or may have greater brand recognition than we do. In addition, to deliver satisfactory performance for customers in international locations, it may be necessary to locate physical facilities, such as consolidation centers, in foreign markets, and we may have to invest in these facilities before we can determine whether or not our foreign operations are successful. We have limited experience establishing such facilities internationally and therefore may decide not to continue with the expansion of international operations. We may not be successful in expanding into additional international markets or in generating net revenue from foreign operations.

10

Furthermore, different privacy, censorship, liability, intellectual property and other laws and regulations in foreign countries may cause our business, financial condition and operating results to be materially adversely affected.
Our future results could be materially adversely affected by a number of factors inherent in international operations, including:
•
localization of our product offerings, including translation into foreign languages and adaptation for local practices, standards and regulations;
•
the need to vary our practices in ways with which we have limited or no experience or which are less profitable or carry more risk to us;
•
unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, taxes, trade laws, tariffs, export quotas, custom duties or other trade restrictions;
•
differing labor regulations where labor laws may be more advantageous to employees as compared to the U.S.;
•
more stringent regulations relating to data privacy and security, including the use of commercial and personal information, particularly in the European Union;
•
changes in a specific country's or region's political or economic conditions;
•
the rising cost of labor in the foreign countries in which our suppliers operate, resulting in increases in our costs of doing business internationally;
•
challenges inherent in efficiently managing an increased number of employees over large geographic distances, including the need to implement appropriate systems, policies, benefits and compliance programs and maintain our corporate culture across geographies;
•
risks resulting from changes in currency exchange rates;
•
limitations on our ability to reinvest earnings from operations in one country to fund the capital needs of our operations in other countries;
•
different or lesser intellectual property protection;
•
exposure to liabilities under anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws and regulations in other jurisdictions;
•
import/export controls; and
•
logistics and sourcing.
Operating internationally requires significant management attention and financial resources. We cannot be certain that the investment and additional resources required to establish and expand our international operations will produce desired levels of net revenue or profitability. If we invest substantial time and resources to establish and expand our international operations and are unable to do so successfully and in a timely manner, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.
We have a history of losses and expect to have operating losses and negative cash flow as we continue to expand our business.
We have a history of losses, and we accumulated $306.2 million in common members' deficit as Wayfair LLC and an additional $329.9 million loss as Wayfair Inc. through December 31, 2016. Because the market for purchasing home goods online is rapidly evolving and has not yet reached widespread adoption, it is difficult for us to predict our future operating results. As a result, our losses may be larger than anticipated, and we may never achieve profitability. Also, we expect our operating expenses to increase over the next several years as we expand internationally, grow our proprietary logistics network, and continue to develop new brands and features on our sites. Furthermore, if our future growth and operating performance fail to meet investor or analyst expectations, or if we have future negative cash flow or losses resulting from our investment in acquiring new customers, our financial condition and stock price could be materially adversely affected.

11

System interruptions that impair customer access to our sites or other performance failures in our technology infrastructure could damage our business, reputation and brand and substantially harm our business and results of operations.
The satisfactory performance, reliability and availability of our sites, transaction processing systems and technology infrastructure are critical to our reputation and our ability to acquire and retain customers, as well as maintain adequate customer service levels.
We currently utilize three third-party data center hosting facilities. If one of our facilities fails or suffers an interruption or degradation of services, we could lose customer data and miss order fulfillment deadlines, which could harm our business. Our systems and operations are vulnerable to damage or interruption from fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications failure, terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks, data loss, acts of war, break-ins, earthquake and similar events. In the event of a failure of a facility, the failover to its back-up facility could take substantial time, during which time our sites could be completely shut down. Our back-up facilities are designed to support transaction volumes at a level slightly above our average daily sales, but may not be adequate to support spikes in demand. Our back-up facilities may not process effectively during times of higher traffic to our sites and may process transactions more slowly and may not support all of our sites' functionality.
We use complex proprietary software in our technology infrastructure, which we seek to continually update and improve. We may not always be successful in executing these upgrades and improvements, and the operation of our systems may be subject to failure. In particular, we have in the past and may in the future experience slowdowns or interruptions in some or all of our sites when we are updating them, and new technologies or infrastructures may not be fully integrated with existing systems on a timely basis, or at all. Additionally, if we expand our use of third-party services, including cloud-based services, our technology infrastructure may be subject to increased risk of slowdown or interruption as a result of integration with such services and/or failures by such third-parties, which are out of our control. Our net revenue depends on the number of visitors who shop on our sites and the volume of orders we can handle. Unavailability of our sites or reduced order fulfillment performance would reduce the volume of goods sold and could also materially adversely affect consumer perception of our brand. We may experience periodic system interruptions from time to time. In addition, continued growth in our transaction volume, as well as surges in online traffic and orders associated with promotional activities or seasonal trends in our business, place additional demands on our technology platform and could cause or exacerbate slowdowns or interruptions. If there is a substantial increase in the volume of traffic on our sites or the number of orders placed by customers, we will be required to further expand and upgrade our technology, transaction processing systems and network infrastructure. There can be no assurance that we will be able to accurately project the rate or timing of increases, if any, in the use of our sites or expand and upgrade our systems and infrastructure to accommodate such increases on a timely basis. In order to remain competitive, we must continue to enhance and improve the responsiveness, functionality and features of our sites, which is particularly challenging given the rapid rate at which new technologies, customer preferences and expectations and industry standards and practices are evolving in the e-commerce industry. Accordingly, we redesign and enhance various functions on our sites on a regular basis, and we may experience instability and performance issues as a result of these changes.
Any slowdown or failure of our sites and the underlying technology infrastructure could harm our business, reputation and our ability to acquire, retain and serve our customers, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations. Our disaster recovery plan may be inadequate, and our business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to compensate us for the losses that could occur.

12

Our business is highly competitive. Competition presents an ongoing threat to the success of our business.
Our business is rapidly evolving and intensely competitive, and we have many competitors in different industries. Our competition includes furniture stores, big box retailers, department stores, specialty retailers, and online retailers and marketplaces in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, including:
•
Furniture Stores: Ashley Furniture, At Home, Bob's Discount Furniture, Havertys, Raymour & Flanagan, Rooms To Go;
•
Big Box Retailers: Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, IKEA, Lowe's, Target and Walmart;
•
Department Stores: JCPenney and Macy's;
•
Specialty Retailers: Crate and Barrel, Ethan Allen, HomeGoods, Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware;
•
Online Retailers and Online Marketplaces: Amazon and eBay; and
•
International: Leon's, Canadian Tire, John Lewis, WorldStores, Otto and Home24, in addition to several of the companies listed above who also compete with us internationally.
We expect competition in e-commerce generally to continue to increase. We believe that our ability to compete successfully depends upon many factors both within and beyond our control, including:
•
the size and composition of our customer base;
•
the number of suppliers and products we feature on our sites;
•
our selling and marketing efforts;
•
the quality, price and reliability of products we offer;
•
the convenience of the shopping experience that we provide;
•
our ability to distribute our products and manage our operations; and
•
our reputation and brand strength.
Many of our current competitors have, and potential competitors may have, longer operating histories, greater brand recognition, larger fulfillment infrastructures, greater technical capabilities, faster and less costly shipping, significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources and larger customer bases than we do. These factors may allow our competitors to derive greater net revenue and profits from their existing customer base, acquire customers at lower costs or respond more quickly than we can to new or emerging technologies and changes in consumer habits. These competitors may engage in more extensive research and development efforts, undertake more far-reaching marketing campaigns and adopt more aggressive pricing policies, which may allow them to build larger customer bases or generate net revenue from their customer bases more effectively than we do.

13

Purchasers of home goods may not choose to shop online, which would prevent us from growing our business.
The online market for home goods in the U.S. is less developed than the online market for apparel, consumer electronics and other consumer products in the U.S. and, we believe, only accounts for a small portion of the market as a whole. If the online market for home goods does not gain acceptance, our business may suffer. Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to attract consumers who have historically purchased home goods through traditional retailers. Furthermore, we may have to incur significantly higher and more sustained advertising and promotional expenditures in order to attract additional online consumers to our sites and convert them into purchasing customers. Specific factors that could impact consumers' willingness to purchase home goods from us include:
•
concerns about buying products, and in particular larger products, without a physical storefront, face-to-face interaction with sales personnel and the ability to physically examine products;
•
delivery time associated with online orders;
•
actual or perceived lack of security of online transactions and concerns regarding the privacy of personal information;
•
delayed shipments or shipments of incorrect or damaged products;
•
inconvenience associated with returning or exchanging items purchased online; and
•
usability, functionality and features of our sites.
If the shopping experience we provide does not appeal to consumers or meet the expectations of existing customers, we may not acquire new customers at rates consistent with historical periods, and existing customers' buying patterns and levels may be less than historical rates.
We may be subject to product liability claims if people or property are harmed by the products we sell.
Some of the products we sell may expose us to product liability claims and litigation (including class actions) or regulatory action relating to personal injury, death or environmental or property damage. Some of our agreements with members of our supply chain may not indemnify us from product liability for a particular product, and some members of our supply chain may not have sufficient resources or insurance to satisfy their indemnity and defense obligations. Although we maintain liability insurance, we cannot be certain that our coverage will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred or that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all.
Risks associated with the suppliers from whom our products are sourced could materially adversely affect our financial performance as well as our reputation and brand.
We depend on our ability to provide our customers with a wide range of products from qualified suppliers in a timely and efficient manner. Political and economic instability, the financial stability of suppliers, suppliers' ability to meet our standards, labor problems experienced by suppliers, the availability of raw materials, merchandise quality issues, currency exchange rates, transport availability and cost, transport security, inflation, and other factors relating to our suppliers are beyond our control.
Our agreements with most of our suppliers do not provide for the long-term availability of merchandise or the continuation of particular pricing practices, nor do they usually restrict such suppliers from selling products to other buyers. There can be no assurance that our current suppliers will continue to seek to sell us products on current terms or that we will be able to establish new or otherwise extend current supply relationships to ensure product acquisitions in a timely and efficient manner and on acceptable commercial terms. Our ability to develop and maintain relationships with reputable suppliers and offer high quality merchandise to our customers is critical to our success. If we are unable to develop and maintain relationships with suppliers that would allow us to offer a sufficient amount and variety of quality merchandise on acceptable commercial terms, our ability to satisfy our customers' needs, and therefore our long-term growth prospects, would be materially adversely affected.
Further, we rely largely on our suppliers’ representations of product quality, safety and compliance with applicable laws and standards. If our suppliers or other vendors violate applicable laws, regulations or our supplier code of conduct, or implement practices regarded as unethical, unsafe, or hazardous to the environment, it could damage our reputation and negatively affect our operating results. Further, concerns regarding the safety and quality of products provided by our suppliers could cause our customers to avoid purchasing those products from us, or avoid purchasing products from us altogether, even if the basis for the concern is outside of our control. As such, any issue, or perceived issue, regarding the quality and safety of any items we sell, regardless of the cause, could adversely affect our brand, reputation, operations and financial results. 

14

We also are unable to predict whether any of the countries in which our suppliers' products are currently manufactured or may be manufactured in the future will be subject to trade restrictions imposed by the U.S. or foreign governments or the likelihood, type or effect of any such restrictions. Any event causing a disruption or delay of imports from suppliers with international manufacturing operations, including the imposition of additional import restrictions, restrictions on the transfer of funds or increased tariffs or quotas, could increase the cost or reduce the supply of merchandise available to our customers and materially adversely affect our financial performance as well as our reputation and brand. Furthermore, some or all of our suppliers' foreign operations may be adversely affected by political and financial instability, resulting in the disruption of trade from exporting countries, restrictions on the transfer of funds or other trade disruptions.
In addition, our business with foreign suppliers, particularly with respect to our international sites, may be affected by changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other foreign currencies. For example, any movement by any other foreign currency against the U.S. dollar may result in higher costs to us for those goods. Declines in foreign currencies and currency exchange rates might negatively affect the profitability and business prospects of one or more of our foreign suppliers. This, in turn, might cause such foreign suppliers to demand higher prices for merchandise in their effort to offset any lost profits associated with any currency devaluation, delay merchandise shipments, or discontinue selling to us altogether, any of which could ultimately reduce our sales or increase our costs.
We may be unable to source new suppliers or strengthen our relationships with current suppliers.
As of December 31, 2016, we had relationships with over 10,000 suppliers. Our agreements with suppliers are generally terminable at will by either party upon short notice. If we do not maintain our existing relationships or build new relationships with suppliers on acceptable commercial terms, we may not be able to maintain a broad selection of merchandise, and our business and prospects would suffer severely.
In order to attract quality suppliers to our platform, we must:
•
demonstrate our ability to help our suppliers increase their sales;
•
offer suppliers a high quality, cost-effective fulfillment process; and
•
continue to provide suppliers with a dynamic and real-time view of our demand and inventory needs.
If we are unable to provide our suppliers with a compelling return on investment and an ability to increase their sales, we may be unable to maintain and/or expand our supplier network, which would negatively impact our business.
We depend on our suppliers to perform certain services regarding the products that we offer.
As part of offering our suppliers' products for sale on our sites, these suppliers are often responsible for conducting a number of traditional retail operations with respect to their respective products, including maintaining inventory and preparing merchandise for shipment to our customers. In these instances, we may be unable to ensure that these suppliers will continue to perform these services to our or our customers' satisfaction in a manner that provides our customer with a unified brand experience or on commercially reasonable terms. If our customers become dissatisfied with the services provided by our suppliers, our business, reputation and brands could suffer.
We depend on our relationships with third parties, and changes in our relationships with these parties could adversely impact our revenue and profits.
Because we rely on FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service to deliver most of the small parcel products we offer on our sites, we are subject to shipping delays or disruptions caused by inclement weather, natural disasters, labor activism, health epidemics or bioterrorism. In addition, because we rely on national and regional major transportation companies for the delivery of some of our other products, we are also subject to risks of breakage or other damage during delivery by any of these third parties. We also use and rely on other services from third parties, such as our telecommunications services, and those services may be subject to outages and interruptions that are not within our control. For example, failures by our telecommunications providers have in the past and may in the future interrupt our ability to provide phone support to our customers. If these products are not delivered in a timely fashion or are damaged during the delivery process, or if we are not able to provide adequate customer support, our customers could become dissatisfied and cease buying products through our sites, which would adversely affect our operating results.

15

We also have relationships with third-party retail partners that allow consumers to purchase products offered by us though their websites and mobile applications. Because our agreements with our retail partners are generally terminable at will, we may be unable to maintain these relationships, and our results of operations could fluctuate significantly from period to period depending on the performance of our retail partners and their willingness to continue to offer and/or promote our products. Our agreements with our retail partners may also restrict our ability to market certain products, and not all of our suppliers may permit us to market through all of our retail partners' sites. Because some of our retail partners are competitors or potential competitors in the home goods market, some or all of our retail partners may in the future determine they no longer wish to do business with us or may decide to take other actions that could harm our business. We may also determine that we no longer want to do business with them. Because we do business with a small number of retail partners, if any one of our contracts with our retailer partners were to terminate, our revenue from our retail partners may decline and our relationships with our suppliers may be adversely affected.
If our internal control over financial reporting or our disclosure controls and procedures are not effective, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results, prevent fraud or file our periodic reports in a timely manner, which may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and may lead to a decline in our stock price.
We were a private company for 12 years prior to our initial public offering (the "IPO") in October 2014 and, as such, have not historically had the internal control and financial reporting requirements that are required of a publicly-traded company. The year ending December 31, 2015 was the first year during which we were required to comply with the requirements of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. In particular, we must perform system and process evaluation, document our controls and perform testing of our key control over financial reporting to allow management and our independent public accounting firm to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Our testing, or the subsequent testing by our independent public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses. If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if we or our accounting firm identify deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the market price of our stock would likely decline and we could be subject to lawsuits, sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities, including SEC enforcement actions, and we could be required to restate our financial results, any of which would require additional financial and management resources.
We continue to invest in more robust technology and in more resources in order to manage those reporting requirements. Implementing the appropriate changes to our internal controls may distract our officers and employees, result in substantial costs and require significant time to complete. Any difficulties or delays in implementing these controls could impact our ability to timely report our financial results. In addition, we currently rely on a manual process in some areas which increases our exposure to human error or intervention in reporting our financial results. For these reasons, we may encounter difficulties in the timely and accurate reporting of our financial results, which would impact our ability to provide our investors with information in a timely manner. As a result, our investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and our stock price could decline.
In addition, any such changes do not guarantee that we will be effective in maintaining the adequacy of our internal controls, and any failure to maintain that adequacy could prevent us from accurately reporting our financial results.
We may be unable to accurately forecast net revenue and appropriately plan our expenses in the future.
Net revenue and operating results are difficult to forecast because they generally depend on the volume, timing, and type of orders we receive, all of which are uncertain. We base our expense levels and investment plans on our estimates of total net revenue and gross margins. We cannot be sure the same growth rates, trends, and other key performance metrics are meaningful predictors of future growth. If our assumptions prove to be wrong, we may spend more than we anticipate acquiring and retaining customers or may generate less net revenue per active customer than anticipated, any of which could have a negative impact on our business and results of operations.
Our business is also affected by general economic and business conditions in the U.S., and we anticipate that it will be increasingly affected by conditions in international markets. In addition, we experience seasonal trends in our business, and our mix of product offerings is highly variable from day-to-day and quarter-to-quarter. This variability makes it difficult to predict sales and could result in significant fluctuations in our net revenue from period-to-period. A significant portion of our expenses is fixed, and as a result, we may be unable to adjust our spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected shortfall in net revenue. Any failure to accurately predict net revenue or gross margins could cause our operating results to be lower than expected, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and stock price.

