The convenience of purchasing a range of cooking appliances at the same time as a new kitchen has strong appeal, according to Andre Dowling, general manager of Cavallo, which is set to open its second showroom in Penrith next month.
Less than three months after opening its first outlet in Castle Hill, in Sydney’s northwest, Cavallo is expanding into Sydney’s heartland, with a store opening in June at 2 Pattys Place, Penrith.
Cavallo’s unique sales proposition is that a customer can purchase a whole new kitchen — cabinetry and appliances — at the same time from the same showroom with the same branding. The tradeoff for this convenience is that you are investing in the unknown Cavallo brand.
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“Since the Castle Hill showroom opened its doors in early March this year, the response to the business model of purchasing your kitchens and appliances under one brand has been extremely positive with a conversion rate of enquires to sales the highest I have ever experienced in this industry,” said Dowling, who has previously worked to establish the new Kleenmaid in the cabinetry channel, before falling out with that brand’s current owners, Compass Capital Partners.
“All signs are indicative that we are on the right track with our pricing, quality, service and tremendous value that our clients receive from the Cavallo business.”
Cavallo’s appliance range includes ovens, steam ovens, cooktops, rangehoods, microwaves and dishwashers.
The new Penrith address is currently listed on Google Maps as being the site of an Outdoor Furniture Specialists outlet, though that company’s website does not mention a Penrith showroom in its store finder.
Very ambitious plans underpin Cavallo’s expanding in Australia and Castle Hill and Penrith is just the start of this roll-out. Dowling plans on leaning on his experience at cabinetry specialist retailer Salvarani in securing future locations in New South Wales and interstate for the venture.
“I have specific sites in specific locations selected for the Cavallo showrooms that have worked for me in the past and I am willing to wait for these to become available,” he said, listing the Caringbah Homemaker Centre in Sydney’s south and Penshurst Street in Willoughby, in the northern suburbs, as examples.
Once these showrooms are open and operating, Dowling plans on opening the Cavallo brand and system up to what he called “distributorships”. Dowling confirmed that this would be similar to franchising.