Swap.com Moving to Larger HQ, Hiring 700 by 2016

Swap.com, an online consignment shopping site, announced Tuesday, September 1 that the company is moving to a larger headquarters in nearby Bolingbrook and plans to hire 700 new employees in 2016.

The website has exploded since it was launched in 2013 by CEO and co-founder Dr. Juha Koponen. Koponen is a nuclear physicist and entrepenuer, according to his LinkedIn profile.

To keep up with consumer demand and satisfy customers, the company stated in their release that they plan to hire about 100 new jobs by the end of 2015. In 2016, Swap.com will also hire 700 new positions in departments such as packing, customer support, business development and merchandising.

Lewis student, Ruben Gonzalez, a criminal justice major says Swap.com’s hiring spree offers the local job market and Lewis grads the chance to kick-start their careers. He adds that these jobs should not just to be limited to business or management students, but to anyone looking for a job. “Swap.com would be a great opportunity for anyone. Hiring such a large number of employees can benefit the community in a big way. A local company like this provides a great chance for students and grads to get their foot in the door.”

Gonzalez also added that he believes once Swap.com is settled in, they could possibly become a vibrant part of the community by sponsoring local events, programs and school related affairs, including happenings at Lewis. “With Lewis and Swap.com being respected local institutions, it would be ideal for them to have some sort of business or working relationship. If Lewis and Swap.com were to partner, there could be endless positive benefits that affect not only the school and its students, but the community as a whole.”

Swap.com allows customers to buy and sell pre-owned items to the site or to other customers for a great price. The site claims to offer users overwhelmingly low prices when shopping, top-knotch customer service, best-value for items that customers want to sell, and a massive selection. The company has been featured on television programs such as Rachael Ray and news segments on ABC News and WCIU the U. In their release, the website states that there are more than 400,000 articles of baby, children’s, women’s and maternity clothing and accessories available for purchase. Customers can also choose merchandise from other departments on the site such as sports and outdoor equipment, movies and music, books, toys, games and décor. Everything seen on the website is in-stock, guaranteed to ship in one business day and can be returned painlessly. The new headquarters’ adjacency to a UPS branch also makes it easier for the company to stick to its shipping promise.

Jason West, executive director of Cushman and Wakefield’s industrial brokerage group, says Swap.com and its platform is exactly what the market needs. “The consumer shift toward online shopping versus traditional brick and mortar retail is fueling significant demand for warehouse and distribution space across the country”, he said in the release. Swap.com’s Vice President of Marketing, Justin Knechtel, agreed with West and says the company made the move

from its current 67,000 square foot home located at 3 Timber Court in Bolingbrook to a new 361,000 square foot facility to keep up with shifting customer attitudes and demand. Mr. Knechtel supplemented his comments by stating that the new building can hold close to 10 million inventory pieces. Cushman and Wakefield helped Swap.com sign a long-term lease on their new command center which will be located at 850 Veterans Parkway in Bolingbrook.