CCA Global Partners
CCA Global Partners is a cooperative owned by the independent businesses that make up its membership. As part of one of CCA Global’s cooperative groups, independent business have access to big-box scale through innovative products, systems and services, while maintaining their unique identity.
Members Make a Cooperative
A cooperative business is only as good as its independent members. With that in mind, CCA Global Partners has assembled a group of the finest retailers throughout the world.
“[Our strategy] is driven by the success of our stores,” Chairman and co-CEO Howard Brodsky explains. “Every decision we make is driven by the end-goal of giving them the resources, buying power and marketing to make independent businesses compete with large global entities.”
Brodsky and business partner Alan Greenberg started with a bold vision – to help independent retailers operate profitably in an increasingly competitive market place.
They established the first business group – Carpet One – in 1984 with 13 members in the specialty carpet retail industry. By the end of the year, membership grew to 26 and sales had topped $25 million.
Today, the company serves more than 2,700 cooperative and franchise locations worldwide with 12 businesses in many industries including floor covering, lighting, fitness and sports, and nonprofits. CCA Global offers each of these locations education, marketing tools, proprietary products, buying power, global business services and programs, and collaborative tools.
Sticking Together, Staying Strong
Through a recession that defeated many independent business owners, CCA Global retailers have outlasted other independent retailers 10 to 1. Brodsky says the company had a slight reduction in the number of independent retailers it represents, although it was nothing as drastic as the overall industry’s downfall. According to Brodsky, the number of independent retails dropped by 25 percent overall, but CCA Global Partners only lost 2 percent of its members.
“We came out of a tough period in strong shape,” Brodsky says.
Bringing together independent retailers to gain scale in not only purchasing, but support systems, marketing, business tools and education has been key to CCA Global retailers’ edge over other independent retailers. Members of CCA Global’s cooperative groups have access to global scale that they could not achieve on their own.
Sharing the Best
One way CCA Global Partners has remained strong in the face of this adversity has been by sharing the best practices among its stores. The sharing of business best practices and ideas has always been a key component of the cooperative. CCA Global encourages the sharing of ideas and best practices through regional networking meetings, networking activities at their conventions, and online tools to help members connect and share.
“One of the greatest benefits of being in a cooperative is the opportunity to learn from fellow members,” Brodsky explains. “We’re leveraging the individual talent of our people and their resources for all our members.”