Lora Sigesmund, co-owner of PerLora, a three-store operation in Pittsburgh, explained the buying strategy. “We wear CDG pins, so vendors know we’re part of a group of like-minded upper-end retailers. This helps create stronger relationships than we might develop alone, resulting in benefits like proprietary products and specials. We fan out across the 11.5 million square feet of showrooms and get together to share our experiences in a 3-hour meeting on Monday afternoon. We talk about the rock stars of Market, what we didn’t like, and of course, what we purchased and why.”
In addition to identifying can’t miss showrooms, info shared at the Monday meetings also generates savvy buying decisions. “I was ordering a new chair but couldn’t decide on quantity until Lora’s husband said the vendor gave a 20% discount on four,” said Andy Thornton, co-owner of LaDiff in Richmond, Virginia.
Always working to improve the quality and timeliness of their product intel, CDG beta-tested a cloud-based instant messaging system in April. Using the Telegram app, six members texted photos and product details on a private network. “Sharing in real-time comes in handy if you get compelling news about a vendor in a building that’s on the way to your next appointment,” said Haimsohn.