Innovation Open Houses offer currently-enrolled students a chance to visit interesting companies in and around Boston. (We think of them as "a backstage pass" to cool local companies. They're definitely not job/internship interviews, so relax.) To participate, you'll need to register here.

[ IF event is sold out, don't worry: more tickets will be released later in February... just be sure you're a member of the Innovation Open Houses Facebook group so you'll get the message. ]

Interested in e-commerce, digital marketing, SEO, and entrepreneurship? You'll want to check out the open house at CSN Stores, one of Boston's biggest and fastest-growing e-tailers.

The company was founded back in 2002 by two friends who'd met as undergrad students at Cornell; today it employs more than 525 people and surpassed $200 million in revenues last year. It has been on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing companies, Internet Retailers list of "Hot 100 Retail Web Sites," and the Boston Business Journal's list of fastest-growing private companies in Massachusetts. The site sells everything from Bowflex exercise machines to Cuisinart appliances to pet carriers to Timberland boots, focusing on product categories where they can have a comprehensive inventory, and taking a unique approach to marketing and customer service.

At this open house, you'll be asked to form small teams and plan the launch of a new product on the site, with some assistance from CSN Stores team members. You'll get a chance to tour the offices (with their excellent views of Boston), and meet founders Steven Conine and Niraj Shah. You'll also meet Mark Manley, a category manager for CSN's Cookware.com site; Erin Dewey, the director of customer service; Jason Krupp of Marketing Operations, and several recent college grads. (You'll also learn about CSN's internship program.)

A few things we ask, to make this open house fun, effective, and accessible to as many students as possible:

- Please don't grab a spot unless you're certain you can go.

- Please don't grab a spot for anyone other than yourself.

- Please don't grab a spot unless you are a currently-enrolled student (IDs will be checked.)

- Check out CSN Stores' Web site before the open house. You may also want to read this recent Innovation Economy blog post or watch this video from WCVB-Boston.

- Come with at least one question you'd like to ask about CSN Stores.

- Right now, we're asking that students register for no more than three open houses per academic year. (This policy may change.)

CSN Stores is closest to the Copley, Auditorium, and Prudential stops on the B, C, D, and E branches of the green line. Enter the Prudential Mall and look for signs to the Prudential Center tower; once there, you'll check in at the security desk. Snacks will be served.

To start the registration process, select a ticket quantity above and click "Register."