16

Our ability to raise capital in the future may be limited, and our failure to raise capital when needed could prevent us from growing.
In the future, we could be required to or may decide to raise capital through public or private financing or other arrangements. Such financing may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all, and our failure to raise capital when needed or desired could harm our business. We may sell Class A common stock, convertible securities and other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner as we may determine from time to time. If we sell any such securities in subsequent transactions, investors may be materially diluted. New investors in such subsequent transactions could gain rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our Class A common stock. Debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants and could reduce our operational flexibility or profitability. If we cannot raise funds on acceptable terms, we may not be able to grow our business or respond to competitive pressures.
Our business may be adversely affected if we are unable to provide our customers a cost-effective shopping platform that is able to respond and adapt to rapid changes in technology.
The number of people who access the Internet through devices other than personal computers, including mobile phones, smartphones, handheld computers such as notebooks and tablets, video game consoles, and television set-top devices, has increased dramatically in the past few years. We continually upgrade existing technologies and business applications to keep pace with these rapidly changing and continuously evolving technologies, and we may be required to implement new technologies or business applications in the future. The implementation of these upgrades and changes requires significant investments and as new devices and platforms are released, it is difficult to predict the problems we may encounter in developing applications for these alternative devices and platforms. Additionally, we may need to devote significant resources to the support and maintenance of such applications once created. Our results of operations may be affected by the timing, effectiveness and costs associated with the successful implementation of any upgrades or changes to our systems and infrastructure to accommodate such alternative devices and platforms. Further, in the event that it is more difficult or less compelling for our customers to buy products from us on their mobile or other devices, or if our customers choose not to buy products from us on such devices or to use mobile or other products that do not offer access to our websites, our customer growth could be harmed and our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.
Significant merchandise returns could harm our business.
We allow our customers to return products, subject to our return policy. If merchandise returns are significant, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed. Further, we modify our policies relating to returns from time to time, which may result in customer dissatisfaction or an increase in the number of product returns. Many of our products are large and require special handling and delivery. From time to time our products are damaged in transit, which can increase return rates and harm our brand.
Uncertainties in global economic conditions and their impact on consumer spending patterns, particularly in the home goods segment, could adversely impact our operating results.
Consumers may view a substantial portion of the products we offer as discretionary items rather than necessities. As a result, our results of operations are sensitive to changes in macro-economic conditions that impact consumer spending, including discretionary spending. Some of the factors adversely affecting consumer spending include levels of unemployment, consumer debt levels, changes in net worth based on market changes and uncertainty, home foreclosures and changes in home values, fluctuating interest rates, credit availability, government actions, fluctuating fuel and other energy costs, fluctuating commodity prices and general uncertainty regarding the overall future economic environment. Adverse economic changes in any of the regions in which we sell our products could reduce consumer confidence and could negatively affect net revenue and have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

17

Our business relies heavily on email and other messaging services, and any restrictions on the sending of emails or messages or an inability to timely deliver such communications could materially adversely affect our net revenue and business.
Our business is highly dependent upon email and other messaging services for promoting our sites and products. Daily promotions offered through emails and other messages sent by us, or on our behalf by our vendors, generate a significant portion of our revenue. We provide daily emails and "push" communications to customers and other visitors informing them of what is available for purchase on our sites that day, and we believe these messages are an important part of our customer experience and help generate a substantial portion of our net revenue. If we are unable to successfully deliver emails or other messages to our subscribers, or if subscribers decline to open our emails or other messages, our net revenue and profitability would be materially adversely affected. Changes in how webmail applications organize and prioritize email may reduce the number of subscribers opening our emails. For example, in 2013 Google Inc.'s Gmail service began offering a feature that organizes incoming emails into categories (for example, primary, social and promotions). Such categorization or similar inbox organizational features may result in our emails being delivered in a less prominent location in a subscriber's inbox or viewed as "spam" by our subscribers and may reduce the likelihood of that subscriber opening our emails. Actions by third parties to block, impose restrictions on or charge for the delivery of emails or other messages could also adversely impact our business. From time to time, Internet service providers or other third parties may block bulk email transmissions or otherwise experience technical difficulties that result in our inability to successfully deliver emails or other messages to third parties. Changes in the laws or regulations that limit our ability to send such communications or impose additional requirements upon us in connection with sending such communications would also materially adversely impact our business. Our use of email and other messaging services to send communications about our sites or other matters may also result in legal claims against us, which may cause us increased expenses, and if successful might result in fines and orders with costly reporting and compliance obligations or might limit or prohibit our ability to send emails or other messages. We also rely on social networking messaging services to send communications and to encourage customers to send communications. Changes to the terms of these social networking services to limit promotional communications, any restrictions that would limit our ability or our customers' ability to send communications through their services, disruptions or downtime experienced by these social networking services or decline in the use of or engagement with social networking services by customers and potential customers could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We are subject to risks related to online payment methods.
We accept payments using a variety of methods, including credit card, debit card, PayPal, credit accounts (including promotional financing) and gift cards. As we offer new payment options to consumers, we may be subject to additional regulations, compliance requirements and fraud. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, we pay interchange and other fees, which may increase over time and raise our operating costs and lower profitability. We also offer co-branded credit card programs, which could adversely affect our operating results if terminated. We are also subject to payment card association operating rules and certification requirements, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and rules governing electronic funds transfers, which could change or be reinterpreted to make it difficult or impossible for us to comply. As our business changes, we may also be subject to different rules under existing standards, which may require new assessments that involve costs above what we currently pay for compliance. If we fail to comply with the rules or requirements of any provider of a payment method we accept, if the volume of fraud in our transactions limits or terminates our rights to use payment methods we currently accept, or if a data breach occurs relating to our payment systems, we may, among other things, be subject to fines or higher transaction fees and may lose, or face restrictions placed upon, our ability to accept credit card and debit card payments from consumers or to facilitate other types of online payments. If any of these events were to occur, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.
We occasionally receive orders placed with fraudulent credit card data. We may suffer losses as a result of orders placed with fraudulent credit card data even if the associated financial institution approved payment of the orders. Under current credit card practices, we may be liable for fraudulent credit card transactions. If we are unable to detect or control credit card fraud, our liability for these transactions could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

18

Government regulation of the Internet and e-commerce is evolving, and unfavorable changes or failure by us to comply with these regulations could substantially harm our business and results of operations.
We are subject to general business regulations and laws as well as regulations and laws specifically governing the Internet and e-commerce. Existing and future regulations and laws could impede the growth of the Internet, e- commerce or mobile commerce. These regulations and laws may involve taxes, tariffs, privacy and data security, anti-spam, content protection, electronic contracts and communications, consumer protection, Internet neutrality and gift cards. It is not clear how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, sales and other taxes and consumer privacy apply to the Internet as the vast majority of these laws were adopted prior to the advent of the Internet and do not contemplate or address the unique issues raised by the Internet or e-commerce. It is possible that general business regulations and laws, or those specifically governing the Internet or e-commerce, may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another and may conflict with other rules or our practices. We cannot be sure that our practices have complied, comply or will comply fully with all such laws and regulations. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with any of these laws or regulations could result in damage to our reputation, a loss in business and proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others. Any such proceeding or action could hurt our reputation, force us to spend significant amounts in defense of these proceedings, distract our management, increase our costs of doing business, decrease the use of our sites by consumers and suppliers and may result in the imposition of monetary liability. We may also be contractually liable to indemnify and hold harmless third parties from the costs or consequences of non-compliance with any such laws or regulations. In addition, it is possible that governments of one or more countries may seek to censor content available on our sites or may even attempt to completely block access to our sites. Adverse legal or regulatory developments could substantially harm our business. In particular, in the event that we are restricted, in whole or in part, from operating in one or more countries, our ability to retain or increase our customer base may be adversely affected, and we may not be able to maintain or grow our net revenue and expand our business as anticipated. Further, as we enter into new market segments or geographical areas and expand the products and services we offer, we may be subject to additional laws and regulatory requirements or prohibited from conducting our business, or certain aspects of it, in certain jurisdictions. We will incur additional costs complying with these additional obligations and any failure or perceived failure to comply would adversely affect our business and reputation.
Failure to comply with federal, state and international laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, or the expansion of current or the enactment of new laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, could adversely affect our business and our financial condition.
A variety of federal, state and international laws and regulations govern the collection, use, retention, sharing, export and security of consumer data. Laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection are evolving and subject to potentially differing interpretations. These requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another or may conflict with other rules or our practices. As a result, our practices may not comply, or may not comply in the future with all such laws, regulations, requirements and obligations. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with our posted privacy policies or with any federal, state or international privacy or consumer protection- related laws, regulations, industry self-regulatory principles, industry standards or codes of conduct, regulatory guidance, orders to which we may be subject or other legal obligations relating to privacy or consumer protection could adversely affect our reputation, brand and business, and may result in claims, proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others or other liabilities or require us to change our operations and/or cease using certain data sets. Any such claim, proceeding or action could hurt our reputation, brand and business, force us to incur significant expenses in defense of such proceedings, distract our management, increase our costs of doing business, result in a loss of customers and suppliers and may result in the imposition of monetary penalties. We may also be contractually required to indemnify and hold harmless third parties from the costs or consequences of non-compliance with any laws, regulations or other legal obligations relating to privacy or consumer protection or any inadvertent or unauthorized use or disclosure of data that we store or handle as part of operating our business.

19

Federal, state and international governmental authorities continue to evaluate the privacy implications inherent in the use of third-party "cookies" and other methods of online tracking for behavioral advertising and other purposes. U.S. and foreign governments have enacted, have considered or are considering legislation or regulations that could significantly restrict the ability of companies and individuals to engage in these activities, such as by regulating the level of consumer notice and consent required before a company can employ cookies or other electronic tracking tools or the use of data gathered with such tools. Additionally, some providers of consumer devices and web browsers have implemented, or announced plans to implement, means to make it easier for Internet users to prevent the placement of cookies or to block other tracking technologies, which could if widely adopted result in the use of third-party cookies and other methods of online tracking becoming significantly less effective. The regulation of the use of these cookies and other current online tracking and advertising practices or a loss in our ability to make effective use of services that employ such technologies could increase our costs of operations and limit our ability to acquire new customers on cost-effective terms and consequently, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Foreign data protection, privacy and other laws and regulations are often more restrictive than those in the U.S. The European Union, for example, traditionally has imposed stricter obligations under its laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection than the U.S. Individual EU member countries currently still have discretion with respect to their interpretation and implementation of these laws and the penalties for breach and have their own regulators with differing attitudes towards enforcement, which results in varying privacy standards and enforcement risk from country to country. Legislation and regulation in the European Union and some EU member states require companies to give specific types of notice and in some cases seek consent from consumers before using their data for certain purposes, including some marketing activities. In the majority of EU member countries, consent must be obtained prior to setting cookies or other tracking technologies. Outside of the European Union, there are many countries with data protections laws, and new countries are adopting data protection legislation with increasing frequency. Many of these laws may require consent from consumers for the use of data for various purposes, including marketing, which may reduce our ability to market our products. There is no harmonized approach to these laws and regulations globally. Consequently, we increase our risk of non-compliance with applicable foreign data protection laws and regulations as we continue our international expansion. We may need to change and limit the way we use consumer information in operating our business and may have difficulty maintaining a single operating model that is compliant. Compliance with such laws and regulations will result in additional costs and may necessitate changes to our business practices and divergent operating models, which may adversely affect our business and financial condition.
In addition, various federal, state and foreign legislative and regulatory bodies, or self-regulatory organizations, may expand current laws or regulations, enact new laws or regulations or issue revised rules or guidance regarding privacy, data protection and consumer protection. Any such changes may force us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices. This could compromise our ability to pursue our growth strategy effectively and may adversely affect our ability to acquire customers or otherwise harm our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our failure or the failure of third-party service providers to protect our sites, networks and systems against security breaches, or otherwise to protect our confidential information, could damage our reputation and brand and substantially harm our business and operating results.
We collect, maintain, transmit and store data about our customers, suppliers and others, including credit card information and personally identifiable information, as well as other confidential and proprietary information. We also employ third-party service providers that store, process and transmit proprietary, personal and confidential information on our behalf. We rely on encryption and authentication technology licensed from third parties in an effort to securely transmit confidential and sensitive information, including credit card numbers. Advances in computer capabilities, new technological discoveries or other developments may result in the whole or partial failure of this technology to protect transaction data or other confidential and sensitive information from being breached or compromised. Our security measures, and those of our third-party service providers, may not detect or prevent all attempts to hack our systems, denial-of-service attacks, viruses, malicious software, break-ins, phishing attacks, social engineering, security breaches or other attacks and similar disruptions that may jeopardize the security of information stored in or transmitted by our sites, networks and systems or that we or our third-party service providers otherwise maintain including payment card systems. We and our service providers may not anticipate or prevent all types of attacks until after they have already been launched, and techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to or sabotage systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or our third-party service providers. In addition, security breaches can also occur as a result of non-technical issues, including intentional or inadvertent breaches by our employees or by persons with whom we have commercial relationships.

20

Breaches of our security measures or those of our third-party service providers or cyber security incidents could result in unauthorized access to our sites, networks and systems; unauthorized access to and misappropriation of consumer information, including consumers' personally identifiable information, or other confidential or proprietary information of ourselves or third parties; limited or terminated access to certain payment methods or fines or higher transaction fees to use such methods; viruses, worms, spyware or other malware being served from our sites, networks or systems; deletion or modification of content or the display of unauthorized content on our sites; interruption, disruption or malfunction of operations; costs relating to breach remediation, deployment or training of additional personnel and protection technologies, responses to governmental investigations and media inquiries and coverage; engagement of third party experts and consultants; litigation, regulatory action and other potential liabilities. If any of these breaches of security occur, our reputation and brand could be damaged, our business may suffer, we could be required to expend significant capital and other resources to alleviate problems caused by such breaches and we could be exposed to a risk of loss, litigation or regulatory action and possible liability. In addition, any party who is able to illicitly obtain a subscriber's password could access the subscriber's transaction data or personal information. Any compromise or breach of our security measures, or those of our third-party service providers, could violate applicable privacy, data security and other laws, and cause significant legal and financial exposure, adverse publicity and a loss of confidence in our security measures, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. Although we maintain privacy, data breach and network security liability insurance, we cannot be certain that our coverage will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred or that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all. We may need to devote significant resources to protect against security breaches or to address problems caused by breaches, diverting resources from the growth and expansion of our business.
Changes in tax treatment of companies engaged in e-commerce may adversely affect the commercial use of our sites and our financial results.
Due to the global nature of the Internet, it is possible that various states or foreign countries might attempt to impose additional or new regulation on our business or levy additional or new sales, income or other taxes relating to our activities. Tax authorities at the international, federal, state and local levels are currently reviewing the appropriate treatment of companies engaged in e-commerce. New or revised international, federal, state or local tax regulations may subject us or our customers to additional sales, income and other taxes. For example, Congress is considering various approaches to legislation that would require companies engaged in e-commerce to collect sales tax taxes on Internet revenue and a growing number of U.S. states and certain foreign jurisdictions have adopted or are considering proposals to impose obligations on remote sellers and online marketplaces to collect taxes on their behalf. We cannot predict the effect of current attempts to impose sales, income or other taxes on e-commerce. New or revised taxes and, in particular, sales taxes, VAT and similar taxes would likely increase the cost of doing business online and decrease the attractiveness of selling products over the Internet. New taxes could also create significant increases in internal costs necessary to capture data and collect and remit taxes. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Taxing authorities may successfully assert that we should have collected or in the future should collect sales and use, commercial activity, VAT or similar taxes, and we could be subject to liability with respect to past or future sales, which could adversely affect our operating results.
We do not collect sales and use, commercial activity, VAT or similar taxes in all jurisdictions in which we have sales, based on our belief that such taxes are not applicable. Sales and use, VAT and similar tax laws and rates vary greatly by jurisdiction. Several states have presented us with tax assessments, alleging that we are required to collect and remit sales or other similar taxes. While we do not believe that we are obligated to collect and remit such taxes and intend to vigorously defend our position, we cannot be sure of the outcome of our discussions and/or appeals with these states. In the event of an adverse outcome, we could face assessments for additional time periods since the last assessments we received, plus any additional interest and penalties. We also expect additional jurisdictions may make similar assessments in the future and any of the jurisdictions where we have sales may apply more rigorous enforcement efforts or take more aggressive positions in the future that could result in greater tax liability allegations. In addition, in the future we may also decide to engage in activities, such as owning or leasing property, that would require us to pay sales and use, commercial activity, VAT or similar taxes in new jurisdictions. As a result, we may be required to collect such taxes in additional jurisdictions in the future. Such tax assessments, penalties and interest or future requirements may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

21

Our business could suffer if we are unsuccessful in making, integrating and maintaining acquisitions and investments.
As part of our business strategy, we may acquire other companies or businesses. However, we may not be able to find suitable acquisition candidates, and we may not be able to complete acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, any of which could harm our business, including: difficulties in integrating the technologies, operations, existing contracts and personnel of an acquired company; difficulties in supporting and transitioning customers and suppliers, if any, of an acquired company; diversion of financial and management resources from existing operations or alternative acquisition opportunities; failure to realize the anticipated benefits or synergies of a transaction; failure to identify all of the problems, liabilities or other shortcomings or challenges of an acquired company or technology, including issues related to intellectual property, regulatory compliance practices, revenue recognition or other accounting practices or employee or customer issues; risks of entering new markets in which we have limited or no experience; potential loss of key employees, customers and suppliers from either our current business or an acquired company's business; inability to generate sufficient net revenue to offset acquisition costs; additional costs or equity dilution associated with funding the acquisition; and possible write-offs or impairment charges relating to acquired businesses.
In addition, our investments in properties may not be fully realized. We continually review our operations and facilities in an effort to reduce costs and increase efficiencies. For strategic or other operational reasons, we may decide to consolidate or co-locate certain aspects of our business operations or dispose of one or more of our properties. If we decide to fully or partially vacate a leased property, we may incur significant cost, including facility closing costs, employee separation and retention expenses, lease termination fees, rent expense in excess of sublease income and impairment of leasehold improvements and accelerated depreciation of assets. Any of these events may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We rely on the performance of members of management and highly skilled personnel, and if we are unable to attract, develop, motivate and retain well-qualified employees, our business could be harmed.
We believe our success has depended, and continues to depend, on the efforts and talents of Niraj Shah, one of our co-founders, co-chairman of the board of directors and our Chief Executive Officer, Steven Conine, one our co-founders and co-chairman of the board of directors, and the other members of our senior management team. Our future success depends on our continuing ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain highly qualified and skilled employees, particularly mid-level managers, engineers and merchandising and technology personnel. The market for such positions in the Boston area and other cities in which we operate is competitive. Qualified individuals are in high demand, and we may incur significant costs to attract them. In addition, the loss of any of our senior management or key employees or our inability to recruit and develop mid-level managers could materially adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan, and we may not be able to find adequate replacements. All of our officers and other U.S. employees are at-will employees, meaning that they may terminate their employment relationship with us at any time, and their knowledge of our business and industry would be extremely difficult to replace. If we do not succeed in attracting well-qualified employees or retaining and motivating existing employees, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.
We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights.
We regard our subscriber list, trademarks, domain names, copyrights, patents, trade dress, trade secrets, proprietary technology and similar intellectual property as critical to our success, and we rely on trademark, copyright and patent law, trade secret protection, agreements and other methods with our employees and others to protect our proprietary rights. We might not be able to obtain broad protection in the U.S. or internationally for all of our intellectual property, and we might not be able to obtain effective intellectual property protection in every country in which we sell products. For example, we are the registrant of marks for our brands in numerous jurisdictions and of the Internet domain name for the websites of Wayfair.com and our other sites, as well as various related domain names. However, we have not registered our marks or domain names in all major international jurisdictions and may not be able to register or use such domain names in all of the countries in which we currently or intend to conduct business. Further, we might not be able to prevent third parties from registering, using or retaining domain names that interfere with our consumer communications or infringe or otherwise decrease the value of our marks, domain names and other proprietary rights.

22

The protection of our intellectual property rights may require the expenditure of significant financial, managerial and operational resources. We may initiate claims or litigation against others for infringement, misappropriation or violation of our intellectual property rights or proprietary rights or to establish the validity of such rights. Any litigation, whether or not it is resolved in our favor, could result in significant expense to us and divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel, which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Moreover, the steps we take to protect our intellectual property may not adequately protect our rights or prevent third parties from infringing or misappropriating our proprietary rights, and we may not be able to broadly enforce all of our trademarks. Any of our patents, marks or other intellectual property rights may be challenged by others or invalidated through administrative process or litigation. Our patent and trademark applications may never be granted. Additionally, the process of obtaining intellectual property protections is expensive and time-consuming, and we may not be able to pursue all necessary or desirable actions at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. Even if issued, there can be no assurance that these protections will adequately safeguard our intellectual property, as the legal standards relating to the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of patent and other intellectual property rights are uncertain. We also cannot be certain that others will not independently develop or otherwise acquire equivalent or superior technology or intellectual property rights. We may also be exposed to claims from third parties claiming infringement of their intellectual property rights, or demanding the release or license of open source software or derivative works that we developed using such software (which could include our proprietary code) or otherwise seeking to enforce the terms of the applicable open source license. These claims could result in litigation and could require us to purchase a costly license, publicly release the affected portions of our source code, be limited in or cease using the implicated software unless and until we can re-engineer such software to avoid infringement or change the use of the implicated open source software.
We have been, and may again be, accused of infringing intellectual property rights of third parties.
The e-commerce industry is characterized by vigorous protection and pursuit of intellectual property rights, which has resulted in protracted and expensive litigation for many companies. We are subject to claims and litigation by third parties that we infringe their intellectual property rights, and we expect additional claims and litigation with respect to infringement to occur in the future. The costs of supporting such litigation and disputes are considerable, and there can be no assurances that favorable outcomes will be obtained. As our business expands and the number of competitors in our market increases and overlaps occur, we expect that infringement claims may increase in number and significance. Any claims or proceedings against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time-consuming, result in considerable litigation costs, require significant amounts of management time or result in the diversion of significant operational resources, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Legal claims regarding intellectual property rights are subject to inherent uncertainties due to the oftentimes complex issues involved, and we cannot be certain that we will be successful in defending ourselves against such claims. In addition, some of our larger competitors have extensive portfolios of issued patents. Many potential litigants, including patent holding companies, have the ability to dedicate substantially greater resources to enforce their intellectual property rights and to defend claims that may be brought against them. Furthermore, a successful claimant could secure a judgment that requires us to pay substantial damages or prevents us from conducting our business as we have historically done or may desire to do in the future. We might also be required to seek a license and pay royalties for the use of such intellectual property, which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. Alternatively, we may be required to develop non-infringing technology or intellectual property, which could require significant effort and expense and may ultimately not be successful.
We have received in the past, and we may receive in the future, communications alleging that certain items posted on or sold through our sites violate third-party copyrights, designs, marks and trade names or other intellectual property rights or other proprietary rights. Brand and content owners and other proprietary rights owners have actively asserted their purported rights against online companies, including Wayfair. In addition to litigation from rights owners, we may be subject to regulatory, civil or criminal proceedings and penalties if governmental authorities believe we have aided and abetted in the sale of counterfeit or infringing products.
Such claims, whether or not meritorious, may result in the expenditure of significant financial, managerial and operational resources, injunctions against us or the payment of damages by us. We may need to obtain licenses from third parties who allege that we have violated their rights, but such licenses may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all. These risks have been amplified by the increase in third parties whose sole or primary business is to assert such claims.

