BOSTON — Within the Wayfair family, online retailer Perigold has focused its assortment on higher-end and designer brands, a narrower focus than Wayfair‘s, but still flexible enough to traverse the current tariff environment.
Nicole Chaloux-Pinette, head of category management and business development for Perigold, said although its assortment doesn’t match the 20,000 or more suppliers that Wayfair has, “Our brand portfolio numbers in the low thousands today, and we are constantly looking to add new partners to ensure we have the best offering.
“Our broad product assortment across categories makes us a reliable choice for consumers amid shifting global trade policies,” she said. “As tariffs reshape sourcing and pricing dynamics, Perigold is well-equipped to navigate that complexity.”
Perigold sources from around the world, said Chaloux-Pinette, including U.S. manufacturers. “Our position as a platform means we offer customers many, many options across styles and price points within each category.
“Depending on how tariffs play,” she said, “we could see a shift in customer demand toward items from countries with lower tariffs because of stronger pricing and/or availability, and, in some areas, we might see that customers are willing to pay or wait for a brand they love.
Specific to pricing, she said Perigold’s goal is to minimize price increases to stay competitive. However, if suppliers are forced to absorb increased costs and pass them on to consumers, Perigold’s own prices will reflect that.
“We’re seeing that most are doing their best to hold prices until there is more clarity on what will actually come to fruition (with tariffs). I’ve seen a lot of thought and careful consideration going into how brands mitigate increases through adjusting sourcing strategies and getting granular on cost inputs to protect our mutual end customer.
“Our partners who source from countries impacted by tariffs, the European Union included, have indicated that they will need to take a critical look at what they import and how it is priced as the landscape becomes clearer,” she said.
Along with luxury-minded consumers, Perigold has targeted and engaged with the designer community through its trade program. While not giving a specific split on trade vs. consumer customers, Chaloux-Pinette said Perigold’s trade business “continues to grow and has been very durable throughout many economic challenges the industry has faced over the past few years.
“That said,” she continued, “we commonly hear that interest rates and tariffs are top-of-mind for designers. Customers aren’t moving or renovating with the same frequency, and they are more cost-conscious given sentiment toward the economy. They are also over-investing in experiences, so all this taken together means less spending on their home.”
The furniture, décor and textile categories, which is where Perigold got its start, still resonate with shoppers, Chaloux-Pinette said. “We’ve continued growth in these categories as we bring new brands on board, invest in our experience and expand our customer base. Décor, wallcoverings and core case goods categories have been standouts and have seen outsized growth over the past year.”
In addition, she said, Perigold has invested heavily in home improvement categories such as lighting, plumbing and hardware and will officially launch large appliances later this year in conjunction with its physical store openings in Houston at the end of June and Palm Beach this fall.
The new brick-and-mortar locations, she noted, ‘Bring our online experience to life, allowing customers to see products in person and giving designers a dedicated space to collaborate with clients. We’re meeting customers where they are, online or offline, with a consistent luxury experience across every touchpoint.’
