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Jan/Feb 2008 l Issue Thirteen
 
 
Sample This    
     
When it comes to buying the cream-of-the-crop the best is usually a bust. Well, to your wallet that is. But the founders of Gilt Groupe—a successfully scintillating sample sale service, which selects, sells and sends the best of the designer runway straight to your door—have something else on offer.

Imagine this: No more treks to New York City in search of bargain Behnaz, rather the convenience of shopping for discount designer pieces in the comfort of your cozies.  How’s that possible? By canvassing fashion's elite Gilt Groupe is able to provide three, handpicked weekly online shopping events for its multitude of members. Now that’s a whole lot of handbags.

Pink Memo sat down with the girls of Gilt Groupe for an inside look at fashion’s latest frenzy.
  
 
Why launch an online sample sale site?
Alexis Maybank, Co-Founder and CEO: After seeing New York sample sales (top designers, one-day sales, steep discounts) and the hysteria they create, we realized there wasn’t an equivalent online.
 
How has GILT changed the world of shopping?
Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, Co-Founder and Chief Merchandising Officer:  Gilt Groupe makes it incredibly easy for people across America to partake in sample sales. All you need is a computer and a credit card!
Alexis Maybank: Not only are we the first company to bring sample sales to a national audience but we do so online with multiple sales weekly.
 
Why are sample sales so popular?
Rachel Wolkowitz, Director of Marketing and Communications: The sample sale has become a cultural phenomena, serving both a utilitarian and entertainment purpose. In fact, there are certain loosely based social networks that have emerged around "the sample sale.”
 
 
You have a coveted assortment of labels. How do you set out to attract these brands?
Rachel Wolkowitz: The designers and brands we’ve secured have chosen to work with Gilt Groupe given our desirable membership base, the lack of discrete online alternative channels, and the speed with which we can react to their needs and sell their inventory.

So you’re working together to deliver. Any stories you can share on past collaborations and the process of choosing your styles?
Alexandra Wilkis Wilson: I’m very involved in hand-selecting the items on our site.  My buyers and I go to great lengths to make sure that our members will love everything we offer.
Rachel Wolkowitz: Once Alvin Valley actually drove out to his warehouse with our buying team and hand selected every piece. This was only the second time he’d ever been there.
 
 
You've grown significantly since you've started. How do you see GILT Groupe evolving?
Rachel Wolkowitz: In the near future we will increase the number of sales we hold weekly. We’re also considering shifting into adjacent categories later in 2008, such as into men's, children's and home goods.So whether you’re after a handpicked, ready-to-wear mini by Marchesa, or accessories and jewelry from Bulgari and M + J Savitt, you’ll have the accessibility and ease of choosing luxury stock…quite literally at your fingertips.

Pinkmemo.com readers have a chance to join the invitation only site by logging on to
www.gilt.com/promo/PinkMemo. 
 
 
   
 
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