Company
History

Temple & Webster was founded in 2011 by Group CEO Mark Coulter, Group CXO Adam McWhinney, NED Conrad Yiu, and ex-CEO Brian Shanahan, all former colleagues and senior executives at eBay Australia and Newscorp Australia's digital division.

The Group was named after William Temple (a carpenter) and John Webster (a carver and gilder), two local artisans commissioned by Governor Lachlan Macquarie to make two large ornamental chairs in 1820. Perhaps without realising it at the time, Temple & Webster were among Australia's first fine furniture designers. They were craftsmen who collaborated to create something unique and enduring (the chairs have survived to this day) and are the earliest known examples of the "Colonial Gothic" style.

Temple & Webster's Australian heritage, their teamwork, attention to detail and desire to build something to last were attributes that inspired the co-founders, and is the motivation behind the Temple & Webster brand.

The Temple & Webster online platform launched in October 2011 and has established itself as the largest online retailer in the furniture and homewares category. In June 2012, Macquarie Capital became a substantial investor and shareholder of Temple & Webster to accelerate growth.

In July 2015, Temple & Webster Group acquired the Australian operations and subsidiary of Wayfair Inc. (NYSE: W), one of the world's leading online-only furniture and homewares retailers. In October 2015, Temple & Webster Group entered into an agreement to acquire Milan Direct subject to Completion of the Offer. Also in October 2015, Temple & Webster relaunched Wayfair Australia as ZIZO.com.au.

In December 2015, Temple & Webster Group listed on the Australian Securities Exchange as TPW (the Offer).

In April 2016, the decision was made to retire ZIZO and merge all operations under the Temple & Webster brand using ZIZO/Wayfair's sophisticated technology platform, operating on an innovative drop-ship model. This resulted in Temple & Webster moving from a closed, members-only website to become Australia's largest online retailer of furniture and homewares.

In October 2016, Temple & Webster co-founder Mark Coulter was announced as CEO, following a period as interim CEO (after the April 2016 resignation of previous CEO and co-founder Brian Shanahan).

In December 2016, the Milan Direct online furniture store was integrated into the Temple & Webster platform as part of the Company's revised business plan.. Milan Direct is now one of TPW's private label furniture brands. The move consolidated Temple & Webster's position as the dominant brand in the online furniture and homewares category.

Today, Temple & Webster is Australia’s largest pure play online retailer in the furniture and homewares market with over 200,00 products on sale from over 500 suppliers, including direct sourcing capabilities through a private label division.

The vision is simple, to be the first place Australians turn to when shopping for their home.

See also the WikipediaOpens in new window entry for Temple & Webster.