Our Buying Strategy

Many of our customers have often asked us, “Where do you come up with these brands?  Where do you find such beautiful clothes?”  The answer to these questions begins by listening to our customer’s needs.  Some may need sportswear, others business attire, or maybe there is a wedding on the horizon, and they are the mother of the bride or groom.  We also stay aware of current and future events in our area, whether it be fundraising galas, Keeneland meets or the Kentucky Derby.  We keep all these things in mind when starting our purchasing process.  We, like many other retailers, find our collections by “going to market”- in our case this process most often occurs in New York and Atlanta.  Designers typically create two collections each year, spring and fall, and invite retail partners to their showrooms in various US cities where they showcase their latest wares.   Pieces from those lines are selected and purchased.  During this process, we as buyers, are given the opportunity to truly appreciate the quality of the fabrics (often from Italy) and craftsmanship of the materials brought into the garment district from around the world.  The chance to meet the designers and talk with them one on one about our customers gives them insight into helping us select the perfect pieces for our store. The selection process occurs several months in advance.  For example, clothing for fall of a given year is chosen in January and February. We choose specific color palettes and silhouettes that tell a story and will hang nicely with all our brands.  We then begin to receive these items at various times during the following season.  Going to market and experiencing the excitement of Fashion Week and seeing all the upcoming trends and styles is what makes our job so much fun!  We hope this gives you more insight into our buying strategy at Carl Meyers.