Aspireside Chat: Consignment and Estate Sales

Say you’re moving to a smaller place and don’t have room for all of your high-end furniture. Or maybe you’re on the hunt for a bargain to get that perfect antique. That’s where “upcycling” and resale come in. The popularity of scouring estate sales and consignment shops for high-end treasures is on the rise. For the inside scoop,  we spoke with a consignment shop owner and an estate sale coordinator in this issue’s “Aspireside Chat”.

Our authority on estate sales is Jill Mendelsohn, Lam President of BHM Estate Sale Services in South Orange, NJ.  Since its startup in 2010, her business has grown three-fold and has become one of the leading estate sales companies in northern New Jersey.

Our consignment expert is Karen Arakelian: Owner of Design Consign in Fairfield, NJ and founder of  The Gloria Foundation. Proceeds from sales are donated to The Gloria Foundation, which supports victims of domestic violence

Estate sales  and  consignment shops  are both becoming increasingly popular.  Why is that?

Jill: Estate sales are so much fun to shop at; they’re addictive.  I have customers who plan their days around my sales. They come with their “special estate sale” shopping pals and hit up as many as five sales in one day. People love walking through the different homes and viewing hundreds of items all in one stop. Where else can you shop for a handbag, a couch, a dining room table and dishware all in one place?

Estate sales are also great for buying high-end furniture for a fraction of the retail cost. Plus, as people become more environmentally conscious, they are open to buying preowned furniture. We call it “upcycling”!

Karen: Resale is a fast-growing, multi billion-dollar industry and attracts consumers from all economic levels. Buyers are thrilled to get treasures at a fraction of their original costs. Donors and consignors can upcycle their unwanted or unneeded items in direct support of an important cause. Everyone wins!

Consignors have the opportunity to sell their items without the bother of a garage sale. With certain items, especially furniture or high-end designer clothing and handbags, they would likely see a better profit from consignment than by selling it on their own. Perhaps most importantly, our donors and consignors are positively impacting the lives of women in crisis.

What  should people  keep  in mind  when  working  with  you?

Jill: For an estate sale, plan early and have realistic expectations of the value of your items. I suggest hiring an estate seller that takes commission only and not one that charges a fee. Those of us who work solely on commission work harder; we want to make those high numbers because then both the seller and the client benefit. Once you hire the right estate seller, feel free to give the history and original price of the item, but let the seller do the pricing; he or she knows what the market will bear.

Once we sign a contract, we set a date and plan to prep, which normally occurs two weeks prior to the sale. During prep, we photograph, stage and price every item for sale. We spend a lot of time researching the items’ current market values so that we can price accordingly. Our sales normally last two days, but we will add a third day for large sales or for those sales that have unique and high-end items. The sales are almost always sold onsite at our clients’ homes. We can do off-site sales, but the cost for the client can be high, as he or she would have to pay for the rental site as well as for moving the items to the site. This is a great option for those who have several storage spaces filled with high-quality items but no home to host a sale

Karen: Before bringing items in to donate or consign, call the store with any questions. Whether donated or consigned, all items should be clean and undamaged, with no stains or excessive wear. Because of space restrictions, you might be asked to bring current season items only. Designer clothing and handbags are always in demand. In general, clothing, shoes and purses should be no older than two to three years, unless it’s considered “vintage” (’70s or earlier). Perhaps the most important thing is to maintain contact with the shop. Once the term expires, pick up your unsold items, or they will be donated to the foundation.

When it comes to furniture donations, we have to be selective due to the size of our shop (9,000 square feet, including apparel). Therefore, all items must be approved prior to pick up  by sending photos to our website (www.designconsignnj.com).  If items are donated and sellable, we will pick them up for free.  If items have value of more than $500 at resale pricing, we will consign and pick up for a minimum charge of $95, which will come off the first item sold. Heavier and larger items or longer distances will be more to pick up.

Jill, tell us about some of the more interesting things you’ve  seen  bought  and  sold.

We’ve seen everything from 112-piece sterling silver flatware sets to Badgley Mischka cocktail dresses to designs by midcentury designers Milo Baughman, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Paul McCobb and Hans Wegner. As well as Edward Wormley dining chairs, Eames lounge chairs, Duncan Phyfe dining tables and several Harvey Probber couches. We’ve also seen high-end brands such as Baker, Kittinger, Dunbar, Henredon and American Craftsmen Stickley.

We are finding that upcycling is reaching the higher income bracket and that people are  becoming open to it since they can buy a rare midcentury designer couch for a fraction of its retail cost. Interior designers are also getting on the estate sale bandwagon.

Karen,  tell us  more  about  The  Gloria Foundation.

The Gloria Foundation’s mission is to help provide resources to local safe houses and domestic violence organizations. Gloria was my mother. She was and continues to be an inspiration to me. I have started this foundation as a thank you to her. Now she will continue to touch lives through the foundation in her name, and her memory will be a hope for all women in situations they feel helpless to escape.

Design Consign   973.287.6246    designconsignnj.com

The Gloria Foundation   973.287.6246   thegloriafoundation.org

BHM Estate Sale Services   646.823.5231   bargainhuntermama.com

Interview By Christy Potter

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