23

We may incur indebtedness, which could adversely affect our financial condition.
In February 2017, we entered into a three-year senior secured revolving credit facility under which we may borrow up to $100 million to fund working capital and general corporate purposes. If we draw down on this facility, our interest expense and principal repayment requirements will increase, which could have an adverse effect on our financial results. Further, the Credit Agreement and related agreements governing the senior secured revolving credit facility contain numerous requirements, including affirmative, negative and financial covenants.
Our business may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow from operations, and we can give no assurance that future borrowings will be available to us in amounts sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness as such indebtedness matures and to fund our other liquidity needs. If this occurs, we will need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. We may need to adopt one or more alternatives, such as reducing or delaying planned expenses and capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring debt, or obtaining additional equity or debt financing. These alternative strategies may not be affected on satisfactory terms, if at all. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness or obtain additional financing, or to do so on commercially reasonable terms, will depend on, among other things, our financial condition at the time, restrictions in agreements governing our indebtedness, and other factors, including the condition of the financial markets and the markets in which we compete.
If we do not generate sufficient cash flow from operations, and additional borrowings, refinancings or proceeds from asset sales are not available to us, we may not have sufficient cash to enable us to meet all of our obligations.
Risks Related to Ownership of our Class A Common Stock
The dual class structure of our common stock has the effect of concentrating voting control with our co-founders, which will limit your ability to influence corporate matters.
Our Class B common stock has ten votes per share, and our Class A common stock, which is the stock that is publicly traded, has one vote per share. Following the IPO, our Class B common stock was held primarily by our co-founders, other executive officers, directors and their affiliates. Due to optional conversions of Class B common stock into Class A common stock following the IPO, our Class B common stock is currently held primarily by our co-founders and their affiliates. As of December 31, 2016, our co-founders and their affiliates own shares representing approximately 41.8% of the economic interest and 87.6% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock. This concentrated control limits your ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future. For example, these stockholders are able to control elections of directors, amendments of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, increases to the number of shares available for issuance under our equity incentive plans or adoption of new equity incentive plans and approval of any merger or sale of assets for the foreseeable future. This control may materially adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock. Additionally, holders of our Class B common stock may cause us to make strategic decisions or pursue acquisitions that could involve risks to you or may not be aligned with your interests. The holders of our Class B common stock are also entitled to a separate vote in the event we seek to amend our certificate of incorporation to increase or decrease the par value of a class of our common stock or in a manner that alters or changes the powers, preferences or special rights of the Class B common stock in a manner that affects its holders adversely.
Future transfers by holders of Class B common stock will generally result in those shares converting on a 1:1 basis to Class A common stock, which will have the effect, over time, of increasing the relative voting power of those holders of Class B common stock who retain their shares in the long-term, which may include our executive officers.

24

Our stock price may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance.
The market price of our Class A common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the risks described elsewhere in this Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as:
•
actual or anticipated fluctuations in our results of operations;
•
the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections;
•
failure of securities analysts to initiate or maintain coverage of our company, changes in financial estimates or ratings by any securities analysts who follow our company or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;
•
announcements by us or our competitors of significant technical innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, operating results or capital commitments;
•
changes in operating performance and stock market valuations of other technology or retail companies generally, or those in our industry in particular;
•
price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole;
•
changes in interest rates;
•
changes in our board of directors or management;
•
sales of large blocks of our Class A common stock, including sales by our executive officers, directors and significant stockholders;
•
lawsuits threatened or filed against us;
•
changes in laws or regulations applicable to our business;
•
changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of debt or equity securities;
•
short sales, hedging and other derivative transactions involving our capital stock;
•
general economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad; and
•
other events or factors, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism or responses to these events.
In addition, stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many technology companies, including e-commerce companies. Stock prices of many technology companies, including e-commerce companies, have fluctuated in a manner unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. Volatility in our stock price could adversely affect our business and financing opportunities and expose us to litigation. Securities litigation can subject us to substantial costs, divert resources and the attention of management from our business and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Short selling could increase the volatility of our stock price.
We believe our Class A common stock has been the subject of significant short selling efforts by certain market participants. Short sales are transactions in which a market participant sells a security that it does not own. To complete the transaction, the market participant must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The market participant is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of required replacement. If the price at the time of replacement is lower than the price at which the security was originally sold by the market participant, then the market participant will realize a gain on the transaction. Thus, it is in the market participant’s interest for the market price of the underlying security to decline as much as possible during the period prior to the time of replacement. Short selling may negatively affect the value of our stock to the detriment of our stockholders.
In addition, market participants with disclosed short positions in our stock have published, and may in the future continue to publish, negative information regarding us that we believe is inaccurate and misleading. We believe that the publication of this negative information may in the future lead to downward pressure on the price of our stock.

25

Substantial sales of shares of our Class A common stock could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales might occur, could depress the market price of our Class A common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We are unable to predict the effect that such sales may have on the prevailing market price of our Class A common stock.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or publish negative reports about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our Class A common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business, our market and our competitors. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our shares or change their opinion of our shares, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
Our management has broad discretion over our existing cash resources and might not use such funds in ways that increase the value of your investment.
Our management generally has broad discretion over the use of our cash resources, and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of these resources. Our management might not apply these resources in ways that increase the value of your investment.
Although we do not rely on "controlled company" exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements under the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, rules, if we use these exemptions in the future, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
Our co-founders control a majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. As a result, we qualify as a "controlled company" within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the NYSE. Under these rules, a listed company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a "controlled company" and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including:
•
the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors as defined under the listing rules of the NYSE;
•
the requirement that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee's purpose and responsibilities;
•
the requirement that we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee's purpose and responsibilities; and
•
the requirement for an annual performance evaluation of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees.
To the extent we still qualify, we may choose to take advantage of any of these exemptions in the future. As a result, in the future, we may not have a majority of independent directors and we may not have independent director oversight of decisions regarding executive compensation and director nominations.

26

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of our company more difficult, limit attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management and limit the market price of our Class A common stock.
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or changes in our management. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include provisions that:
•
permit the board of directors to establish the number of directors and fill any vacancies and newly created directorships;
•
when the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock represent less than 10% of the then outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, provide that our board of directors will be classified into three classes with staggered, three year terms and that directors may only be removed for cause;
•
require super-majority voting to amend some provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws;
•
authorize the issuance of "blank check" preferred stock that our board of directors could use to implement a stockholder rights plan;
•
eliminate the ability of our stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders;
•
when the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock represent less than 10% of the then outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, prohibit stockholder action by written consent, which requires all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of our stockholders;
•
provide that the board of directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal our bylaws;
•
restrict the forum for certain litigation against us to Delaware;
•
reflect the dual class structure of our common stock, as discussed above; and
•
establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at annual stockholder meetings.
These provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors, which is responsible for appointing the members of our management. In addition, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with any holder of at least 15% of our capital stock for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became a 15% stockholder.
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.    Properties
Our corporate headquarters are in Boston, where we currently occupy approximately 428 thousand square feet of office space pursuant to a lease that expires in December 2027. We lease additional office space in London and Berlin for our international operations. We currently lease a total of approximately 5 million additional square feet of fulfillment center space in various locations in the U.S. and one location in the United Kingdom. We also lease office space in five U.S. locations and one location in Ireland for our customer service centers.
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings
For information regarding our legal proceedings, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Commitments and Contingencies, included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated into this item by reference.

27

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.

28

PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Certain Information Regarding the Trading of Our Common Stock
Our Class A common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "W". The following table sets forth for the indicated periods the high and low per share sale prices of our Class A common stock, as reported by the NYSE.
 
 
Sales Price
 
 
High
 
Low
2015
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
 
$
34.10

 
$
18.12

Second Quarter
 
$
39.43

 
$
27.36

Third Quarter
 
$
56.84

 
$
31.17

Fourth Quarter
 
$
50.00

 
$
32.56

2016
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
 
$
47.68

 
$
28.85

Second Quarter
 
$
44.53

 
$
34.10

Third Quarter
 
$
49.34

 
$
35.82

Fourth Quarter
 
$
39.79

 
$
27.60

Holders of Our Common Stock
As of January 31, 2017, there were 49 holders of record of shares of our Class A common stock and 398 holders of record of shares of our Class B common stock. The actual number of stockholders is greater than this numbers of record holders, and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners, whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers, and other financial institutions.
Dividends
We do not expect to pay any dividends on our Class A common stock or Class B common stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws. Our board of directors may take into account general and economic conditions, our financial condition and operating results, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, our capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions, and implications on the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders or by our subsidiaries to us and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Information regarding our equity compensation plans and securities authorized for issuance thereunder is set forth under Part III, Item 12, Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During the three months ended December 31, 2016, we issued 405,891 shares of Class B common stock upon the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units, net of shares withheld to satisfy statutory minimum tax withholding obligations. The issuance of these securities were pursuant to written compensatory plans or arrangements with our employees, consultants, advisors and directors in reliance on the exemption provided by Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), relative to transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering, to the extent an exemption from registration was required.

29

On November 17, 2016, we issued 11,800 shares of our Class A common stock as consideration to the stockholders of a privately-held company in connection with our acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the company. In connection with the issuance, we relied upon the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act in that the issuance did not involve a public offering.
Use of Proceeds from Public Offering of Common Stock
In October 2014, we completed our IPO, pursuant to which we issued and sold 10,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and the selling stockholders sold 2,150,000 shares of Class A common stock, including 1,650,000 shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise in full of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares. The shares sold in the IPO were registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-198171), which was declared effective on October 1, 2014. The offering commenced on October 2, 2014.
The shares of Class A common stock were sold at an initial offering price to the public of $29.00 per share for an aggregate offering price of $366.9 million. We did not receive any proceeds from the shares sold by the selling stockholders. We received net proceeds of $282.9 million after deducting approximately $21.6 million in underwriting discount and expenses. We distributed $24.5 million of the net proceeds to our stockholders that held Series A preferred stock immediately prior to the completion of the IPO. Our co-founders and certain of our directors, executive officers and holders of more than 5% of our voting securities held 85% of our outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock and, as a result of their ownership, received 85% of the dividend payment, or approximately $20.8 million. We also used approximately $22.6 million of the net proceeds to satisfy statutory minimum tax withholding and remittance obligations primarily related to the vesting of restricted stock units that settled upon the completion of the IPO.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None
Item 6.    Selected Consolidated Financial Data
You should read the following selected consolidated financial data below in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The following consolidated statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and the consolidated statements of operations data for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2012 is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Wayfair LLC that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future.

30

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
Consolidated Statements of Operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Net revenue
 
$
3,380,360

 
$
2,249,885

 
$
1,318,951

 
$
915,843

 
$
601,028

Cost of goods sold (1)
 
2,572,549

 
1,709,161

 
1,007,853

 
691,602

 
455,879

Gross profit
 
807,811

 
540,724

 
311,098

 
224,241

 
145,149

Operating expenses:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Customer service and merchant fees (1)
 
127,883

 
81,230

 
55,804

 
35,500

 
25,730

Advertising
 
409,125

 
278,224

 
191,284

 
108,469

 
65,504

Merchandising, marketing and sales (1)
 
177,535

 
106,149

 
80,113

 
33,506

 
22,136

Operations, technology, general and administrative (1)
 
289,485

 
156,471

 
131,681

 
62,785

 
53,173

Total operating expenses
 
1,004,028

 
622,074

 
458,882

 
240,260

 
166,543

Loss from operations
 
(196,217
)

(81,350
)

(147,784
)
 
(16,019
)
 
(21,394
)
Interest income, net
 
694

 
1,284

 
350

 
245

 
234

Other income (expense), net
 
1,756

 
2,718

 
(489
)
 
294

 
155

Loss before income taxes
 
(193,767
)
 
(77,348
)
 
(147,923
)
 
(15,480
)
 
(21,005
)
Provision for income taxes
 
608

 
95

 
175

 
46

 
50

Net loss
 
(194,375
)

(77,443
)

(148,098
)

(15,526
)
 
(21,055
)
Accretion of convertible redeemable preferred units
 
—

 
—

 
(2,071
)
 
(25,388
)
 
(12,154
)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(150,169
)
 
$
(40,914
)
 
$
(33,209
)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders per share, basic and diluted
 
$
(2.29
)

$
(0.92
)

$
(2.97
)
 
$
(0.99
)
 
$
(0.80
)
Weighted average number of common stock outstanding used in computing per share amounts, basic and diluted
 
84,977

 
83,726

 
50,642

 
41,332

 
41,272


(1)
Includes equity based compensation and related taxes as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Cost of goods sold
 
$
474

 
$
280

 
$
369

 
$
—

 
$
—

Customer service and merchant fees
 
2,108

 
1,007

 
2,265

 
—

 
—

Merchandising, marketing and sales
 
24,308

 
15,436

 
28,514

 
—

 
—

Operations, technology, general and administrative
 
25,063

 
16,252

 
32,096

 
—

 
—

 
 
$
51,953

 
$
32,975

 
$
63,244

 
$
—

 
$
—


31

 
 
December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
(in thousands)
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments
 
$
379,550

 
$
465,954

 
$
415,859

 
$
115,308

 
$
100,878

Working capital
 
$
(80,129
)
 
$
95,297

 
$
254,276

 
$
18,118

 
$
42,031

Total assets
 
$
761,683

 
$
694,581

 
$
555,523

 
$
196,300

 
$
163,577

Deferred revenue
 
$
65,892

 
$
50,884

 
$
26,784

 
$
13,397

 
$
12,282

Convertible redeemable preferred units
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
241,186

 
$
215,798

Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
 
$
79,384

 
$
242,545

 
$
305,539

 
$
(191,178
)
 
$
(151,130
)

32

Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as those included in the Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements and Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
The following discussion includes financial information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), as well as certain adjusted or non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP diluted net loss per share and free cash flow. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes the use of these non-GAAP measures on a consolidated and reportable segment basis assists investors in understanding the ongoing operating performance of our business by presenting comparable financial results between periods. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, including reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.
Overview
We are one of the world's largest online destinations for the home. Through our e-commerce business model, we offer visually inspired browsing, compelling merchandising, easy product discovery and attractive prices for over eight million products from over 10,000 suppliers.
We believe an increasing portion of the dollars spent on home goods will be spent online and that there is an opportunity for acquiring more market share. We plan to grow our net revenue by acquiring new customers as well as stimulating repeat purchases from our existing customers. Through increasing brand awareness and paid and unpaid advertising, we attract new and repeat customers to our sites. We then seek to convert that visitor traffic to sales through engaging visual imagery and merchandising, daily sales promotions, and easy-to-use navigation tools and personalization features that enable better product discovery. We carefully track and monitor the results of our advertising campaigns so that we can ensure that appropriate return targets are being met.
Because of the large market opportunity we see in front of us, we are currently investing in several areas across our business. Over the last few years, we have invested in expanding our international business in Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany by building our international infrastructure, developing deeper country-specific knowledge, growing our international supplier networks and establishing our brand presence in select countries. Accordingly, our consolidated net loss of $194.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 is primarily driven by our international expansion.
Throughout 2016, we also invested in our proprietary logistics network, including our CastleGate warehouses and own consolidation centers, cross docks and last mile delivery facilities. We believe that our proprietary logistics network will help drive incremental sales by delighting our customers with faster delivery times and a better home delivery experience. Over time we believe our proprietary logistics network will also lower our costs per order by reducing damage rates and leveraging economies of scale in transportation. We are also currently investing in new categories, such as home improvement (e.g. plumbing, lighting and flooring), housewares, seasonal decor and decorative accents, so that we can add more of those products to our sites and capture a higher share of our customers' spend on home goods.

33

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2016, we changed our operating and reportable segments from one segment to two operating and reportable segments, U.S. and International. The following table presents Direct Retail and Other net revenues attributable to the Company’s reportable segments for the periods presented (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
U.S. Direct Retail
 
$
2,993,365

 
$
1,945,411

 
$
1,036,658

U.S. Other
 
117,132

 
190,081

 
199,557

U.S. segment net revenue
 
3,110,497

 
2,135,492

 
1,236,215

International Direct Retail
 
265,544

 
94,827

 
65,028

International Other
 
4,319

 
19,566

 
17,708

International segment net revenue (1)
 
269,863

 
114,393

 
82,736

Total net revenue
 
$
3,380,360

 
$
2,249,885

 
$
1,318,951

(1)In the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, International segment net revenue included $5.4 million and $10.8 million, respectively, from our Australian business, which we sold in July 2015. 
For more information on our segments, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Segment and Geographic Information, included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Full Year 2016 Financial Highlights
•
Direct Retail net revenue increased $1.2 billion to $3.3 billion, up 59.7% year over year
•
Total net revenue increased $1.1 billion to $3.4 billion, up 50.2% year over year
•
GAAP net loss was $194.4 million
•
Adjusted EBITDA was $(88.7) million or (2.6)% of total net revenue
•
Non-GAAP free cash flow was $(65.3) million
The consolidated financial statements and other disclosures contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are those of Wayfair Inc. Prior to our IPO in October 2014, Wayfair LLC was the principal operating entity. In connection with the IPO, Wayfair LLC completed a corporate reorganization pursuant to which Wayfair LLC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wayfair Inc. For additional information regarding our corporate reorganization and how it is accounted for in the consolidated financial statements and other disclosures contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, see Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, Basis of Presentation, included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Key Financial and Operating Metrics
We measure our business using both financial and operating metrics. Our free cash flow metric is measured on a consolidated basis. Our net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA metrics are measured on a consolidated and segment basis. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Segment and Geographic Information, included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All other key financial and operating metrics are derived and reported from our Direct Retail sales, which includes sales generated primarily through our five distinct sites. These metrics do not include net revenue derived from the sites operated by our retail partners. We do not have access to certain customer level information on net revenue derived through our retail partners and therefore cannot measure or disclose it.

34

We use the following metrics to assess the near-term and longer-term performance of our overall business (in thousands, except LTM Net Revenue per Active Customer and Average Order Value):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Consolidated Financial Metrics
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net Revenue
 
$
3,380,360

 
$
2,249,885

 
$
1,318,951

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
(88,692
)
 
$
(15,929
)
 
$
(62,537
)
Free cash flow
 
$
(65,272
)
 
$
72,937

 
$
(41,860
)
Direct Retail Financial and Operating Metrics
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct Retail Net Revenue
 
$
3,258,909

 
$
2,040,238

 
$
1,101,686

Active Customers
 
8,250

 
5,360

 
3,217

LTM Net Revenue per Active Customer
 
$
395

 
$
381

 
$
342

Orders Delivered
 
14,064

 
9,170

 
5,237

Average Order Value
 
$
232

 
$
222

 
$
210

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA
To provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, we have disclosed here and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure that we calculate as loss before depreciation and amortization, equity-based compensation and related taxes, interest and other income and expense, provision for income taxes, and non-recurring items. We have provided a reconciliation below of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. 
We have included Adjusted EBITDA in this Annual Report on Form 10-K because it is a key measure used by our management and board of directors to evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans and make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. In particular, the exclusion of certain expenses in calculating Adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis. Accordingly, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors.
Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are: 
•
Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements;
•
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect equity based compensation and related taxes as well as the compensation charge associated with a tender offer we completed in April 2014;
•
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in our working capital;
•
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect income tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us;
•
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect depreciation and interest expenses associated with the lease financing obligation; and
•
Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently, which reduces its usefulness as a comparative measure.
Because of these limitations, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including various cash flow metrics, net loss and our other GAAP results.

35

The following table reflects the reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net loss
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(148,098
)
Depreciation and amortization
 
55,572

 
32,446

 
22,003

Equity based compensation and related taxes
 
51,953

 
32,975

 
63,244

Interest (income), net
 
(694
)
 
(1,284
)
 
(350
)
Other (income) expense, net
 
(1,756
)
 
(2,718
)
 
489

Provision for income taxes
 
608

 
95

 
175

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
(88,692
)
 
$
(15,929
)
 
$
(62,537
)
Free Cash Flow
To provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, we have also disclosed here and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure that we calculate as net cash provided by operating activities less net cash used to purchase property and equipment and site and software development costs. We have provided a reconciliation below of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
We have included free cash flow in this Annual Report on Form 10-K because it is an important indicator of our business performance as it measures the amount of cash we generate. Accordingly, we believe that free cash flow provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management.
Free cash flow has limitations as an analytical tool because it omits certain components of the cash flow statement and does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Further, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate free cash flow differently. Accordingly, you should not consider free cash flow in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because of these limitations, you should consider free cash flow alongside other financial performance measures, including net cash provided by operating activities, capital expenditures and our other GAAP results.
The following table presents a reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
62,814

 
$
135,121

 
$
4,125

Purchase of property and equipment
 
(96,707
)
 
(44,648
)
 
(31,855
)
Site and software development costs
 
(31,379
)
 
(17,536
)
 
(14,130
)
Free cash flow
 
$
(65,272
)
 
$
72,937

 
$
(41,860
)
Key Operating Metrics (Direct Retail)
Active Customers
As of the last date of each reported period, we determine our number of active customers by counting the total number of individual customers who have purchased at least once directly from our sites during the preceding twelve-month period. The change in active customers in a reported period captures both the inflow of new customers as well as the outflow of existing customers who have not made a purchase in the last twelve months. We view the number of active customers as a key indicator of our growth.

