Kimberly Inskeep used to love shopping.
But as she got busier with work, family and life in general, she found there was rarely time to hit the stores. If anything, going shopping felt more like an errand than an outing.
“This is a female issue,” said Inkseep, founder, president and chief culture officer of clothing retailer Cabi. “We thought we could solve this for women by really giving her an experience that can really enhance her confidence.”
Cabi, which stands for Carol Anderson by Invitation, started in 2002 with the purpose of reinventing the shopping experience, as well as the success rate for direct sales companies. Almost 14 years later, the $250 million company has cemented its place in the direct selling industry.
“We wanted to position it as a real viable alternative…to the corporate grind,” Inskeep told Bizwomen. “It
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CAbi To Enter Canada
by Ramya Chandrasekaran • • 0 Comments
CAbi, one of the largest direct sale women’s apparel businesses in the U.S., is entering the Canadian market this week.
The Canadian market will include all provinces, except for Quebec, and represents the first foray outside of the U.S. for the 14-year-old company. CAbi — Carol Anderson by invitation — was cofounded by Kimberly Inskeep, who is president and chief culture officer, designer Carol Anderson and 10 other individuals.
CAbi was acquired three years ago by two private equity firms, J. H. Whitney & Co. and Irving Place Capital.
Rick Perkal, a senior adviser at Irving Place, said the model was an attractive one because it was about “women helping other women feel better about themselves.” He said if the Canadian expansion goes well, the company would consider bringing the brand to other English-speaking countries.
Michael C. Salvator, senior managing