6/10
1stDibs
Wright calls 1stDibs “the cream of the crop for resellers in the home goods sector.” You may have longingly scrolled past its many beautiful but pricey items yourself as a buyer. But only a certain kind of furniture seller will work for 1stDibs.
“1stDibs is incredibly hard to get approved for,” she says. “It’s not for unloading one item.” Sellers must submit a portfolio and be an established dealer.
Another note about 1stDibs: Many sellers use it to determine the value of their goods. Not so fast, says Wright. These values reflect the most exacting standards of the product, which also often have a valuable provenance. They’re also priced to cover large markups the site takes from sellers, so it isn’t a great way to determine value.
7/10
Consignment/Vintage Shops
Going the consignment route can be fruitful, but Wright says to go in with your eyes open and expectations flexible.
In northern Virginia, for instance, there are only two consignment shops. That means shop owners can be extremely particular about what they will buy or consign. If it doesn’t match the aesthetic of the shop, or it’s big or not valuable enough, they’ll turn you away.
Consignment
There are specific considerations for consigning items. You need to know all the policies up front and what happens if your item doesn’t sell.
In some cases, the store gets the item and the profit. In others, if you don’t pick up the item when you’re notified, they also get the item and profit. And you must have a plan for taking it back. “You have to be OK with those policies,” she says.
Pricing is another consideration. “You don’t have much control over the pricing,” Wright says, noting you’d earn about 30% to 40% of the selling price. Also, items that aren’t selling are usually marked down about every three weeks, so the value you’ll get declines over time. Some shops, she says, will list your stuff on Facebook Marketplace for you and take a 50/50 split.
Vintage
Most of the time, Wright says, going to a vintage shop with an item and looking for them to buy it (to flip it) isn’t cost-effective for anyone. So it’s best to call ahead or email or text to test the waters.
“When people come in and say ‘I’ve got my mother’s XYZ,’ I’m very straightforward and tell them, ‘I’m happy to have this conversation with you, but I’m probably going to lowball and insult you,’ ” she says. ” ‘I’m not meaning to do that, but this is what I’m willing to pay because I know I can get something comparable if I use estate sales, auctions or thrifting.’ ”
She says for most vintage sellers, it’s all about the bottom dollar. That’s because the profit pays rent on a brick-and-mortar location, staff, cleaning, insurance and everything else that goes into running the shop. “Every nickel and dime makes a huge difference,” she says. Plus, many shop owners won’t buy one-offs, preferring to making larger purchases with collections or estates.
But if you’ve got something truly interesting, a shop owner might go for it. “If I know I have a market for it, I might take a chance,” she says.
8/10
Garage/Yard/Tag Sales
It’s an oldie but a goodie, as long as you’re not looking to make top dollar and want to get a little neighborhood socializing in. Just round up your goods, slap a sticker on them and display them in your driveway.
Some buyers are willing to pay a little more, even at garage sales, for good furnishings. Just don’t expect retail.