36

LTM Net Revenue Per Active Customer
We define LTM net revenue per active customer as our total net revenue derived from Direct Retail sales in the last twelve months divided by our total number of active customers for the same preceding twelve-month period. We view LTM net revenue per active customer as a key indicator of our customers' purchasing patterns, including their initial and repeat purchase behavior.
Orders Delivered
We define orders delivered as the total Direct Retail orders delivered in any period, inclusive of orders that may eventually be returned. As we ship a large volume of packages through multiple carriers, actual delivery dates may not always be available, and as such we estimate delivery dates based on historical data. We recognize net revenue when an order is delivered and therefore orders delivered, together with average order value, is an indicator of the net revenue we expect to recognize in a given period. We view orders delivered as a key indicator of our growth.
Average Order Value
We define average order value as total Direct Retail net revenue in a given period divided by the orders delivered in that period. We view average order value as a key indicator of the mix of products on our sites, the mix of offers and promotions and the purchasing behavior of our customers.
Factors Affecting our Performance
We believe that our performance and future success depend on a number of factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including those discussed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors.
Components of Our Results of Operations    
Net Revenue
Net revenue consists primarily of sales of product from our sites and through the sites of our online retail partners and includes related shipping fees. We deduct cash discounts, allowances and estimated returns from gross revenue to determine net revenue. We recognize product revenue upon delivery to our customers. Net revenue is primarily driven by growth of new and active customers and the frequency with which customers purchase. The products offered on our sites are fulfilled with product we ship to our customers directly from our suppliers and, increasingly, from our CastleGate warehouses.
We also generate net revenue through third-party advertisers that pay us based on the number of advertisement related clicks, actions, or impressions for advertisements placed on our sites. Net revenue earned under these arrangements is included in net revenue and net revenue through our third-party advertisers is recognized in the period in which the click, action or impression occurs. This revenue has not been material to date.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold consists of the cost of product sold to customers, shipping and handling costs and shipping supplies and fulfillment costs. Fulfillment costs include costs incurred in operating and staffing the fulfillment centers, such as costs attributed to receiving, inspecting, picking, packaging and preparing customer orders for shipment. Cost of goods sold also includes direct and indirect labor costs, including equity-based compensation, for fulfillment center oversight, including payroll and related benefit costs. The increase in cost of goods sold is primarily driven by growth in orders delivered, the mix of the product available for sale on our sites and transportation costs related to delivering orders to our customers.
We earn rebates on our incentive programs with our suppliers. These rebates are earned upon shipment of goods. Amounts due from suppliers as a result of these rebate programs are included as a receivable and are reflected as a reduction of cost of goods sold on the consolidated statements of operations. We also perform logistics services for suppliers through our CastleGate solution, which are earned upon completion of preparing customer orders for shipment and are reflected as a reduction of cost of goods sold on the consolidated statements of operations.
We expect cost of goods sold expenses to remain relatively stable as a percentage of net revenue but some fluctuations are expected due to the wide variety of products we sell.

37

Customer Service and Merchant Fees
Customer service and merchant fees consist of labor-related costs, including equity-based compensation, of our employees involved in customer service activities and merchant processing fees associated with customer payments made by credit cards and debit cards. Increases in our customer service and merchant fees are driven by the growth in our revenue and are expected to remain relatively consistent as a percentage of revenue.
Advertising
Advertising consists of direct response performance marketing costs, such as display advertising, paid search advertising, social media advertising, search engine optimization, comparison shopping engine advertising, television advertising, direct mail, catalog and print advertising. We expect advertising expense to continue to increase but decrease as a percentage of net revenue over time due to our increasing base of repeat customers.
Merchandising, Marketing and Sales
Merchandising, marketing and sales expenses include labor-related costs, including equity-based compensation, for our category managers, buyers, site merchandisers, merchants, marketers and the team who executes our advertising strategy. Sales, marketing and merchandising expenses are primarily driven by investments to grow and retain our customer base. We expect merchandising, marketing and sales expenses to continue to increase as we grow our net revenue.
Operations, Technology and General and Administrative
Operations, technology, general and administrative expenses primarily include labor-related costs, including equity-based compensation, of our operations group that lead our supply chain and logistics, our technology team, building and supporting our sites, and our corporate general and administrative, which includes human resources, finance and accounting personnel. Also included are administrative and professional service fees including audit and legal fees, insurance and other corporate expenses, including depreciation and rent. We anticipate that we will incur additional personnel expenses, professional service fees, including audit and legal, investor relations, costs of compliance with securities laws and regulations, and higher director and officer insurance costs related to operating as a public company. We expect operations, technology, general and administrative expenses will continue to increase as we grow our net revenue and operations.
Interest Income, Net
Interest income, net consists primarily of interest earned on cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments held by us and, in 2016, partially offset by interest expense on the lease financing obligation.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net consists primarily of foreign currency gains (losses), and in the year ended December 31, 2015, a $3.0 million gain related to the sale of our Australian operations.

38

Results of Consolidated Operations (in thousands)
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
Consolidated Statements of Operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net revenue
 
$
3,380,360

 
$
2,249,885

 
$
1,318,951

Cost of goods sold (1)
 
2,572,549

 
1,709,161

 
1,007,853

Gross profit
 
807,811

 
540,724

 
311,098

Operating expenses:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Customer service and merchant fees (1)
 
127,883

 
81,230

 
55,804

Advertising
 
409,125

 
278,224

 
191,284

Merchandising, marketing and sales (1)
 
177,535

 
106,149

 
80,113

Operations, technology, general and administrative (1)
 
289,485

 
156,471

 
131,681

Total operating expenses
 
1,004,028

 
622,074

 
458,882

Loss from operations
 
(196,217
)
 
(81,350
)
 
(147,784
)
Interest income, net
 
694

 
1,284

 
350

Other income (expense), net
 
1,756

 
2,718

 
(489
)
Loss before income taxes
 
(193,767
)
 
(77,348
)
 
(147,923
)
Provision for income taxes
 
608

 
95

 
175

Net loss
 
(194,375
)
 
(77,443
)
 
(148,098
)
Accretion of convertible redeemable preferred units
 
—

 
—

 
(2,071
)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(150,169
)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders per share, basic and diluted
 
$
(2.29
)
 
$
(0.92
)
 
$
(2.97
)
Weighted average number of common stock outstanding used in computing per share amounts, basic and diluted
 
84,977

 
83,726

 
50,642

(1)
Includes equity based compensation and related taxes as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Cost of goods sold
 
$
474

 
$
280

 
$
369

Customer service and merchant fees
 
2,108

 
1,007

 
2,265

Merchandising, marketing and sales
 
24,308

 
15,436

 
28,514

Operations, technology, general and administrative
 
25,063

 
16,252

 
32,096

 
 
$
51,953

 
$
32,975

 
$
63,244


39

Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
Net revenue
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
% Change
Direct Retail
 
$
3,258,909

 
$
2,040,238

 
59.7
 %
Other
 
121,451

 
209,647

 
(42.1
)%
Net revenue
 
$
3,380,360

 
$
2,249,885

 
50.2
 %
In 2016, net revenue increased by $1.1 billion, or 50.2% compared to 2015, primarily as a result of an increase in Direct Retail net revenue. In 2016, Direct Retail net revenue increased by $1.2 billion, or 59.7% compared to 2015, primarily due to sales to a larger customer base, as the number of active customers increased 53.9% as of December 31, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015. Additionally, LTM net revenue per active customer increased 3.7% as of December 31, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015. The decrease in Other revenue in 2016 compared to 2015 was primarily due to decreased sales through our retail partners, as we continue to focus more on our Direct Retail business over time.
Cost of goods sold
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
% Change
Cost of goods sold
 
$
2,572,549

 
$
1,709,161

 
50.5
%
As a percentage of net revenue
 
76.1
%

76.0
%
 
 

In 2016, cost of goods sold increased by $863.4 million, or 50.5%, compared to 2015. Of the increase in cost of goods sold, $690.8 million was due to the increase in products sold to our larger customer base. In addition, shipping and fulfillment costs increased $172.6 million as a result of the increase in products sold during the period. Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net revenue increased in the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily as a result of changes in the mix of the products sold.

40

Operating Expenses
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
% Change
Customer service and merchant fees (1)
 
$
127,883

 
$
81,230

 
57.4
%
Advertising
 
409,125

 
278,224

 
47.0
%
Merchandising, marketing and sales (1)
 
177,535

 
106,149

 
67.3
%
Operations, technology, general and administrative (1)
 
289,485

 
156,471

 
85.0
%
Total operating expenses
 
$
1,004,028

 
$
622,074

 
61.4
%
As a percentage of net revenue
 
 

 
 

 
 

Customer service and merchant fees (1)
 
3.8
%
 
3.6
%
 
 

Advertising
 
12.1
%
 
12.4
%
 
 

Merchandising, marketing and sales (1)
 
5.3
%
 
4.7
%
 
 

Operations, technology, general and administrative (1)
 
8.5
%
 
6.9
%
 
 

 
 
29.7
%
 
27.6
%
 
 

(1)
Includes equity-based compensation and related taxes as follows:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
Customer service and merchant fees
 
$
2,108

 
$
1,007

 
 
Merchandising, marketing and sales
 
$
24,308

 
$
15,436

 
 
Operations, technology, general and administrative
 
$
25,063

 
$
16,252

 
 
The following table summarizes operating expenses as a percentage of net revenue, excluding equity-based compensation and related taxes:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
Customer service and merchant fees
 
3.7
%
 
3.6
%
 
 
Merchandising, marketing and sales
 
4.5
%
 
4.0
%
 
 
Operations, technology, general and administrative
 
7.8
%
 
6.2
%
 
 
Excluding the impact of equity based compensation and related taxes, customer service costs and merchant processing fees increased by $45.6 million in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to the increase in net revenue during 2016.
Our advertising expenses increased by $130.9 million in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily as a result of an increase in online and television advertising. Advertising decreased as a percentage of net revenue in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to increased leverage from our growing base of repeat customers, and television advertising expense not increasing at the same rate as revenue growth in the U.S., partially offset by advertising investments in Europe and Canada.
Excluding the impact of equity based compensation and related taxes, merchandising, marketing and sales expenses increased by $62.5 million in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to an increase in headcount to grow and retain our customer base.
Excluding the impact of equity based compensation and related taxes, operations, technology, general and administrative expense increased by $124.2 million in 2016 compared to 2015. As our revenue continues to grow, we have invested in headcount in both operations and technology to continue to deliver a great experience for our customers. The increase in operations, technology, general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to personnel costs, rent, information technology, and depreciation and amortization.

41

Comparison of year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
Net revenue
 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
% Change
Direct Retail
 
$
2,040,238

 
$
1,101,686

 
85.2
 %
Other
 
209,647

 
217,265

 
(3.5
)%
Net revenue
 
$
2,249,885

 
$
1,318,951

 
70.6
 %
In 2015, net revenue increased by $930.9 million, or 70.6% compared to 2014 primarily as a result of an increase in Direct Retail net revenue, partially offset by the 3.5% decrease in Other revenue. In 2015, Direct Retail net revenue increased by $938.6 million, or 85.2% compared to 2014. The increase in Direct Retail net revenue was primarily due to sales to a larger customer base, as the number of active customers increased 66.6% in 2015 compared to the number of active customers in 2014. Additionally, LTM net revenue per active customer increased 11.4% in 2015 compared with 2014. The decrease in Other revenue was primarily due to decreased sales through our retail partners.
Cost of Goods Sold
 
 
Year ended
December 31,
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
% Change
Cost of goods sold
 
$
1,709,161

 
$
1,007,853

 
69.6
%
As a percentage of net revenue
 
76.0
%

76.4
%
 
 

In 2015, costs of goods sold increased by $701.3 million, or 69.6%, compared to 2014. Of the increase in cost of goods sold, $573.5 million was due to the increase in products sold to a larger customer base. In addition, shipping and fulfillment costs increased $127.8 million as a result of the increase in products sold during the period. Costs of goods sold as a percentage of net revenue decreased the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the year ended December 31, 2014 as a result of changes in the mix of the products sold and shipping costs.

42

Operating Expenses
 
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
% Change
Customer service and merchant fees (1)
 
$
81,230

 
$
55,804

 
45.6
%
Advertising
 
278,224

 
191,284

 
45.5
%
Merchandising, marketing and sales (1)
 
106,149

 
80,113

 
32.5
%
Operations, technology, general and administrative (1)
 
156,471

 
131,681

 
18.8
%
Total operating expenses
 
$
622,074

 
$
458,882

 
35.6
%
As a percentage of net revenue
 
 

 
 

 
 

Customer service and merchant fees (1)
 
3.6
%
 
4.2
%
 
 

Advertising
 
12.4
%
 
14.5
%
 
 

Merchandising, marketing and sales (1)
 
4.7
%
 
6.1
%
 
 

Operations, technology, general and administrative (1)
 
6.9
%
 
10.0
%
 
 

 
 
27.6
%
 
34.8
%
 
 
(1)
Includes equity-based compensation and related taxes as follows:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Customer service and merchant fees
 
$
1,007

 
$
2,265

 
 
Merchandising, marketing and sales
 
$
15,436

 
$
28,514

 
 
Operations, technology, general and administrative
 
$
16,252

 
$
32,096

 
 
The following table summarizes operating expenses as a percentage of net revenue, excluding equity-based compensation and related taxes:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Customer service and merchant fees
 
3.6
%
 
4.1
%
 
 
Merchandising, marketing and sales
 
4.0
%
 
3.9
%
 
 
Operations, technology, general and administrative
 
6.2
%
 
7.6
%
 
 
 Excluding the impact of equity based compensation and related taxes, customer service costs and merchant processing fees increased by $26.7 million in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to the increase in net revenue during 2015.
Our advertising expenses increased by $86.9 million in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily as a result of an increase in television and online advertising.
Excluding the impact of equity based compensation and related taxes, merchandising, marketing and sales expenses increased by $39.1 million in 2015 compared to 2014. The increase in merchandising, marketing and sales expenses was due to an increase in headcount primarily to grow and retain our customer base.
Excluding the impact of equity based compensation and related taxes, operations, technology, general and administrative expense increased by $40.6 million in 2015 compared to 2014. The increase in operations, technology, general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to personnel costs, rent, information technology, depreciation and amortization and costs related to operating as a public company.


43

Unaudited Quarterly Results of Operations and Other Financial and Operations Data
The following tables set forth selected unaudited quarterly results of operations and other financial and operations data for the eight quarters ended December 31, 2016. The information for each of these quarters has been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of our consolidated results of operations for these periods. This data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future.
Consolidated Statements of Operations:
 
 
Three months ended
 
 
March 31,
2015
 
June 30,
2015
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2015
 
March 31,
2016
 
June 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2016
 
December 31,
2016
 
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
Net revenue
 
$
424,371

 
$
491,752

 
$
593,972

 
$
739,790

 
$
747,348

 
$
786,928

 
$
861,525

 
$
984,559

Cost of goods sold (1)
 
321,536

 
370,951

 
452,586

 
564,088

 
568,292

 
598,414

 
659,864

 
745,979

Gross profit
 
102,835

 
120,801

 
141,386

 
175,702

 
179,056

 
188,514

 
201,661

 
238,580

Operating expenses:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Customer service and merchant fees (1)
 
15,978

 
18,330

 
21,109

 
25,813

 
27,350

 
30,064

 
33,872

 
36,597

Advertising
 
57,999

 
61,539

 
70,711

 
87,975

 
97,677

 
94,426

 
101,333

 
115,689

Merchandising, marketing and sales (1)
 
23,234

 
23,814

 
27,083

 
32,018

 
37,856

 
43,273

 
48,550

 
47,856

Operations, technology, general and administrative (1)
 
32,870

 
36,591

 
41,120

 
45,890

 
58,282

 
69,481

 
79,526

 
82,196

Total operating expenses
 
130,081

 
140,274

 
160,023

 
191,696

 
221,165

 
237,244

 
263,281

 
282,338

Loss from operations
 
(27,246
)
 
(19,473
)
 
(18,637
)
 
(15,994
)
 
(42,109
)
 
(48,730
)
 
(61,620
)
 
(43,758
)
Interest income (expense), net
 
264

 
308

 
325

 
387

 
552

 
531

 
(292
)
 
(97
)
Other (expense) income, net
 
(108
)
 
(96
)
 
2,746

 
176

 
669

 
246

 
889

 
(48
)
Loss before income taxes
 
(27,090
)
 
(19,261
)
 
(15,566
)
 
(15,431
)
 
(40,888
)
 
(47,953
)
 
(61,023
)
 
(43,903
)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
 
46

 
73

 
(88
)
 
64

 
317

 
321

 
(83
)
 
53

Net loss
 
$
(27,136
)
 
$
(19,334
)
 
$
(15,478
)
 
$
(15,495
)
 
$
(41,205
)
 
$
(48,274
)
 
$
(60,940
)
 
$
(43,956
)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders per share, basic and diluted
 
$
(0.33
)
 
$
(0.23
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.49
)
 
$
(0.57
)
 
$
(0.72
)
 
$
(0.51
)
Weighted average number of common stock outstanding used in computing per share amounts, basic and diluted
 
83,210

 
83,603

 
83,886

 
84,191

 
84,445

 
84,786

 
85,105

 
85,567


(1)
Includes equity based compensation and related taxes as follows:
Cost of goods sold
 
$
71

 
$
79

 
$
96

 
$
34

 
$
58

 
$
87

 
$
212

 
$
117

Customer service and merchant fees
 
219

 
288

 
236

 
264

 
333

 
528

 
627

 
620

Merchandising, marketing and sales
 
3,866

 
3,204

 
3,414

 
4,952

 
5,101

 
5,221

 
6,588

 
7,398

Operations, technology, general and administrative
 
4,006

 
3,530

 
4,239

 
4,477

 
5,170

 
5,459

 
7,881

 
6,553

 
 
$
8,162

 
$
7,101

 
$
7,985

 
$
9,727

 
$
10,662

 
$
11,295

 
$
15,308

 
$
14,688



44

Quarterly Financial Metrics
The following tables set forth selected financial quarterly metrics and other financial and operations data for the eight quarters ended December 31, 2016. The information for each of these quarters should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future.
 
