Crate & Barrel Partnered with Affirm for Installments
Home retailers may see higher average order values as consumers gain access to interest-free payment options.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Retail
Live Poll
Do you trust retail pay-over-time services to help you manage your household budget responsibly?
Crate & Barrel Holdings has launched a partnership with fintech firm Affirm to offer biweekly and monthly payment plans across its brands. This move enables shoppers to finance purchases at Crate & Barrel, Crate & Barrel Kids, and CB2 using interest-free options.
Why it matters
The collaboration aims to provide customers with greater financial flexibility, potentially driving higher conversion rates for premium home goods. For operators, it marks a shift toward integrating specialized credit products to maintain sales volume during discretionary spending cycles.
Crate & Barrel Holdings operates over 100 stores and websites across the U.S. and Canada, catering to an estimated 200 million annual visitors. The firm joins a network of over 570,000 active Affirm merchant partners.
The players
Crate & Barrel Holdings
A Chicago-based home furnishings retailer operating Crate & Barrel, Crate & Barrel Kids, and CB2 brands.
Affirm
A San Francisco-based financial technology company specializing in point-of-sale installment loans.
The details
Under the new arrangement, customers can select Affirm at checkout both online and in physical stores to break down payments into smaller installments. The program offers plans starting at 0% APR with no late or hidden fees, provided the customer clears an eligibility check at the time of purchase. This integration allows the retailer to outsource the credit risk and payment processing while offering financing directly at the point of sale.
Timeline
The partnership was formally announced on September 29, 2026.
Market Landscape
This move reflects the broader retail trend of adopting point-of-sale financing to facilitate large discretionary purchases. The partnership signals a strategic push by major home goods players to match the installment capabilities now standard among e-commerce competitors.
Retail operators should monitor the impact on average order value and customer conversion to determine if similar credit-integrated financing is necessary for their own price points. Review existing point-of-sale systems to confirm they can support rapid integration of third-party payment APIs.
The takeaway
The partnership highlights how traditional retailers are increasingly turning to third-party fintech to lower the barrier to entry for expensive home goods. Owners should assess their own credit-clearance processes to ensure they match customer expectations for low-interest financing options.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts in consumer purchasing, see the latest updates in Retail.
Live Poll
Do you trust retail pay-over-time services to help you manage your household budget responsibly?
