Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Baby Gear fashion; why don't you carry this pattern?

We get it all the time, "Why don't you carry this fashion from (insert favorite vendor here)? I saw it at (insert mass merchant here). There are simply specific patterns that we as a specialty store can't get. The reverse of this is true as well. Many of our fashions will not be available at many mass merchants and online only retailers. In case you were wondering, there is some rhyme and reason to this.
Many vendors produce their products in numerous fashions or patterns. Many will be available everywhere but some are specific to a certain type of store. Graco for example offers collections (car seat, stroller, high chair, play yard, etc. in the same pattern) like Platinum or the soon to be released Maddox (at right)Collection that will only be available from specialty stores like Goore's. You won't find these patterns at Babies R Us or Target. On the reverse we can't sell Graco patterns like Deco or Brooke as they are only available at Babies R Us and Target respectively. This difference allows us to choose what we feel our customers may like the most. In many cases the options available from independent specialty stores are also an upgrade - nicer fabrics, additional features, more padding, etc.

Some manufacturers offer completely different items and even limited edition options. Britax offers the Britax Couture collection only through select stores. These are Marathon car seats that have exclusive and limited fabrics that are a big upgrade from the normal Marathon line. Graco also produced a Nautilus 3 in 1 car seat in another specialty store pattern Sachi. These will not be available from mass merchants and online only stores.

There are a handful of patterns you will be able to find everywhere. These are called open line offerings. These tend to be lower price points without many of the "cool" and helpful upgrades. These may be your cheapest option but check the item specs to make sure you are getting everything you want out of that item.

It is always nice to be an educated shopper. The more you know the easier it is to make informed decisions on your purchases. That is what we always strive for here. Happy shopping!

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