 
Three months ended
 
 
March 31,
2015
 
June 30,
2015
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2015
 
March 31,
2016
 
June 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2016
 
December 31,
2016
 
 
(in thousands, except Average Order Value and LTM Net Revenue Per Active Customer)
Consolidated Financial Metrics
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net Revenue
 
$
424,371

 
$
491,752

 
$
593,972

 
$
739,790

 
$
747,348

 
$
786,928

 
$
861,525

 
$
984,559

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
(12,340
)
 
$
(4,972
)
 
$
(1,445
)
 
$
2,828

 
$
(20,960
)
 
$
(24,857
)
 
$
(30,849
)
 
$
(12,026
)
Free Cash Flow
 
$
(51,368
)
 
$
10,989

 
$
35,332

 
$
77,984

 
$
(80,582
)
 
$
(19,418
)
 
$
(13,968
)
 
$
48,696

Segment Financial Metrics
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Direct Retail Net Revenue
 
$
351,313

 
$
418,288

 
$
521,848

 
$
653,962

 
$
672,700

 
$
702,408

 
$
759,674

 
$
858,583

U.S. Other Net Revenue
 
$
49,267

 
$
46,379

 
$
44,379

 
$
50,056

 
$
33,221

 
$
30,265

 
$
28,127

 
$
25,519

U.S. Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
(3,947
)
 
$
7,080

 
$
9,925

 
$
17,927

 
$
(1,039
)
 
$
(2,920
)
 
$
(7,857
)
 
$
11,992

International Direct Retail Net Revenue
 
$
18,082

 
$
22,009

 
$
23,123

 
$
31,613

 
$
39,146

 
$
53,249

 
$
72,724

 
$
100,425

International Other Net Revenue
 
$
5,709

 
$
5,076

 
$
4,622

 
$
4,159

 
$
2,281

 
$
1,006

 
$
1,000

 
$
32

International Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
(8,393
)
 
$
(12,052
)
 
$
(11,370
)
 
$
(15,099
)
 
$
(19,921
)
 
$
(21,937
)
 
$
(22,992
)
 
$
(24,018
)
Direct Retail Financial and Operating Metrics
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Direct Retail Net Revenue
 
$
369,395

 
$
440,297

 
$
544,971

 
$
685,575

 
$
711,846

 
$
755,657

 
$
832,398

 
$
959,008

Active Customers
 
3,597

 
4,044

 
4,591

 
5,360

 
6,074

 
6,672

 
7,362

 
8,250

LTM Net Revenue Per Active Customer
 
$
346

 
$
357

 
$
371

 
$
381

 
$
392

 
$
404

 
$
406

 
$
395

Orders Delivered
 
1,797

 
1,959

 
2,323

 
3,091

 
2,996

 
2,930

 
3,417

 
4,722

Average Order Value
 
$
206

 
$
225

 
$
235

 
$
222

 
$
238

 
$
258

 
$
244

 
$
203


45

The following table reflects the reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
 
Three months ended
 
 
March 31,
2015
 
June 30,
2015
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2015
 
March 31,
2016
 
June 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2016
 
December 31,
2016
Net loss
 
$
(27,136
)
 
$
(19,334
)
 
$
(15,478
)
 
$
(15,495
)
 
$
(41,205
)
 
$
(48,274
)
 
$
(60,940
)
 
$
(43,956
)
Depreciation and amortization
 
6,744

 
7,400

 
9,207

 
9,095

 
10,487

 
12,578

 
15,463

 
17,044

Equity based compensation and related taxes
 
8,162

 
7,101

 
7,985

 
9,727

 
10,662

 
11,295

 
15,308

 
14,688

Interest (income) expense, net
 
(264
)
 
(308
)
 
(325
)
 
(387
)
 
(552
)
 
(531
)
 
292

 
97

Other expense (income), net
 
108

 
96

 
(2,746
)
 
(176
)
 
(669
)
 
(246
)
 
(889
)
 
48

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
 
46

 
73

 
(88
)
 
64

 
317

 
321

 
(83
)
 
53

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
(12,340
)
 
$
(4,972
)
 
$
(1,445
)
 
$
2,828

 
$
(20,960
)
 
$
(24,857
)
 
$
(30,849
)
 
$
(12,026
)
The following table presents a reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
 
Three months ended
 
 
March 31,
2015
 
June 30,
2015
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2015
 
March 31,
2016
 
June 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2016
 
December 31,
2016
Net cash provided by operating activities, net of acquisition
 
$
(35,202
)
 
$
28,453

 
$
51,504

 
$
90,366

 
$
(51,204
)
 
$
24,903

 
$
15,621

 
$
73,494

Purchase of property, equipment, and leasehold improvements
 
(12,051
)
 
(13,153
)
 
(11,491
)
 
(7,953
)
 
(23,927
)
 
(37,509
)
 
(20,408
)
 
(14,863
)
Site and software development costs
 
(4,115
)
 
(4,311
)
 
(4,681
)
 
(4,429
)
 
(5,451
)
 
(6,812
)
 
(9,181
)
 
(9,935
)
Free cash flow
 
$
(51,368
)
 
$
10,989

 
$
35,332

 
$
77,984

 
$
(80,582
)
 
$
(19,418
)
 
$
(13,968
)
 
$
48,696



46

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
279,840

 
$
334,176

Short-term investments
 
$
68,743

 
$
51,895

Accounts receivable, net
 
$
19,113

 
$
9,906

Long-term investments
 
$
30,967

 
$
79,883

Working capital
 
$
(80,129
)
 
$
95,297

Historical Cash Flows
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(in thousands)
Net loss
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(148,098
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
62,814

 
$
135,121

 
$
4,125

Net cash used in investing activities
 
$
(95,880
)
 
$
(137,728
)
 
$
(55,435
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
 
$
(20,883
)
 
$
(18,616
)
 
$
341,150

Since our inception, we have financed our operations, capital expenditures and acquisitions primarily through cash flows generated by operations and, since 2011, also through private sales of convertible redeemable preferred stock and sales of common stock in connection with our IPO. Since inception through December 31, 2016, we have raised a total of approximately $646.0 million from the sale of preferred stock and common stock, net of costs and expenses associated with such financings, or approximately $453.8 million, net of repurchases of our securities and dividends paid to Series A redeemable convertible preferred stockholders.
 On October 7, 2014, we completed our IPO of 12,650,000 shares of our Class A common stock at a public offering price of $29.00 per share, of which 10,500,000 shares were sold by us and 2,150,000 shares were sold by selling stockholders, including 1,650,000 shares pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately $282.9 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. We used these proceeds to distribute $24.5 million of cash to our Series A redeemable convertible preferred stockholders and pay $22.6 million in minimum tax withholding obligations on the vesting of our restricted stock units upon the closing of our initial public offering.
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and investments, together with cash generated from operations, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the foreseeable future. However, our liquidity assumptions may prove to be incorrect, and we could exhaust our available financial resources sooner than we currently expect. In addition, we may elect to raise additional funds at any time through equity, equity linked or debt financing arrangements. Capital expenditures were 3.8% of net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016, and related primarily to putting a new data center online, our ongoing investments in our technology infrastructure, and equipment purchases and improvements for leased warehouses within our expanding supply chain network. We expect capital expenditures to be approximately 4.0 - 5.0% of net revenue for the first half of 2017, as we continue to build out our technology infrastructure and logistics network, including our CastleGate warehouses. In the second half of 2017, we expect capital expenditures to be lower than the first half of 2017 as a percentage of net revenue, with the full year capital expenditures expected to be approximately 3.0% of net revenue. Our future capital requirements and the adequacy of available funds will depend on many factors, including those described herein and in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors. We may not be able to secure additional financing to meet our operating requirements on acceptable terms, or at all.


47

Operating Activities
Cash provided by operating activities consisted of net loss adjusted for certain non-cash items including depreciation and amortization, equity-based compensation, and certain other non-cash expenses, as well as the effect of changes in working capital and other activities.
Cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2016 was $62.8 million and was driven primarily by cash provided by operating assets and liabilities of $151.9 million, certain non-cash items including depreciation and amortization expense of $55.6 million, equity based compensation of $49.4 million, and other non-cash items of $0.3 million, partially offset by net loss of $194.4 million. Operating cash flows can be volatile and are sensitive to many factors, including changes in working capital and our net loss.
Cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2015 was $135.1 million and was driven primarily by cash provided by operating assets and liabilities of $149.1 million, certain non-cash items including depreciation and amortization expense of $32.4 million, equity based compensation of $31.0 million, and other non-cash items of $3.0 million, partially offset by net loss of $77.4 million and gain on sale of our Australian business of $3.0 million. Operating cash flows can be volatile and are sensitive to many factors, including changes in working capital and our net loss.
Cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2014 was $4.1 million and was driven primarily by net loss of $148.1 million, adjusted for certain non-cash items including depreciation and amortization expense of $22.0 million, equity based compensation of $60.8 million and other non-cash items of $0.6 million and cash provided by operating assets and liabilities of $68.8 million. Operating cash flows can be volatile and are sensitive to many factors, including changes in working capital and our net loss.
Investing Activities
Our primary investing activities consisted of purchases of property and equipment, particularly purchases of servers and networking equipment, investment in our sites and software development, purchases and disposal of short-term and long-term investments, and leasehold improvements for our facilities.
Cash used in investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2016 was $95.9 million and was primarily driven by purchases of property and equipment of $96.7 million, purchases of short-term and long-term investments of $88.1 million, site and software development costs of $31.4 million, and other net investing activities of $1.0 million, partially offset by sale and maturities of short-term investments of $119.8 million and cash received from the sale of a business (net of cash sold) of $1.5 million.
Cash used in investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2015 was $137.7 million and was primarily driven by purchases of short-term and long-term investments of $207.3 million, property and equipment of purchases of property and equipment of $44.6 million, site and software development costs of $17.5 million, other net investing activities of $4.8 million, partially offset by sale and maturities of short-term investments of $133.6 million and cash received from the sale of a business (net of cash sold) of $2.9 million.
Cash used in investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2014 was $55.4 million and was primarily driven by net purchases of short-term investments of $10.0 million, purchases of property and equipment of $31.9 million, site and software development costs of $14.1 million partially offset by net decrease in restricted cash of $0.5 million.

48

Financing Activities
Cash used in financing activities in the year ended December 31, 2016 was $20.9 million and was primarily due to statutory minimum taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards of $21.1 million, partially offset by net proceeds from exercise of stock options of $0.2 million. During 2016, we began requiring employees to sell a portion of the shares that they receive upon the vesting of RSUs in order to cover any required withholding taxes, rather than our policy of allowing employees to forfeit shares to us to settle the withholding taxes. This requirement will continue to be phased in over the course of 2017, which we expect will materially reduce cash used in financing activities related to taxes paid for net share settlement of equity awards in future periods.
Cash used in financing activities in the year ended December 31, 2015 was $18.6 million and was primarily due to statutory minimum taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards of $19.1 million, partially offset by net proceeds from exercise of stock options of $0.5 million.
Cash provided by financing activities in the year ended December 31, 2014 was $341.2 million and was primarily due to net proceeds from the IPO of $282.9 million, issuance of Series B convertible redeemable preferred units of $154.8 million partially offset by the dividend distribution to our Series A preferred unit holders of $39.5 million, the repurchase of our securities and our 2014 tender offer of $29.0 million and statutory minimum taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards of $28.0 million.
Credit Agreement
For information regarding our credit agreement, see Part II, Item 9B, Other Information as well as Note 13, Credit Agreement, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, Consolidated Financial Statements, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not engage in any off-balance sheet activities. We do not have any off-balance sheet interest in variable interest entities, which include special purpose entities and other structured finance entities.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2016:
 
Payment Due by Period
 
 
 
Less than
1 year
 
1 - 3
Years
 
3 - 5
Years
 
More than
5 Years
 
Total
Lease Obligations
$
47,721

 
$
114,186

 
$
112,586

 
$
294,165

 
$
568,658

We lease office space under non-cancelable leases. These leases expire at various dates through 2027 and include discounted rental periods and fixed escalation clauses, which are amortized straight-line over the terms of the lease. We recognize rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease periods. For information regarding our lease obligations, see Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, Consolidated Financial Statements, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. The preparation of our financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, net revenue, costs and expenses and related disclosures. We believe that the estimates, assumptions and judgments involved in the accounting policies described below have the greatest potential impact on our financial statements and, therefore, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies. Accordingly, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, Consolidated Financial Statements, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information about these critical accounting policies, as well as a description of our other significant accounting policies.

49

Revenue Recognition
We generate net revenue through product sales generated primarily through our five distinct sites and through sites operated by third parties.
We recognize revenue for product sales generated through our five distinct sites and through sites operated by third parties only when the following four criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred; (3) the selling price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. We recognize net revenue from sales of our products upon delivery to the customer. As we ship a large volume of packages through multiple carriers, actual delivery dates may not always be available and as such we estimate delivery dates based on historical data. We record product revenue at the gross amount as we are the primary obligor with the customer and provide the primary customer service for all products sold, have latitude in establishing price and selecting products sold, have discretion in selecting suppliers of products sold, maintain inventory risk from shipment through delivery date and upon accepting returns, and have credit risk. Net revenue includes shipping costs charged to the customer and are recorded net of taxes collected from customers, which are remitted to governmental authorities. Cash discounts, returns and rebates are deducted from gross revenue in determining net revenue. In addition, we defer revenue when cash is collected from our customer prior to the satisfaction of the revenue recognition criteria.
We maintain a membership rewards program for purchases made with our private label credit card, a Wayfair-branded credit card that can only be used at our five U.S. sites. Enrolled customers earn points that may be redeemed for future purchases. We defer a portion of our revenue associated with rewards that are ultimately expected to be redeemed.
We also earn revenue through third-party advertisers that pay based on the number of advertisement related clicks, actions, or impressions for ads placed on our sites. Revenue earned under these arrangements is included in net revenue and is recognized in the period in which the click, action, or impression occurs.
Site and Software Development Costs
We capitalize certain external costs and internal labor-related costs, including equity based compensation, associated with the development of our sites and internal-use software products after the preliminary project stage is complete and until the software is ready for its intended use. Costs incurred after the software is ready for use are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Abandoned projects previously capitalized are charged to operating expenses in the period of abandonment. The Company expenses costs to manage, monitor, and operate the Company's sites, except upgrade and enhancements that provide additional functionality, which are capitalized. Capitalized software costs are included in "Property and equipment, net" in our consolidated balance sheets and are amortized over a two-year period.
Leases
We generally lease office and warehouse facilities under non-cancelable, operating lease agreements. We establish assets and liabilities for the estimated construction costs incurred under certain lease arrangements where we are considered the owner for accounting purposes only, or build-to-suit leases, to the extent we are involved in the construction of structural improvements or take construction risk prior to commencement of a lease. Upon occupancy of facilities under build-to-suit leases, we assess whether these arrangements qualify for sales recognition under the sale-leaseback accounting guidance. If we continue to be the deemed owner, the facilities are accounted for as financing leases.
If we do not meet the sale-leaseback criteria for derecognition of the building asset and liability, the financing obligation and corresponding building asset are recorded in "Lease financing obligation" and "Property and equipment, net", respectively, within our consolidated balance sheets. The monthly rent payments made to the lessor under the lease agreement are recorded in our financial statements as land lease expense and principal and interest on the financing obligation. Interest expense on the lease financing obligation reflects the portion of the Company's monthly lease payments that is allocated to interest expense and is recorded in Interest income, net in our consolidated statements of operations. The building asset is depreciated over its useful life during the lease period.

50

Stock-Based Compensation
We account for equity-based compensation awards in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). ASC 718 requires all equity-based payments to employees, to be recognized as expense in the statements of operations based on their grant date fair values. The Company has granted stock options, restricted shares and restricted stock units. Since April 2011, the Company has only granted restricted stock units and has not granted any stock options or restricted stock. Restricted stock unit values are determined based on the quoted market price of our Class A common stock on the date of grant. The Company accounts for equity awards to non-employees in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") ASC Topic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees, which requires the fair value of an award to non-employees be remeasured at fair value as the award vests.
Inventory
Inventories consisting of finished goods are stated at the lower of cost or market, determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, and consist of merchandise for resale. This valuation requires us to make judgments based on currently-available information about the likely method of disposition, such as through sales to individual customers, liquidations, and expected recoverable values of each disposition category.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For information about recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, included in Part II, Item 8, Consolidated Financial Statements, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
We have operations both within the U.S. and internationally, and we are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business, including the effects of foreign currency fluctuations, interest rate changes and inflation. Information relating to quantitative and qualitative disclosures about these market risks is set forth below.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments were held primarily in cash deposits, certificates of deposit, money market funds, and corporate debt. The fair value of our cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments would not be significantly affected by either an increase or decrease in interest rates due mainly to the short-term nature of these instruments. Interest on the revolving line of credit incurred pursuant to the credit agreement described herein would accrue at a floating rate based on a formula tied to certain market rates at the time of incurrence; however, we do not expect that any change in prevailing interest rates will have a material impact on our results of operations.
Foreign Currency Risk
Most of our sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, and therefore, our revenue is not currently subject to significant foreign currency risk. Our operating expenses are denominated in the currencies of the countries in which our operations are located or in which net revenue is generated, and may be subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly changes in the British Pound, Euro, and Canadian Dollar. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may cause us to recognize transaction gains and losses in our statement of operations. To date, foreign currency transaction gains and losses have not been material to our financial statements, and we have not engaged in any foreign currency hedging transactions.
Inflation
We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We continue to monitor the impact of inflation in order to minimize its effects through pricing strategies, productivity improvements and cost reductions. If our costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases. Our inability or failure to do so could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

51

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

52

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Wayfair Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Wayfair Inc. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Wayfair Inc. at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Wayfair Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 28, 2017, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 28, 2017



53

WAYFAIR INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Assets
 
 

 
 

Current assets
 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
279,840

 
$
334,176

Short-term investments
 
68,743

 
51,895

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,115 and $2,767 at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively
 
19,113

 
9,906

Inventories
 
18,550

 
19,900

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
90,845

 
76,446

Total current assets
 
477,091

 
492,323

Property and equipment, net
 
239,354

 
112,325

Goodwill and intangible assets, net
 
4,230

 
3,702

Long-term investments
 
30,967

 
79,883

Other noncurrent assets
 
10,041

 
6,348

Total assets
 
$
761,683

 
$
694,581

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 

 
 

Current liabilities
 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
 
$
379,493

 
$
270,913

Accrued expenses
 
67,807

 
51,560

Deferred revenue
 
65,892

 
50,884

Other current liabilities
 
44,028

 
23,669

Total current liabilities
 
557,220

 
397,026

Lease financing obligation
 
28,900

 
—

Other liabilities
 
96,179

 
55,010

Total liabilities
 
682,299

 
452,036

Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
 


 


Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share: 10,000,000 shares authorized and none issued at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015
 
—

 
—

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 

 
 

Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 49,945,202 and 45,814,237 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively
 
50

 
46

Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share, 164,000,000 shares authorized, 35,885,692 and 38,496,562 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively
 
36

 
38

Additional paid-in capital
 
409,225

 
378,162

Accumulated deficit
 
(329,940
)
 
(135,565
)
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)
 
13

 
(136
)
Total stockholders' equity
 
79,384


242,545

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
761,683


$
694,581


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.


54

WAYFAIR INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net revenue
 
$
3,380,360

 
$
2,249,885

 
$
1,318,951

Cost of goods sold
 
2,572,549

 
1,709,161

 
1,007,853

Gross profit
 
807,811

 
540,724

 
311,098

Operating expenses:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Customer service and merchant fees
 
127,883

 
81,230

 
55,804

Advertising
 
409,125

 
278,224

 
191,284

Merchandising, marketing and sales
 
177,535

 
106,149

 
80,113

Operations, technology, general and administrative
 
289,485

 
156,471

 
131,681

Total operating expenses
 
1,004,028

 
622,074

 
458,882

Loss from operations
 
(196,217
)

(81,350
)

(147,784
)
Interest income, net
 
694

 
1,284

 
350

Other income (expense), net
 
1,756

 
2,718

 
(489
)
Loss before income taxes
 
(193,767
)
 
(77,348
)
 
(147,923
)
Provision for income taxes
 
608

 
95

 
175

Net loss
 
(194,375
)
 
(77,443
)
 
(148,098
)
Accretion of convertible redeemable preferred units
 
—

 
—

 
(2,071
)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(150,169
)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders per share, basic and diluted
 
$
(2.29
)

$
(0.92
)

$
(2.97
)
Weighted average number of common stock outstanding used in computing per share amounts, basic and diluted
 
84,977

 
83,726

 
50,642


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.


55

WAYFAIR INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands)
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net loss
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(148,098
)
Other comprehensive loss:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
(102
)
 
532

 
(38
)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments
 
251

 
(302
)
 
—

Comprehensive loss
 
$
(194,226
)

$
(77,213
)

$
(148,136
)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.



