We’re excited to bring you a series of blogs featuring Brightwater Homes, a custom home builder in Georgia and South Carolina. In this three-part feature, you’ll hear from members of the Brightwater team. Follow along to hear more about how they’re leveraging CBUSA’s access to build lasting supplier relationships and improve product offerings for their net-zero energy homes.
Building a home that’s both sustainable and energy-efficient while maintaining profitability is a balancing act that requires strategic decision-making at every level. One key area builders can gain an edge is in their supplier partnerships. By leveraging the power of CBUSA, you can access premium materials at competitive prices and offer your clients more without sacrificing margins.
A prime example of this is how CBUSA helps Brightwater Homes secure high-end products like Cambria quartz countertops – materials that might otherwise be out of reach for many projects.
Expanding access to premium products
“We love Cambria countertops. In my opinion, I think they’re the best design and best aesthetic on the market.”
However, premium products often come with premium prices, making them difficult to include as standard options. That’s where CBUSA’s group purchasing power makes a difference.
“CBUSA has helped us get access to Cambria that we wouldn’t be able to get if I was just going out to try to procure that on our own,” Steven said. “With the CBUSA brand partnership, they brought in a lot more volume and actual square foot programs, so we have access to many more of the offerings that Cambria has on a regular basis.”
By negotiating at scale, CBUSA allows builders to offer high-end materials like Cambria not just as luxury upgrades, but as standard features across multiple markets.
Strengthening supplier relationships
Beyond cost savings, CBUSA’s partnerships help foster stronger relationships between builders and their suppliers. When sourcing materials, sustainability and domestic manufacturing play an important role in decision-making.
“We also look at what our carbon footprint impact is. So, we look to use domestically manufactured products, domestically produced products.”
Before partnering with CBUSA, Cambria countertops were reserved for premium and upgrade selections. However, thanks to CBUSA’s buying power, builders can now integrate Cambria into their standard home designs.
“Through negotiations and the CBUSA buying power, we’re able to bring that in, and now, we offer quite a few Cambria lines as part of our standard offerings in both markets,” Steven said.
Making procurement easier and more rewarding
CBUSA’s contracts and programs don’t just provide savings – they also simplify the procurement process for builders, making it easier to take advantage of these opportunities.
“Through different CBUSA contracts and deals and programs, it’s almost like a softball. It’s thrown out there, and it’s easy for me to swoop in and take full advantage.”
The ability to seamlessly integrate negotiated supplier deals into operations is a huge win for builders, their teams and their clients.
“It’s been a really cool aspect to see the fruition of something that’s working behind the scenes,” Steven said. “You hear rumblings about something, and then seeing it come to market – and being able to get that win and take pride in that – for myself, but also for the group.”
Let CBUSA improve your supplier relationships and expand your product offerings
CBUSA’s mission is to empower builders by giving them access to the best products and pricing, strengthening their relationships with suppliers like Cambria.
The result?
You can deliver top-quality homes while staying competitive in the marketplace. By working together, CBUSA members don’t just get better deals – they get better business outcomes.
If you’re a builder looking to expand your supplier network, reduce costs and improve the quality of your homes, CBUSA’s group purchasing power could be the key to unlocking your next big win. Reach out and learn more about becoming a CBUSA member today.