Delia Lachance is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of Westwing, Europe’s #1 in Beautiful Living e-commerce. Now an expat in Portugal, Delia founded Westwing in 2011 in Munich.

Westwing was listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2018 and generated EUR 481 million in 2023. Westwing has just launched in Portugal.

Tell us about your life story and career?

I’ve always been passionate about beautiful spaces and how design can transform the way we live. After studying fashion journalism and media communication in Munich, I started my career as an editor at ELLE and ELLE Decoration. Writing about interiors sparked something in me, and I realised I wanted to go beyond storytelling – I wanted to create something tangible. In 2011, I founded Westwing, which has grown to become Europe’s No. 1 e-commerce platform for beautiful living. Today, we operate in 12 countries and combine the Westwing Collection with a curated selection of design brands. It’s been an incredible journey. And seeing how Westwing has inspired people to create homes they love is one of my greatest joys.

How did you end up in Portugal? What led you here? Is it ‘home’ now?

Portugal has become my family’s sanctuary and truly feels like home. My husband is Canadian, and after many years of a long-distance relationship between Germany and Canada, we decided it was time to build a life together in one place. His only condition? If we were going to leave Canada, it had to be somewhere warm. Friends had told us about the beauty of the Algarve, and during the pandemic, we decided to take a leap of faith. Without ever visiting before, we rented a house, and it didn’t take long to fall in love with the lifestyle, the weather and the people. We stumbled upon an old house that had been abandoned for over 30 years. It was a ruin, but I’ve always dreamed of giving an old home new life, so we decided to renovate it. It was a much bigger project than we anticipated, but seeing it come together has been so rewarding. Now, it’s not just a house – it’s our home, filled with family moments and a connection to the stunning nature around us.

Portugal inspires me in so many ways – the warmth of the people, the fresh food and the slower pace of life. It’s given me and my family a sense of balance, and I feel so grateful to call it home.

 

“The best thing about being an entrepreneur is having the opportunity to create something from scratch.”

 

Best bits and challenges of living and working in Portugal?

Living in Portugal has been such a joy. The Algarve offers a sense of tranquility and balance that has brought so much to my family’s life. The best part for me is the connection to nature – the sunny days, the beautiful coastline, and the slower pace of life. It’s a daily source of inspiration, both personally and professionally. On the challenging side, adapting to the different pace of business operations can be a learning curve.

Any lessons learned about running your own business here? Any advice to people looking to follow in your footsteps?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to embrace flexibility and take time to understand the local culture. Building relationships is key in Portugal – whether it’s with business partners, your team, or even suppliers. Taking that extra time to connect makes everything run smoother.

For those considering a move or starting a business here, I’d say: go for it, but be ready to adapt. Portugal has an incredible creative energy, but it’s important to balance ambition with the pace of life here. Be patient and build a strong local network – you’ll be amazed at the opportunities that come your way.

Pros and cons of running a business in Portugal?

While we run Westwing’s operations primarily from Munich, launching in Portugal has been an exciting milestone for us. One of the biggest advantages of entering this market is the Portuguese passion for design and beautiful living. It aligns so well with our vision at Westwing, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. On the flip side, one of the challenges is ensuring that we stay agile in such a dynamic and emerging market. But we’re committed to investing in the local market and adapting our approach to meet the unique needs of Portuguese customers. It’s all part of the journey, and I’m excited to see how it evolves.

Best/Worst thing about being an entrepreneur?

The best thing about being an entrepreneur is having the opportunity to create something from scratch – turning an idea into reality and building something meaningful that can inspire others. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your vision come to life and knowing that you’re making an impact.

The downside, though, is that it’s hard to fully switch off. Your mind is always on, whether you’re on vacation, at home, or even trying to relax. Separating work from personal life can be challenging because the business becomes such a big part of who you are. But I’ve learned to embrace it – it’s part of the journey, and it’s all worth it in the end.

 

“Balance comes down to great organization – planning is everything.”

 

How do you balance work/life?

For me, balance comes down to great organization – planning is everything. I’m very intentional about structuring my time, whether it’s for work, family, or personal moments. I take a lot of care in planning my travel and daily to-dos to be as efficient as possible. It’s about prioritising what matters most and creating clear boundaries, but also knowing when to be flexible. At the end of the day, it’s not about perfection but making time for the things that truly fulfill you.

Any career highlights that stand out?

There are so many highlights, but one that stands out consistently is every time we launch something new for the Westwing Collection. Seeing our ideas come to life and being embraced by our customers is always incredibly rewarding. On the other hand, one challenge was with our Portuguese website. Initially, we wanted to offer it in both Portuguese and English, but due to technical reasons, it wasn’t possible from the start. It’s something we’re working on and excited to improve soon so that we can offer the best experience to all our customers.

Life motto?

Never forget what’s really important in life – those meaningful connections, the simple joys, and the things that truly bring you happiness.

What’s next?

For Westwing, the focus is on expanding our Westwing Collection into exciting new categories that inspire our customers even more. We’re also exploring the idea of opening additional offline stores to create spaces where people can experience the brand in a more personal, tactile way. It’s all about bringing our vision for beautiful living to life in new and meaningful ways.

Oh and favourite emoji? 🫶

Follow @delia_westwing