56

WAYFAIR INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(In thousands)
 
 
Series A
Convertible
Redeemable
Preferred
Units
 
Series A
Convertible
Redeemable
Members'
Equity
 
Series B
Convertible
Redeemable
Preferred
Units
 
Series B
Convertible
Redeemable
Members'
Equity
 
 
 
Class A and Class B Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common
Units
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Total
Stockholders'
(Deficit) Equity
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
21,552

 
$
241,186

 
—

 
$
—

 
44,904

 
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(190,850
)
 
$
(328
)
 
$
(191,178
)
Net loss
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(148,098
)
 
—

 
(148,098
)
Cumulative translation adjustment
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(38
)
 
(38
)
Issuance of Series B convertible redeemable preferred units, net of issuance costs
 
—

 
—

 
5,995

 
154,774

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Accretion of convertible redeemable preferred units
 
—

 
14,417

 
—

 
2,455

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(16,872
)
 
—

 
(16,872
)
Reduction of carrying value of convertible redeemable preferred stock
 
—

 
(14,801
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
14,801

 
—

 
14,801

Conversion of convertible redeemable preferred stock to common stock
 
(21,552
)
 
(201,286
)
 
(5,995
)
 
(157,229
)
 
—

 
27,547

 
28

 
358,487

 
—

 
—

 
358,515

Conversion from LLC to Corporation
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(44,904
)
 
44,904

 
44

 
(306,229
)
 
306,185

 
—

 
—

Issuance of Class A common stock—net of issuance costs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
10,500

 
10

 
282,883

 
—

 
—

 
282,893

Forfeiture of unvested units
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(104
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Repurchase of vested common units
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(203
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Dividends paid to Series A convertible redeemable preferred unitholders
 
—

 
(39,516
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Exercise of options to purchase common stock
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
157

 
—

 
12

 
—

 
—

 
12

Issuance of common stock upon vesting of RSUs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,199

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2

Shares withheld related to net settlement of RSUs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(918
)
 
(1
)
 
(27,985
)
 
—

 
—

 
(27,986
)
Repurchase of common units
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(896
)
 
—

 
—

 
(23,500
)
 
—

 
(23,500
)
Return of equity held in escrow as part of acquisition
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4
)
 
—

 
—

 
(49
)
 
—

 
(49
)
Equity compensation expense
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
56,776

 
261

 
—

 
57,037

Balance at December 31, 2014
 
—


—


—


—


—


83,182


83


363,944


(58,122
)

(366
)
 
305,539

Net loss
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(77,443
)
 
—

 
(77,443
)
Other comprehensive income
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
230

 
230

Exercise of options to purchase common stock
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
164

 
—

 
495

 
—

 
—

 
495

Issuance of common stock upon vesting of RSUs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,515

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

Shares withheld related to net settlement of RSUs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(550
)
 
—

 
(19,111
)
 
—

 
—

 
(19,111
)
Equity compensation expense
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
32,834

 
—

 
—

 
32,834

Balance at December 31, 2015
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
84,311

 
84

 
378,162

 
(135,565
)
 
(136
)
 
242,545

Net loss
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(194,375
)
 
—

 
(194,375
)
Other comprehensive income
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
149

 
149

Exercise of options to purchase common stock
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
70

 
1

 
208

 
—

 
—

 
209

Issuance of common stock upon vesting of RSUs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,963

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2

Shares withheld related to net settlement of RSUs
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(525
)
 
(1
)
 
(21,091
)
 
—

 
—

 
(21,092
)
Equity compensation expense
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
51,494

 
—

 
—

 
51,494

Acquisition of a business
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
12

 
—

 
452

 
—

 
—

 
452

Balance at December 31, 2016
 
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
85,831

 
$
86

 
$
409,225

 
$
(329,940
)
 
$
13

 
$
79,384


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

57

WAYFAIR INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net loss
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(148,098
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
 
 

 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
 
55,572

 
32,446

 
22,003

Equity based compensation
 
49,402

 
31,015

 
60,809

Gain on sale of a business
 
—

 
(2,997
)
 
—

Other non-cash adjustments
 
331

 
3,027

 
570

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 


 
 
 


Accounts receivable
 
(9,217
)
 
(4,033
)
 
1,741

Inventories
 
1,351

 
(131
)
 
(4,835
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
(16,179
)
 
(29,513
)
 
(20,143
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
126,013

 
135,855

 
59,521

Deferred revenue and other liabilities
 
51,914

 
47,031

 
32,616

Other assets
 
(1,998
)
 
(136
)
 
(59
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
62,814

 
135,121

 
4,125

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase of short-term and long-term investments
 
(88,112
)
 
(207,303
)
 
(135,000
)
Sale and maturities of short-term investments
 
119,810

 
133,596

 
125,019

Purchase of property and equipment
 
(96,707
)
 
(44,648
)
 
(31,855
)
Site and software development costs
 
(31,379
)
 
(17,536
)
 
(14,130
)
Cash received from the sale of a business (net of cash sold)
 
1,508

 
2,860

 
—

Other investing activities, net
 
(1,000
)
 
(4,697
)
 
531

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(95,880
)
 
(137,728
)
 
(55,435
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards
 
(21,092
)
 
(19,111
)
 
(27,985
)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options
 
209

 
495

 
12

Net proceeds from issuance of Series B convertible redeemable preferred units
 
—

 
—

 
154,774

Repurchase of common units
 
—

 
—

 
(23,500
)
Dividends paid to Series A convertible redeemable preferred holders
 
—

 
—

 
(39,516
)
Repurchase of employee equity
 
—

 
—

 
(5,528
)
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of fees
 
—

 
—

 
282,893

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
 
(20,883
)
 
(18,616
)
 
341,150

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
(387
)
 
(460
)
 
730

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
(54,336
)
 
(21,683
)
 
290,570

Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of year
 
334,176

 
355,859

 
65,289

End of year
 
$
279,840


$
334,176


$
355,859

 
 


 


 


Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities
 


 


 


Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses and in other liabilities
 
$
1,336

 
$
5,258

 
$
7,567

Construction costs capitalized under finance lease obligation and other leases
 
$
53,894

 
$
27,295

 
$
3,960

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities
 


 


 


Accretion of preferred unit dividends
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
2,071


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

58

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Basis of Presentation
Wayfair Inc. (the "Company") is one of the world's largest online destinations for the home. Through it's e-commerce business model, the Company offers visually inspired browsing, compelling merchandising, easy product discovery and attractive prices for over eight million products from over 10,000 suppliers.
The consolidated financial statements and other disclosures contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are those of the Company. The Company was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on August 8, 2014. Prior to the effectiveness of Wayfair Inc.'s registration statement on Form S-1 related to its initial public offering ("IPO") in October 2014, Wayfair LLC was the principal operating entity. In connection with the IPO of the Company, Wayfair LLC completed a corporate reorganization pursuant to which Wayfair LLC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and the holders of equity interests in Wayfair LLC became stockholders of the Company. The Company accounted for this corporate reorganization in accordance with the guidance provided for entities under common ownership because the holders of the equity interests in Wayfair LLC held the same ownership interests in Wayfair Inc. as they did in Wayfair LLC immediately prior to the corporate reorganization. SK Retail, Inc. was the only holder of equity interest in Wayfair LLC with operations. Accordingly, the historical financial statements of SK Retail, Inc. have been combined with the historical financial statements of Wayfair LLC for the periods presented. In addition, all of the outstanding common units of Wayfair LLC were exchanged for, and all of the incentive units converted into, shares of Class B common stock. In addition, all of the outstanding preferred units were exchanged for shares of Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock. Immediately prior to the completion of the IPO, all of the outstanding shares of Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock converted into shares of Class B common stock. In connection with this the Company also reclassified members' deficit of $306.2 million, accumulated under Wayfair LLC, to additional paid in capital.
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation, including combining "Amortization of acquired intangible assets" into "Operations, technology, general and administrative" on the consolidated statements of operations and modifying the segment financial information in Note 11, Segment and Geographic Information, to breakout the Company's reportable segments into U.S. and International.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Wayfair Inc. include its wholly owned subsidiaries including the accounts of Wayfair LLC and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively the "Company" or "Wayfair"). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Below is a summary of the wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company with operations:
Subsidiary
 
Location
Wayfair LLC
 
U.S.
Wayfair Securities Corporation
 
U.S.
SK Retail, Inc. 
 
U.S.
CastleGate Logistics Inc.
 
U.S.
Wayfair Maine LLC
 
U.S.
Wayfair Stores Limited
 
Republic of Ireland
Wayfair (UK) Limited
 
United Kingdom
Wayfair GmbH
 
Germany
Wayfair (BVI) Ltd. 
 
British Virgin Islands
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, capitalization of site and software development costs, stock-based compensation, and inventory. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

59

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity (at the date of purchase) of three months or less to be the equivalent of cash for the purpose of consolidated balance sheets and statements of cash flows presentation. Cash equivalents, which consist primarily of money market accounts, are carried at cost, which approximates market value.
Restricted Cash
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, there was $5.0 million, of cash that was restricted from withdrawal and held by banks to guarantee the Company's letters of credit issued principally for certain vendor arrangements.
Short-Term Investments
Short-term investments consist of certificates of deposits and marketable securities with original maturities of greater than three months and mature in less than twelve months.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are stated at the amount management expects to collect from outstanding balances. The Company estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical losses, existing economic conditions, and other information available at the consolidated balance sheets dates. Uncollectible amounts are written off against the allowance after all collection efforts have been exhausted.
Marketable Securities
The Company classifies its marketable securities as "available-for-sale" securities. Available-for-sale securities are classified as short term investments and long-term investments on the consolidated balance sheets and are carried at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities that are considered temporary are recorded, net of taxes, in the "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" caption of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized losses, excluding losses related to the credit rating of the security (credit losses), on available-for-sale securities that are considered other-than-temporary but relate to securities that the Company (i) does not intend to sell and (ii) will not be required to sell below cost are also recorded, net of taxes, in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss." Further, the Company does not believe it will be required to sell such securities below cost. Therefore, the only other-than-temporary losses the Company records in "Other income, net" in its consolidated statements of operations are related to credit losses. As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s available-for-sale securities consisted of investment securities. The maturities of the Company’s long-term marketable securities generally range from one to three years. As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s available-for-sale securities primarily consisted of corporate bonds and other government obligations that are priced at fair value. The cost basis of a marketable security sold is determined by the Company using the specific identification method.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company's financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
•
Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
•
Level 2—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full-term of the asset or liability
•
Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the asset or liability

60

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. The Company measures its cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments at fair value. The Company classifies its cash equivalents and restricted cash within Level 1 because the Company values these investments using quoted market prices. The fair value of the Company's Level 1 financial assets is based on quoted market prices of the identical underlying security. The Company classifies short-term and long-term investments within Level 2 because unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets are not active. The Company does not have any assets or liabilities classified as Level 3 financial assets. Refer to Note 3, Fair Value Measurements, for additional detail.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments, and accounts receivable. The risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments is minimized by the Company's policy of investing in financial instruments (i.e., cash equivalents) with near-term maturities issued by highly rated financial institutions. At times, these balances may exceed federally insured limits; however, to date, the Company has not incurred any losses on these investments. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had $7.0 million and $3.9 million, respectively, in banks located outside the U.S. The risk with respect to accounts receivable is managed by the Company through its policy of monitoring the creditworthiness of its customers to which it grants credit terms in the normal course of business.
Leases
The Company leases office space in several countries around the world under non-cancelable lease agreements. The Company generally leases its office facilities under operating lease agreements. Office facilities subject to an operating lease and the related lease payments are not recorded on the balance sheet. The terms of certain lease agreements provide for rental payments on a graduated basis, however, the Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease period in accordance with authoritative accounting guidance. Any lease incentives are recognized as reductions of rental expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The lease term begins on the date the Company becomes legally obligated for the rent payments or when it takes possession of the office space, whichever is earlier.
The Company establishes assets and liabilities for the estimated construction costs incurred under lease arrangements where the Company is considered the owner for accounting purposes only, or build-to-suit leases, to the extent the Company is involved in the construction of structural improvements or take construction risk prior to commencement of a lease. Upon occupancy of facilities under build-to-suit leases, the Company assesses whether these arrangements qualify for sales recognition under the sale-leaseback accounting guidance. If the Company continues to be the deemed owner, the facilities are accounted for as financing leases. Refer to Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, for additional detail.
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar, while the functional currency of certain wholly-owned subsidiaries outside of the U.S. is as follows:
Subsidiary
 
Currency
Wayfair Stores Limited
 
Euro
Wayfair (UK) Limited
 
Pound sterling
Wayfair GmbH
 
Euro
Wayfair (BVI) Ltd. 
 
Euro
The financial statements of the Company are translated to U.S. dollars using year-end exchange rates as to assets and liabilities and average exchange rates as to revenue and expenses. Capital accounts are translated at their historical exchange rates when the capital transaction occurred. The effects of foreign currency translation are included in other comprehensive loss in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Transaction gains and losses are included in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Translation adjustments arising from the use of differing exchange rates from period to period are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss within total stockholders' equity.

61

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


Inventories
Inventories consisting of finished goods are stated at the lower of cost or market, determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, and consist of product for resale. Inventory costs consist of cost of product and inbound shipping and handling costs. Inventory costs also include direct and indirect labor costs, rents and depreciation expenses associated with the Company's fulfillment centers. Inventory valuation requires the Company to make judgments, based on currently-available information, about the likely method of disposition, such as through sales to individual customers, liquidations, and expected recoverable values of each disposition category.
Goods In-Transit
Goods in-transit directly from suppliers to customers are recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets. Risk of loss and the transfer of title from the supplier to the Company occur at freight on board shipping point. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, goods in-transit amounted to $34.3 million, and $34.1 million, respectively.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization on property and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Class
 
Range of Life
(In Years)
Furniture and computer equipment
 
3 to 7
Site and software development costs
 
2
Leasehold improvements
 
The lesser of useful life or lease term
Building (leased - Note 7)
 
30
Site and Software Development Costs
The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with the development of its sites and internal-use software products after the preliminary project stage is complete and until the software is ready for its intended use. The capitalized costs are amortized over a two-year period. Costs incurred in the preliminary stages of development, after the software is ready for its intended use and for maintenance of internal-use software are expensed as incurred. Upgrade and enhancements are capitalized to the extent they will result in added functionality.
Total costs capitalized, net of accumulated amortization, totaled $30.0 million and $18.1 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and are included in property and equipment, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $21.6 million, $15.3 million, and $9.9 million, respectively. Capitalized site and software development costs are included in property and equipment within our consolidated balance sheets.
Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances, such as service discontinuance or technological obsolescence, indicate that the carrying amount of the long-lived asset may not be recoverable. When such events occur, the Company compares the carrying amount of the asset to the undiscounted expected future cash flows related to the asset. If the comparison indicates that an impairment exists, the amount of the impairment is calculated as the difference between the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the asset. If a readily determinable market price does not exist, fair value is estimated using discounted expected cash flows attributable to the asset. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, no impairment of long-lived assets or identifiable intangibles had been indicated.
Contingent Liabilities
The Company has certain contingent liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of business activities. The Company accrues for loss contingencies when losses become probable and are reasonably estimable. If the reasonable estimate of the loss is a range and no amount within the range is a better estimate, the minimum amount of the range is recorded as a liability. The Company does not accrue for contingent losses that, in its judgment, are considered to be reasonably possible, but not probable; however, it discloses the range of such reasonably possible losses.

62

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


Revenue Recognition
The Company generates net revenue through product sales generated primarily through the Company's five distinct sites and through sites operated by third parties.
The Company recognizes revenue for product sales generated through the Company's five distinct sites and through sites operated by third parties only when the following four criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred; (3) the selling price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. The Company recognizes net revenue from sales of its products upon delivery to the customer. As the Company ships a large volume of packages through multiple carriers, actual delivery dates may not always be available and as such the Company estimates delivery dates based on historical data. The Company records product revenue at the gross amount as the Company is the primary obligor with the customer and provides the primary customer service for all products sold, has latitude in establishing price and selecting products sold, has discretion in selecting suppliers of products sold, maintains inventory risk from shipment through delivery date and upon accepting returns, and has credit risk. Net revenue includes shipping costs charged to the customer and is recorded net of taxes collected from customers, which are remitted to governmental authorities. Cash discounts, returns and rebates are deducted from gross revenue in determining net revenue. In addition, the Company defers revenue when cash is collected from its customer prior to the satisfaction of the revenue recognition criteria.
The Company maintains a membership rewards program for purchases made with the Company's private label credit card, a Wayfair-branded credit card that can only be used at the Company's five U.S. sites. Enrolled customers earn points that may be redeemed for future purchases. The Company defers a portion of its revenue associated with rewards that are ultimately expected to be redeemed.
The Company also earns revenue through third-party advertisers that pay based on the number of advertisement related clicks, actions, or impressions for advertisements placed on the Company's sites. Revenue earned under these arrangements is included in net revenue and is recognized in the period in which the click, action, or impression occurs.
Vendor Rebates
The Company earns rebates on incentive programs with its suppliers. These rebates are earned upon shipment of goods. Amounts earned and due from suppliers under these rebate programs are included in other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets and are reflected as a reduction of cost of goods sold on the consolidated statements of operations. Vendor allowances received by the Company reduce the carrying cost of inventory and are recognized in cost of goods sold when the related inventory is sold.
Costs of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold consists of the cost of product sold to customers, shipping and handling costs and shipping supplies and fulfillment costs. Fulfillment costs include costs incurred in operating and staffing the fulfillment centers, such as costs attributed to receiving, inspecting, picking, packaging and preparing customer orders for shipment. Cost of goods sold also includes direct and indirect labor costs, including equity-based compensation, for fulfillment center oversight, including payroll and related benefit costs. The Company also performs logistics services for suppliers through its CastleGate solution, which are earned upon completion of preparing customer orders for shipment and are reflected as a reduction of cost of goods sold on the consolidated statements of operations.
Advertising Costs
Advertising consists of direct response performance marketing costs, such as display advertising, paid search advertising, social media advertising, search engine optimization, comparison shopping engine advertising, television advertising, direct mail, catalog and print advertising. Expenditures for advertising are expensed in the period that the advertising first takes place. Advertising expense amounted to approximately $409.1 million, $278.2 million, and $191.3 million in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Included in prepaid expenses at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are approximately $0.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of prepaid advertising costs.
Merchant Processing Fees
Merchant processing fees totaling $66.0 million, $46.9 million, and $27.6 million in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, are included in customer service and merchant fees expense in the consolidated statements of operations. These fees are charged by third parties that provide merchant processing services for customer payments made by credit cards and debit cards.

63

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


Retail Partner Fees
The Company sells its products through sites owned and operated by third-party online retailers, or retail partners. The Company pays a fee for sales generated through these sites and records them as merchant processing fees and advertising costs. Retail partner fees included in merchant processing fees are $1.9 million, $3.5 million, and $4.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Retail partner fees included in advertising costs are $11.0 million, $20.2 million, and $24.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
Equity-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for its equity-based compensation awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). ASC 718 requires all equity-based payments to employees, to be recognized as expense in the statements of operations based on their grant date fair values. The Company has granted stock options, restricted shares and restricted stock units. The Company has primarily granted restricted stock units, and to a lesser extent, restricted stock since its IPO in October 2014. However, the Company has not granted any stock options since April 2011. Restricted stock values are determined based on the quoted market price of our Class A common stock on the date of grant. The Company accounts for equity awards to non-employees in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees, which requires the fair value of an award to non-employees be remeasured at fair value as the award vests.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records valuation allowances to reduce deferred income tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination. If it is not more likely than not that a position will be sustained, no amount of benefit attributable to the position is recognized. The tax benefit to be recognized of any tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is calculated as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon resolution of the contingency.
Prior to the IPO, the Company's main operating entity had not been subject to U.S. federal income taxes as it was organized as a limited liability company. As such, the taxable income or loss was passed through to and included in the tax returns of the members. The Company was subject to entity level taxation in certain states, and certain domestic and foreign subsidiaries were subject to entity level U.S. and foreign income taxes. As a result of the corporate reorganization prior to the IPO, the Company's income has since been subject to U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign income taxes and taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates.
Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders Per Share
The Company follows the two-class method when computing net loss attributable to common stockholders per share as the Company had issued shares that meet the definition of participating securities which converted to common stock upon the IPO. Prior to the corporate reorganization, the Company's convertible redeemable preferred units contractually entitled the holders of such units to participate in dividends, but did not contractually require the holders of such units to participate in losses of the Company. Accordingly, in periods prior to 2014 in which the Company reports a net loss or a net loss attributable to common stockholders resulting from preferred stock dividends or accretion, net losses are not allocated to participating securities. After the IPO the Company has continued to follow the two-class method because it has issued two classes of common stock—Class A and Class B.
Basic net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common stock outstanding for the period. For periods in which the Company has reported net losses, diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders is the same as basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, since dilutive common stock are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive.

64

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


Subsequent Events
The Company considers events or transactions that have occurred after the balance sheet date of December 31, 2016, but prior to the filing of the financial statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional recognition or disclosure. Subsequent events have been evaluated through the filing of these financial statements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Stock Compensation
In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation" ("ASU 2016-09"). This ASU revises the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and an option to recognized gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting year, and early adoption is permitted.
Management expects to adopt ASU 2016-09 for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting year. Management expects to apply ASU 2016-09 using a modified retrospective approach and adopt the option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, with an immaterial cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings recognized as of January 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 also requires all income tax adjustments to be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Management does not expect this adoption to have a material impact since the expected increase in net deferred tax assets will be fully offset by a corresponding increase in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance.
Revenue Recognition
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2014-09"). This ASU is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption was not permitted.
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers – Deferral of the Effective Date" (ASU-2015-14), which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for one year and permits early adoption as early as the original effective date of ASU 2014-09. Accordingly, ASU 2014-09 is now effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting year.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Principal versus Agent Considerations" ("ASU 2016-08"). This ASU clarifies the implementation guidance for principal versus agent considerations in ASU 2014-09. This ASU is effective at the same period as ASU 2015-14 and ASU 2014-09.
Management expects to adopt ASU No. 2014-09, ASU 2015-14, and ASU 2016-08 (collectively, the "Revenue Recognition Accounting Pronouncements") for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting year. While Management is still in its assessment process, Management generally expects to identify substantially similar performance obligations after adoption of the Revenue Recognition Accounting Pronouncements as compared with deliverables and separate units of accounting under previous revenue recognition guidance. Therefore, the Company generally does not expect the impact of the adoption of the Revenue Recognition Accounting Pronouncements to be significant to its consolidated financial statements. Management expects to apply the Revenue Recognition Accounting Pronouncements retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the Revenue Recognition Accounting Pronouncements recognized at the date of initial application recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings, referred to as the "Modified Retrospective Approach."

65

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases" ("ASU 2016-02"). This ASU revises the accounting related to leases by requiring lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases. The new lease guidance also simplifies the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. Management expects to adopt ASU 2016-02 for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and expects it will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements, primarily the consolidated balance sheets and related disclosures.
3. Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements
Marketable Securities
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, all of the Company’s marketable securities were classified as available-for-sale and their estimated fair values were $99.7 million and $96.8 million, respectively. The Company periodically reviews its available-for-sale securities for other-than-temporary impairment. The Company consider factors such as the duration, severity and the reason for the decline in value, the potential recovery period, and its intent to sell. As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s available-for-sale securities primarily consisted of corporate bonds and other government obligations that are priced at fair value. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment loss. The maturities of the Company’s long-term marketable securities generally range from one to three years. The cost basis of a marketable security sold is determined by the Company using the specific identification method. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company did not have any realized gains or losses.
The following tables present details of the Company’s marketable securities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Short-term:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Investment securities
 
$
63,135

 
$
7

 
$
(39
)
 
$
63,103

Commercial paper
 
5,641

 
1

 
(2
)
 
5,640

Long-term:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Investment securities
 
30,985

 
16

 
(34
)
 
30,967

Total
 
$
99,761


$
24


$
(75
)

$
99,710


 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Short-term:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Investment securities
 
$
16,908

 
$
—

 
$
(13
)
 
$
16,895

Long-term:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities
 
80,172

 
2

 
(291
)
 
79,883

Total
 
$
97,080

 
$
2

 
$
(304
)
 
$
96,778



66

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


Fair Value Measurements
The following tables set forth the fair value of the Company's financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 based on the three-tier value hierarchy described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (in thousands):
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Cash equivalents:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Money market funds
 
$
200,867

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
200,867

Short-term investments:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 


Investment securities
 
—

 
63,103

 
—

 
63,103

Commercial paper
 
—

 
5,640

 
—

 
5,640

Restricted cash:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certificate of deposit
 
5,000

 
—

 
—

 
5,000

Long-term:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 


Investment securities
 
—

 
30,967

 
—

 
30,967

Total
 
$
205,867

 
$
99,710

 
$
—

 
$
305,577


 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Cash equivalents:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Money market funds
 
$
267,300

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
267,300

Short-term investments:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 


Certificates of deposit
 
35,000

 
—

 
—

 
35,000

Investment securities
 
—

 
16,895

 
—

 
16,895

Restricted cash:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Certificate of deposit
 
5,000

 
—

 
—

 
5,000

Long-term:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Investment securities
 
—

 
79,883

 
—

 
79,883

Total
 
$
307,300

 
$
96,778

 
$
—


$
404,078

4. Intangible assets and Goodwill
The following table summarizes intangible assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
 
 
 
Weighted-Average
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Amortization
Period (Years)
 
Gross Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net Book Value
Trademarks
 
5
 
$
1,900

 
$
(1,298
)
 
$
602

Technology
 
3
 
1,453

 
(161
)
 
1,292

Customer relationships
 
5
 
1,300

 
(888
)
 
412

Total
 
 
 
$
4,653

 
$
(2,347
)
 
$
2,306

 

67

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


 
 
Weighted-Average
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Amortization
Period (Years)
 
Gross Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net Book Value
Trademarks
 
5
 
$
1,900

 
$
(918
)
 
$
982

Customer relationships
 
5
 
1,300

 
(628
)
 
672

Non-compete agreements
 
3 - 5
 
100

 
(81
)
 
19

Other intangibles
 
3
 
373

 
(270
)
 
103

Domain names
 
5
 
2,687

 
(2,685
)
 
2

Total
 
 
 
$
6,360

 
$
(4,582
)
 
$
1,778

 
Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $0.9 million, $0.9 million, and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, respectively. The estimated future amortization expense of purchased intangible assets as of December 31, 2016, is as follows (in thousands):

 
 
Total
2017
 
$
1,125

2018
 
858

2019
 
323

Thereafter
 
—

Total
 
$
2,306


Goodwill as of December 31, 2016 was $1.9 million, unchanged from December 31, 2015.

5. Property and Equipment, net
The following table summarizes property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Furniture and computer equipment
 
$
133,297

 
$
68,416

Site and software development costs
 
77,429

 
50,907

Leasehold improvements
 
62,090

 
29,315

Construction in progress
 
47,013

 
27,563

Building (leased - see Note 7)
 
29,856

 
—

 
 
349,685

 
176,201

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
(110,331
)
 
(63,876
)
Property and equipment, net
 
$
239,354

 
$
112,325

Property and equipment depreciation and amortization expense was $54.6 million, $31.6 million, and $20.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

68

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


6. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets, Accrued Expenses, Other Current Liabilities, and Other Liabilities
The following table presents the components of selected balance sheet items as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
 
 
December 31,
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
 
2016
 
2015
Deferred costs in transit
 
$
34,325

 
$
34,102

Supplier receivable
 
21,828

 
17,316

Supplier credits receivable
 
13,215

 
7,344

Other prepaid and other current assets
 
21,477

 
17,684

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
90,845

 
$
76,446


 
 
December 31,
Accrued expenses:
 
2016
 
2015
Employee compensation and related benefits
 
$
37,767

 
$
24,928

Advertising
 
8,379

 
6,695

Accrued property, plant and equipment
 
3,630

 
3,069

Credit card
 
7,405

 
6,621

Audit, legal and professional fees
 
1,333

 
2,326

Other accrued expenses
 
9,293

 
7,921

Total accrued expenses
 
$
67,807

 
$
51,560


 
 
December 31,
Other current liabilities:
 
2016
 
2015
Sales tax payable
 
$
15,731

 
$
5,512

Sales return reserve
 
12,384

 
8,697

Other current liabilities
 
15,913

 
9,460

Total current other liabilities
 
$
44,028

 
$
23,669


 
 
December 31,
Other liabilities:
 
2016
 
2015
Deferred rent
 
$
55,267

 
$
24,669

Construction costs under build-to-suit leases
 
39,949

 
27,295

Other liabilities
 
963

 
3,046

Total other liabilities
 
$
96,179

 
$
55,010



69

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


7. Commitments and Contingencies
Leases
The Company leases office and warehouse spaces under non-cancelable leases. These leases expire at various dates through 2027 and include discounted rental periods and fixed escalation clauses, which are amortized straight-line over the terms of the lease. Future minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Amount
2017
 
$
47,721

2018
 
56,402

2019
 
57,784

2020
 
57,245

2021
 
55,341

Thereafter
 
294,166

Total
 
$
568,659

Rent expense under operating leases was $33.6 million, $16.3 million, and $11.4 million in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company has issued letters of credit for approximately $10.6 million and $5.9 million as security for these lease agreements as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Future lease payments have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals of $1.9 million due to the Company in the future under non-cancelable subleases through 2018.
The Company establishes assets and liabilities for the estimated construction costs incurred under lease arrangements where the Company is considered the owner for accounting purposes only, or build-to-suit leases, to the extent the Company is involved in the construction of structural improvements or takes construction risk prior to commencement of a lease. Upon occupancy of facilities under build-to-suit leases, the Company assesses whether these arrangements qualify for sales recognition under the sale-leaseback accounting guidance. If the Company continues to be the deemed owner, the facilities are accounted for as financing leases.
The construction of one warehouse lease arrangement was completed during the year ended December 31, 2016, and because the Company concluded it had a letter of credit of $1.2 million, the Company did not meet the sale-leaseback criteria for derecognition of the building asset and liability. Therefore, the lease was accounted for as a financing obligation. The financing obligation and a corresponding building asset, was recorded in "Lease financing obligation" and "Property and equipment, net," respectively, in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for $28.9 million.
The monthly rent payments made to the lessor under the lease agreement are recorded in the Company’s financial statements as land lease expense and principal and interest on the financing obligation. Interest expense on the lease financing obligation reflects the portion of the Company's monthly lease payments that is allocated to interest expense and is recorded in "Interest income, net" in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. The building asset is depreciated over its useful life during the lease period. For the year ended December 31, 2016, land lease expense, interest expense on lease financing obligation, and building depreciation was $0.1 million, $1.4 million, and $0.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2016, future minimum commitments related to the financing obligation were $2.3 million and $11.9 million for principal and interest, respectively, through December 31, 2021.
Subsequent to December 31, 2016, the construction of a second warehouse lease arrangement was completed, and because the Company did not meet the sale-leaseback criteria for derecognition of the building asset and liability, the lease will be accounted for as a financing obligation in the first quarter of 2017.
Restricted Cash
The Company has deposited $5.0 million with Bank of America as collateral for letters of credit and has classified these amounts as "Other noncurrent assets" on its consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

70

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


Collection of Sales or Other Similar Taxes
Based on the location of the Company’s current operations, it collects and remits sales tax. The Company does not currently collect sales or other similar taxes for the sale of goods in states where no obligation to collect these taxes is required under applicable law. Several states have presented the Company with assessments, alleging that it is required to collect and remit sales or other similar taxes. The aggregate amount of claims from these states, not including taxes allegedly owed for periods subsequent to such assessments or interest and penalties after the date the Company last received such assessments, is approximately $27.2 million. The Company does not believe that it was obligated to collect and remit such taxes, and intends to vigorously defend its position. At this time, the Company believes any losses that may arise from these assessments would be immaterial; however, no assurance can be given as to the outcome of these assessments.
Legal Matters
In September 2016, a putative class action complaint was filed against the Company in the Superior Court of the province of Quebec (Naomi Zouzout v. Wayfair LLC, Case No. PQ 500-06-000809-166) by an individual on behalf of herself and on behalf of all other similarly situated individuals alleging violations of various Canadian consumer protection statutes. Among other remedies, this lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive money damages, costs, and various fees. The Company intends to defend the lawsuit vigorously. At this time, based on available information regarding this litigation, the Company is unable to reasonably assess the ultimate outcome of this case or determine an estimate, or a range of estimates, of potential losses.
From time to time the Company is involved in claims that arise during the ordinary course of business. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not currently believe that the outcome of any of these other legal matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operation or financial condition. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can be costly and time consuming, as it can divert management’s attention from important business matters and initiatives, negatively impacting the Company's overall operations. In addition, the Company may also find itself at greater risk to outside party claims as it increases its operations in jurisdictions where the laws with respect to the potential liability of online retailers are uncertain, unfavorable, or unclear.
8. Employee Benefit Plans
The Company has a defined-contribution, incentive savings plan pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan covers all full-time employees who have reached the age of 21 years. Employees may elect to defer compensation up to a dollar limit (as allowable by the Internal Revenue Code), of which up to 4% of an employee's salary will be matched by the Company. The amounts deferred by the employee and the matching amounts contributed by the Company both vest immediately. The amount expensed under the plan totaled approximately $6.3 million, $3.3 million, and $2.4 million in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
9. Equity-Based Compensation
In 2010, the Company established an equity incentive plan and, in 2011, the plan was amended and restated as the Wayfair LLC Amended and Restated 2010 Common Unit Plan (the "2010 Plan"). The 2010 Plan was administered by the board of directors of Wayfair LLC and provided for the issuance of common option units, restricted common units (all common units), and deferred units, which currently represent Class A or Class B common stock of the Company. 

71

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


In connection with the IPO, the board of directors of the Company adopted the 2014 Incentive Award Plan ("2014 Plan") to grant cash and equity incentive awards to eligible service providers in order to attract, motivate and retain the talent for which the Company competes. The 2014 Plan is administered by the board of directors of the Company with respect to awards to non-employee directors and by the compensation committee with respect to other participants and provides for the issuance of stock options, SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units ("RSUs"), performance shares, stock payments, cash payments, dividend awards and other incentives. The 2014 Plan authorized up to 8,603,066 shares of Class A common stock to be issued, on the first day of each calendar year beginning January 1, 2016 and ending on and including January 1, 2024, the shares available for future grant are increased in accordance with the 2014 Plan. As of January 1, 2017, 8,389,750 shares of Class A common stock are available for future grant under the 2014 Plan. Shares or RSUs forfeited, withheld for minimum statutory tax obligations, and unexercised stock option lapses from the 2010 and 2014 Plans are available for grants of awards under the 2014 Plan. All equity awards granted prior to the IPO were subject to two vesting triggers: a service period (typically five years) and a performance condition (a liquidity event in the form of either a change of control or an initial public offering, each as defined in the 2010 Plan). Employees were able to retain provisionally vested stock options and shares upon departure. The Company determined that a liquidity event was not probable until the closing of its IPO on October 7, 2014, and as such, no expense was recognized until that date. After the IPO awards for employees still providing service will continue to vest over the remaining service period. Any future grants of awards are expected to vest over the service period.
In April 2014, the Company completed a tender offer to repurchase provisionally vested (defined as service period completed) stock options and restricted common stock from certain employees at a price of $26.23 per share. A total of 202,757 shares of restricted common stock and 9,028 stock options were tendered for an aggregate of approximately $5.5 million in net cash after adjusting for the exercise prices associated with the stock options. This tender offer was accounted for as a modification resulting in a $5.5 million compensation charge when accepted by the employee in 2014.
The following table presents activity relating to stock options for the year ended December 31, 2016:
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
 
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
(Years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2015
 
279,591

 
$
2.98

 
5.5
Options exercised
 
(69,656
)
 
$
2.98

 
 
Options forfeited/canceled
 
(176
)
 
$
3.42

 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2016
 
209,759

 
$
2.98

 
4.5
Exercisable at December 31, 2016
 
209,759

 
$
2.98

 
4.5
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $2.5 million and $5.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and currently exercisable is $6.7 million as of December 31, 2016. All stock options were fully vested at December 31, 2016.
The following table presents activity relating to restricted common stock for the year ended December 31, 2016:
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2015
 
1,993

 
$
4.75

Restricted stock granted
 
60,000

 
$
44.34

Restricted stock vested
 
(1,993
)
 
$
4.75

Expected to vest in the future as of December 31, 2016
 
60,000

 
$
35.05

Expected to vest as of December 31, 2016
 
49,171

 
$
35.05


72

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


The intrinsic value of restricted common stock vested and repurchased was less than $0.1 million and $4.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Aggregate intrinsic value of restricted common stock unvested is $2.1 million as of December 31, 2016. Unrecognized equity based compensation expense related to restricted common stock expected to vest over time is $1.9 million with a weighted average remaining vesting term of 1.9 years as of December 31, 2016.
The following table presents activity relating to RSUs for the year ended December 31, 2016:
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2015
 
5,607,867

 
$
28.30

RSUs granted
 
4,070,232

 
$
38.40

RSUs vested
 
(1,908,624
)
 
$
25.96

RSUs forfeited/canceled
 
(782,699
)
 
$
34.10

Unvested at December 31, 2016
 
6,986,776

 
$
34.21

Expected to vest in the future as of December 31, 2016
 
5,473,203

 
$
34.47

The intrinsic value of RSUs vested was $76.1 million and $51.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Aggregate intrinsic value of RSUs unvested is $244.9 million as of December 31, 2016. Unrecognized equity based compensation expense related to RSUs expected to vest over time is $208.6 million with a weighted average remaining vesting term of 1.7 years as of December 31, 2016.
10. Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Series A and Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units of Wayfair LLC
In connection with the corporate reorganization, all of the outstanding Series A and Series B preferred units of Wayfair LLC were exchanged for shares of Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock of Wayfair Inc. Immediately prior to the completion of the IPO, all of the outstanding shares of Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock converted into 27,546,934 shares of Class B common stock of Wayfair Inc.
The Company recognized changes in the redemption value of the convertible redeemable preferred stock immediately as they occurred by adjusting the carrying amount of the redeemable security to what would be the redemption amount assuming the security was redeemable at the balance sheet date. Accordingly, the Company recorded accretion of the Series A convertible and the series B redeemable convertible preferred stock of $14.4 million and $2.5 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014. At the time of the conversion of Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock an adjustment of $14.8 million was recorded as a reduction of accretion expense when the carrying value of the convertible redeemable preferred units was reduced to its conversion value.
Upon the issuance of Series B preferred units by Wayfair LLC in March 2014, the Company distributed $15.0 million in accrued dividends to Series A convertible preferred stock holders and upon the completion of the IPO in October 2014 distributed the remaining accrued dividends of $24.5 million to Series A convertible preferred stock holders.
Preferred Stock
The Company authorized 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, for future issuance. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had no shares of undesignated preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Common Stock
On October 7, 2014, the Company completed its IPO of 12,650,000 shares of its Class A common stock at a public offering price of $29.00 per share, of which 10,500,000 shares were sold by the Company and 2,150,000 shares were sold by its selling stockholders, including 1,650,000 shares pursuant to the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares, resulting in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $282.9 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders.

73

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


The Company authorized 500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 164,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of which 49,945,202 and 45,814,237 shares of Class A common stock and 35,885,692 and 38,496,562 shares of Class B common stock were outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion rights. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share and each share of Class B common stock is entitled to ten votes per share. Each share of Class B common stock may be converted into one share of Class A common stock at the option of its holder and will be automatically converted into one share of Class A common stock upon transfer thereof, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, upon the date on which the outstanding shares of Class B common stock represent less than 10% of the aggregate number of shares of the then outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock, or in the event of the affirmative vote or written consent of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock, all outstanding shares of Class B common stock shall convert automatically into Class A common stock. Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if the Board, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that the Board may determine. Since the IPO through December 31, 2016, 34,795,104 shares of Class B common stock were converted to Class A common stock.
11. Segment and Geographic Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated on a regular basis by the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer. 
Beginning the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company changed its operating and reportable segments to U.S. and International. These segments reflect changes in the way the CODM allocates resources and evaluates financial performance, which is based upon each segment's Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as loss before depreciation and amortization, equity-based compensation and related taxes, interest and other income and expense, provision for income taxes, and non-recurring items. These charges are excluded from evaluation of segment performance because it facilitates reportable segment performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
The Company allocates certain operating expenses to the operating and reportable segments, including "Customer service and merchant fees," "Merchandising, marketing and sales," and "Operations, technology, general and administrative" based on the usage and relative contribution provided to the segments. It excludes from the allocations certain operating expense lines, including "Depreciation and amortization, "Equity based compensation and related taxes," "Interest (income), net," "Other (income) expense, net," and "Provision for income taxes." There are no revenue transactions between the Company's reportable segments.
U.S.
The U.S. segment primarily consists of amounts earned through product sales through the Company's five distinct sites in the U.S. and through sites operated by third parties in the U.S.
International
The International segment primarily consists of amounts earned through product sales through the Company's international sites.
Revenue from external customers for each group of similar products and services are not reported to the CODM. Separate identification of this information for purposes of segment disclosure is impractical, as it is not readily available and the cost to develop it would be excessive. No individual country outside of the U.S. provided greater than 10% of total revenue.

74

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


The following tables present Direct Retail and Other net revenues and Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Company’s reportable segments for the periods presented (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
U.S. Direct Retail
 
$
2,993,365

 
$
1,945,411

 
$
1,036,658

U.S. Other
 
117,132

 
190,081

 
199,557

U.S. segment net revenue
 
3,110,497

 
2,135,492

 
1,236,215

International Direct Retail
 
265,544

 
94,827

 
65,028

International Other
 
4,319

 
19,566

 
17,708

International segment net revenue (1)
 
269,863

 
114,393

 
82,736

Total
 
$
3,380,360

 
$
2,249,885

 
$
1,318,951

(1)In the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, International segment net revenue included $5.4 million and $10.8 million, respectively, from our Australian business, which we sold in July 2015. 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Adjusted EBITDA:
 
 

 
 

 
 
U.S.
 
$
176

 
$
30,985

 
$
(40,496
)
International
 
(88,868
)
 
(46,914
)
 
(22,041
)
Total reportable segments Adjusted EBITDA
 
(88,692
)
 
(15,929
)
 
(62,537
)
Less: reconciling items (1)
 
(105,683
)
 
(61,514
)
 
(85,561
)
Net loss
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(148,098
)
(1)Adjustments are made to reconcile total reportable segments Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated net loss including the following (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
55,572

 
$
32,446

 
$
22,003

Equity based compensation and related taxes
 
51,953

 
32,975

 
63,244

Interest (income), net
 
(694
)
 
(1,284
)
 
(350
)
Other (income) expense, net
 
(1,756
)
 
(2,718
)
 
489

Provision for income taxes
 
608

 
95

 
175

Total reconciling items
 
$
105,683

 
$
61,514

 
$
85,561

The following table presents the activity related to the Company’s net revenue from Direct Retail sales derived through the Company’s sites and Other sales derived through sites operated by third parties and fees from third-party advertising distribution providers (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net revenue
 
 

 
 

 
 

Direct Retail
 
$
3,258,909

 
$
2,040,238

 
$
1,101,686

Other
 
121,451

 
209,647

 
217,265

Net revenue
 
$
3,380,360

 
$
2,249,885

 
$
1,318,951


75

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


The following table presents long-lived assets by segment (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Geographic long-lived assets:
 
 

 
 

U.S.
 
$
233,099

 
$
110,042

International
 
6,255

 
2,283

Total
 
$
239,354

 
$
112,325

12. Income Taxes
Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 attributable to income (loss) from operation is presented below (in thousands):
Year ended December 31, 2016
 
Current
 
Deferred
 
Total
Federal
 
$
—

 
$
32

 
$
32

State
 
329

 
5

 
334

Foreign
 
285

 
(43
)
 
242

 
 
$
614

 
$
(6
)
 
$
608

 

Year ended December 31, 2015
 
Current
 
Deferred
 
Total
Federal
 
$
—

 
$
54

 
$
54

State
 
(202
)
 
7

 
(195
)
Foreign
 
331

 
(95
)
 
236

 
 
$
129

 
$
(34
)
 
$
95


Year ended December 31, 2014
 
Current
 
Deferred
 
Total
Federal
 
$
—

 
$
32

 
$
32

State
 
1

 
4

 
5

Foreign
 
138

 
—

 
138

 
 
139

 
36

 
175


76

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


The actual income tax expense (benefit) differs from the expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the U.S. Federal corporate income tax rate of 35% to income before tax expense (benefit) as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Computed expected tax expense (benefit)
 
$
(67,819
)
 
$
(27,072
)
 
$
(51,773
)
Decrease in income taxes resulting from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Partnership losses not creating tax benefit
 
—

 
—

 
21,369

Effect of conversion to C-corporation
 
—

 
—

 
(28,034
)
State income tax expense, net of federal benefit
 
(5,225
)
 
(1,424
)
 
(2,517
)
Foreign tax rate differential
 
17,109

 
9,278

 
2,826

Equity based compensation expense
 
2,321

 
1,415

 
5,555

Change in valuation allowance
 
53,467

 
12,394

 
52,921

Impact of sale of Australian subsidiary
 
—

 
4,248

 
—

Other
 
755

 
1,256

 
(172
)
Net income tax expense
 
$
608

 
$
95

 
$
175

The components of results of income before income tax expense (benefit) determined by tax jurisdiction, are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
U.S.
 
$
(118,851
)
 
$
(38,963
)
 
$
(128,505
)
Foreign
 
(74,916
)
 
(38,385
)
 
(19,418
)
Total
 
$
(193,767
)
 
$
(77,348
)
 
$
(147,923
)

77

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the periods presented are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
December 31
 
 
2016
 
2015
Deferred tax asset:
 
 

 
 

Accounts receivable
 
$
1,153

 
$
926

Inventories
 
543

 
280

Operating loss carry-forwards
 
71,558

 
32,678

Equity based compensation expense
 
10,940

 
10,716

Intangibles
 
22,466

 
24,205

Accrued payroll
 
9,379

 
 
Accrued expenses
 
2,840

 
307

Charitable contributions
 
331

 
143

Deferred rent
 
51,355

 
21,219

Gross deferred tax asset
 
170,565

 
90,474

Less: Valuation allowance
 
(123,293
)
 
(70,614
)
Net deferred tax asset
 
47,272

 
19,860

Deferred tax liability:
 
 

 
 

Prepaid expenses
 
(1,428
)
 
(561
)
Capitalized technology
 
(11,151
)
 
(6,444
)
Property and equipment
 
(34,420
)
 
(12,646
)
Goodwill
 
(133
)
 
(96
)
Other
 
(166
)
 
(126
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
 
(47,298
)
 
(19,873
)
Net deferred tax liabilities
 
(26
)

(13
)
Non-current net deferred tax liability
 
$
(26
)
 
$
(13
)
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards available to offset future federal taxable income of $245.2 million.
In addition, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards available in the amount of $230.5 million which are available to offset future state taxable income.
The federal net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in the year ended December 31, 2034. The state net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in the year ended December 31, 2028.
The Company's ability to utilize these federal and state net operating loss carry-forwards may be limited in the future if the Company experiences an ownership change pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 382. An ownership change occurs when the ownership percentages of 5% or greater stockholders change by more than 50% over a three-year period.
The Company also had foreign net operating loss carry-forwards available to offset future foreign income of $143.6 million. The foreign net operating loss carryforwards have no expiration.
In assessing the realizability of its net deferred tax assets, the Company considered whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. As of December 31, 2016, based upon an evaluation of the positive and negative evidence, the Company concluded that an increase of $52.7 million of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance was appropriate, resulting in a valuation allowance of $123.3 million as of December 31, 2016. The total expense from the net change in valuation allowance is $52.7 million.

78

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


As of December 31, 2016, the Company has not provided for U.S. deferred income taxes on undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries of approximately $2.3 million since these earnings are to be indefinitely reinvested. Upon distribution of those earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company will be subject to additional U.S. and state income taxes (less foreign tax credits), as well as withholding taxes in its foreign locations. The amount of taxes attributable to the undistributed earnings is not practicably determinable.
The Company establishes reserves for uncertain tax positions based on management's assessment of exposure associated with tax deductions, permanent tax differences and tax credits. The tax reserves are analyzed periodically and adjustments are made as events occur to warrant adjustment to the reserve. The Company's policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. Reserves for uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are not material.
The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as income tax expense. Related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above, the Company did not accrue any penalties and interest during 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, because it believes that such additional interest and penalties would be insignificant.
The Company's tax jurisdictions include the U.S., the UK, Germany, Ireland, and the British Virgin Islands. The statute of limitations with respect to the Company's U.S. federal income taxes has expired for years prior to 2013. The relevant state and foreign statutes vary. However, preceding years remain open to examination by U.S. federal and state and foreign taxing authorities to the extent of future utilization of net operating losses generated in each preceding year.
13. Credit Agreement
On February 22, 2017, the Company entered into a $40 million credit card program and a credit agreement consisting of a $100 million secured revolving credit facility (the "Revolver") with Citibank, N.A. ("Citibank"). The Citibank credit facility replaced the Company's existing credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. ("Bank of America"), which were in place as of December 31, 2016 and are described below.
The Revolver has a $40 million letter of credit sublimit and a $10 million swing line sublimit, and a final maturity date of February 21, 2020. Wayfair LLC is the borrower (the "Borrower") under the Citibank credit agreement. Subject to certain conditions, the Borrower has the right to increase the Revolver by $25 million. Borrowings under the Revolver will bear interest through maturity at a variable rate based upon, at the Borrower’s option, either the Eurodollar rate or the base rate (which is the highest of (x) Citibank's prime rate, (y) one-half of 1.00% in excess of the federal funds effective rate, and (z) 1.00%in excess of the one-month Eurodollar rate), plus, in each case an applicable margin. From closing until September 30, 2019, the applicable margin for Eurodollar rate loans is 1.75% per annum and the applicable margin for base rate loans is 0.75% per annum. After September 30, 2019, the applicable margin is subject to specified changes depending on the applicable consolidated leverage ratio. Any amounts outstanding under the Revolver are due at maturity. In addition, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the credit agreement, the Borrower is required to make certain mandatory prepayments prior to maturity.
The Citibank credit agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants customarily applicable to senior secured credit facilities, including covenants that, among other things, will limit or restrict the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to negotiated exceptions, to incur additional indebtedness and additional liens on their assets, engage in mergers or acquisitions or dispose of assets, pay dividends or make other distributions, voluntarily prepay other indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliated persons, make investments, and change the nature of their businesses. In addition, the Citibank credit agreement requires the Company to maintain certain financial ratios.
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had a credit agreement with Bank of America, which was last renewed on July 31, 2016. The Bank of America credit agreement provided the Company with a $20.0 million revolving line of credit to support direct borrowings and letters of credit, provided that a maximum of $5.0 million could be applied to direct borrowings under the revolving line of credit, plus an additional $45.0 million credit card program, for a maximum aggregate commitment of $65.0 million. The credit agreement would have expired by its terms on July 31, 2017. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Bank of America credit agreement, advances under the line of credit, if any, would bear interest at the LIBOR rate, plus 1.75%. The Bank of America credit agreement also required the Company to maintain certain covenants, including debt service coverage, tangible net worth and unencumbered liquid assets, with which the Company was compliant at December 31, 2016 and 2015. The Company did not borrow any amounts under the Bank of America credit agreement during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

79

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


14. Net Loss per Share
Basic and diluted net loss per share is presented using the two class method required for participating securities. Class A and Class B common stock are the only outstanding equity in the Company since our IPO in October 2014. The rights of the holders of Class A and Class B common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share and each share of Class B common stock is entitled to ten votes per share. The Class B common stock also has approval rights over certain corporate actions. Each share of Class B common stock may be converted into one share of Class A common stock at any time at the option of the stockholder, and will be automatically converted into one share of Class A common stock upon a sale or transfer, subject to certain limited exceptions. In addition, upon the date on which the outstanding shares of Class B common stock represent less than 10% of the aggregate number of shares of the then outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock, or in the event of the affirmative vote or written consent of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock, all outstanding shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock.
Basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock and, if dilutive, common stock equivalents outstanding during the period. The Company's common stock equivalents consist of shares issuable upon the release of restricted stock units, and to a lesser extent, the incremental shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options and unvested restricted stock. The dilutive effect of these common stock equivalents is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. The Company's basic and diluted net loss per share are the same because the Company has generated net loss attributable to common stockholders and common stock equivalents are excluded from diluted net loss per share because they have an antidilutive impact.
The Company allocates undistributed earnings between the classes on a one-to-one basis when computing net loss per share. As a result, basic and diluted net loss per Class A and Class B shares are equivalent.
Even prior to the conversion of its Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock to common stock, effective October 7, 2014, the Company applied the two class method for calculating and presenting earnings per share. Under the two class method, net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders is determined by allocating undistributed earnings between common stock and participating securities. Undistributed earnings are calculated as net income (loss) less distributed earnings and accretion of Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock. As holders of Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock did not have a contractual obligation to share in the losses of the Company, the net loss attributable to common stockholders for each period prior to the IPO was not allocated between common stock and participating securities. Accordingly, Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock are excluded from the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share. The Company's basic and diluted net loss per share are the same because the Company has generated net loss to common stockholders and common stock equivalents are excluded from diluted net loss per share because they have an antidilutive impact. The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share (in thousands, except per share data):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Numerator:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net loss
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(148,098
)
Accretion of preferred units to redemption value
 
—

 
—

 
(2,071
)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders per share—basic and diluted
 
$
(194,375
)
 
$
(77,443
)
 
$
(150,169
)
Denominator:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Weighted average common shares used for basic and diluted net loss per share computation
 
84,977

 
83,726

 
50,642

Net loss per common share attributable to common stockholders:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic and Diluted
 
$
(2.29
)
 
$
(0.92
)
 
$
(2.97
)

80

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)


The following have been excluded from the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders as their effect would have been antidilutive:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Stock options
 
209,759

 
279,591

 
449,046

Restricted stock
 
60,000

 
1,993

 
161,476

Restricted stock units
 
6,986,776

 
5,607,867

 
4,542,231

Total
 
7,256,535

 
5,889,451

 
5,152,753


Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer ("CEO") and chief financial officer ("CFO"), evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2016. Based on such evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of December 31, 2016, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that (a) the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and (b) such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rules 13a-15(d) or 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act during the quarter ended December 31, 2016 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016 to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Management reviewed the results of its assessment with our Audit Committee. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report which is included immediately following Item 9A. Controls and Procedures, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Limitations on Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives as specified above. Management does not expect, however, that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and fraud. Any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, is based upon certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives will be met. Further, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.

81

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Wayfair Inc.
We have audited Wayfair Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). Wayfair Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Wayfair Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Wayfair Inc. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 of Wayfair Inc. and our report dated February 28, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 28, 2017


82

Item 9B. Other Information
On February 22, 2017, Wayfair Inc. ("Wayfair" or the "Company") entered into a $40 million credit card program with Citibank, N.A. ("Citibank"). This new card program will replace the Company’s current card program with Bank of America, N.A.
In connection with the credit card program, Wayfair, as guarantor, and Wayfair LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, as borrower (the "Borrower") entered into a Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with Citibank, in its capacity as administrative agent, swing line lender and letter of credit issuer, and certain other lenders party thereto. The Credit Agreement consists of:
•
A secured revolving credit facility under which the Borrower may borrow up to $100 million, subject to certain sublimits, with a final maturity date of February 21, 2020 (the "Revolver").
•
The Borrower has the right, subject to certain conditions, to increase the Revolver by $25 million.
•
The Revolver has the following sublimits:
◦
a $40 million letter of credit sublimit; and
◦
a $10 million swing line sublimit.
The Borrower’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Wayfair and certain of its subsidiaries (together, the "Guarantors"). The obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors are secured by first-priority liens on substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and the Guarantors, including, with certain exceptions, all of the capital stock of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the capital stock of the Company’s first-tier foreign subsidiaries.
The proceeds of the Revolver may be used to finance working capital, to refinance certain existing indebtedness and to provide funds for other general corporate purposes.
Borrowings under the Revolver will bear interest through maturity at a variable rate based upon, at the Borrower’s option, either the Eurodollar rate or the base rate (which is the highest of (x) Citibank’s prime rate, (y) one-half of 1.00% in excess of the federal funds effective rate, and (z) 1.00% in excess of the one-month Eurodollar rate), plus, in each case an applicable margin. From closing until September 30, 2019, the applicable margin for Eurodollar rate loans is 1.75% per annum and the applicable margin for base rate loans is 0.75% per annum. After September 30, 2019, the applicable margin is subject to specified changes depending on the applicable consolidated leverage ratio.
Any amounts outstanding under the Revolver are due at maturity. In addition, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement, the Borrower is required to make certain mandatory prepayments prior to maturity.
The Credit Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants customarily applicable to senior secured credit facilities, including covenants that, among other things, will limit or restrict the ability of the Borrower and the Guarantors, subject to negotiated exceptions, to incur additional indebtedness and additional liens on their assets, engage in mergers or acquisitions or dispose of assets, pay dividends or make other distributions, voluntarily prepay other indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliated persons, make investments, and change the nature of their businesses. In addition, the Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain certain financial ratios.
PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
We have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code may be found at the Investor Relations section of our website, located at investor.wayfair.com under the link for "Corporate Governance." We intend to make all required disclosures regarding any amendments to, or waivers from, any provisions of the code at the same location of our website.

83

The other information required by this item is incorporated by reference from our proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2016.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from our proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2016.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from our proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2016.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from our proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2016.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from our proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2016.
PART IV

ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(1)
Financial Statements
The following financial statements and supplementary data are included in Part II of Item 8 filed of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
•
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
•
Consolidated Balance Sheets
•
Consolidated Statements of Operations
•
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
•
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
•
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
•
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or notes herein
(3)
Exhibits
See the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

84

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
WAYFAIR INC.
 
 
By:
/s/ NIRAJ SHAH
 
 
 
Niraj Shah
 
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Date: February 28, 2017
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

85

Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ NIRAJ SHAH
 
Chief Executive Officer and President, Co-Founder and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
 
February 28, 2017
Niraj Shah
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ MICHAEL FLEISHER
 
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
 
February 28, 2017
Michael Fleisher
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ NICHOLAS MALONE
 
Chief Administrative Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
 
February 28, 2017
Nicholas Malone
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ STEVEN CONINE
 
Co-Founder and Director
 
February 28, 2017
Steven Conine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ NEERAJ AGRAWAL
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
Neeraj Agrawal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JULIE BRADLEY
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
Julie Bradley
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ROBERT GAMGORT
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
Robert Gamgort
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ MICHAEL KUMIN
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
Michael Kumin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ IAN LANE
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
Ian Lane
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JAMES MILLER
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
James Miller
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ROMERO RODRIGUES
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
Romero Rodrigues
 
 
 
 

86

EXHIBIT INDEX
 

 
 
 
 
 
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
 
Exhibit Description
 
Filed
Herewith
 
Form
 
File No.
 
Filing Date
 
Exhibit
Number
2.1

 
Contribution and Exchange Agreement dated as of August 15, 2014 between the Company and the other and the other parties thereto
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
8/15/2014
 
2.1
3.1

 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
 
 
 
8-K
 
001-36666
 
10/8/2014
 
3.1
3.2

 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company
 
 
 
8-K
 
001-36666
 
10/8/2014
 
3.2
4.1

 
Specimen stock certificate evidencing the shares of Class A common stock of the Company
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
9/19/2014
 
4.1
10.1+

 
Second Amended and Restated 2010 Incentive Plan
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
8/15/2014
 
10.1
10.2+

 
Form of Deferred Unit Agreement under the Second Amended and Restated 2010 Incentive Plan
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
8/15/2014
 
10.2
10.3+

 
2014 Incentive Award Plan
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
9/19/2014
 
10.3
10.4+

 
Form of Option Agreement under the 2014 Incentive Award Plan
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
9/19/2014
 
10.4
10.5+

 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2014 Incentive Award Plan
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
9/19/2014
 
10.5
10.6+

 
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2014 Incentive Award Plan
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
9/19/2014
 
10.6
10.7

 
Investors' Rights Agreement, dated August 15, 2014, by and among the Company and the other parties thereto
 
 
 
10-K 
 
 001-36666
 
3/19/2015
 
10.7
10.8+

 
Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
8/15/2014
 
10.8
10.9

 
Office Lease dated April 18, 2013 between Copley Place Associates, LLC and the Company, as amended by the First Amendment to Lease dated February 11, 2014, as further amended by the Second Amendment to Lease dated October 24, 2014, as further amended by the Third Amendment to Lease dated October 8, 2015, and as further amended by the Fourth Amendment to Lease dated February 3, 2016 (as amended to date, the "Copley Lease")
 
 
 
10-K 
 
001-36666
 
2/29/2016
 
10.9
10.10

 
Fifth Amendment to Copley Lease, dated as of July 29, 2016, by and between Copley Place Associates, LLC and Wayfair LLC
 
 
 
10-Q
 
001-36666
 
11/8/2016
 
10.2
10.11

 
Elevator Side Letter to Copley Lease, dated as of July 28, 2016, by and between Copley Place Associates, LLC and Wayfair LLC
 
 
 
10-Q
 
001-36666
 
11/8/2016
 
10.3

87

 
 
 
 
 
 
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
 
Exhibit Description
 
Filed
Herewith
 
Form
 
File No.
 
Filing Date
 
Exhibit
Number
10.12+

 
Wayfair International Assignment Agreement dated April 1, 2015 between the Company and John Mulliken

 
 
 
10-Q
 
001-36666

 
5/15/2015
 
10.10
10.13+

 
Form of Amended and Restated Letter Agreement dated May 6, 2014 between the Company and each of Niraj Shah and Steven Conine
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
8/15/2014
 
10.11
10.14+

 
Letter Agreement dated October 2, 2013 between the Company and Michael Fleisher, as amended May 5, 2014
 
 
 
S-1
 
333-198171
 
8/15/2014
 
10.12
10.15+

 
Letter Agreement dated June 2, 2015 between the Company and Jeremy Delinsky
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.16

 
Loan Agreement dated October 29, 2012 between Bank of America, N.A. and the Company, as amended by amendments dated October 29, 2013, June 6, 2014 and July 31, 2015 (as amended to date, the "Bank of America Loan Agreement")
 
 
 
10-K
 
001-36666
 
2/29/2016
 
10.13
10.17

 
Amendment No. 4 to the Bank of America Loan Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2016, by and between Bank of America, N.A. and Wayfair LLC
 
 
 
8-K
 
001-36666

 
8/4/2016
 
10.1
10.18

 
Credit Agreement dated February 22, 2017 among Wayfair LLC, Wayfair Inc., each Lender from time to time party thereto and Citibank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21.1

 
Subsidiaries of the Company
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23.1

 
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.1

 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.2

 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.1#

 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.2#

 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS

 
XBRL Instance Document
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.SCH

 
XBRL Taxonomy Schema Linkbase Document
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

88

 
 
 
 
 
 
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
 
Exhibit Description
 
Filed
Herewith
 
Form
 
File No.
 
Filing Date
 
Exhibit
Number
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Labels Linkbase Document
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

+ Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan
# This certification is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Exchange Act.


89