Capitalize with Consignment
It’s February, and you just might have a pile of unwanted Christmas presents that never made their way back to the store before the 30-day return policy expired. Or maybe the holidays came and went and you didn’t get exactly what you wanted.
Whether you are looking to move some merchandise or acquire something new – or new to you – local consignment shops may be the best place to head. The east side is home to a variety of shops that allow you to buy and sell locally or nationally. Two very different consignment experiences await you just doors apart at Hyde Park Plaza.
Consignment 2.0
The internet is a powerful tool, especially when it comes to buying and selling. But wading through the seemingly endless amount of items and getting your merchandise noticed or finding exactly what you want isn’t that fun or easy. That’s where the professionals come in.
“We do a lot of research and determine what the product typically sells for, how long it normally takes to sell, even what day similar items typically sell,” say Chris Stahl, who opened Cin-C-Bay three years ago. Since then, the store has been making it easy for people to use eBay to sell all kinds of items, from shoes and lamps to antiques and collectibles.
The Kansas native who now calls Mt. Lookout home describes a few items listed on their wall of fame, including lapel pins from Abraham Lincoln’s presidential campaign and a Tennessee Brewing Co. Antique Tin Tray that sold for over $3,600. He also mentions a 14th century Qur’an that they are currently listing.
However, most items are not that exotic or expensive. “We get runs on a lot of stuff like guitars or neon signs or bags, it comes in spurts. Something will be popular then go cold,” says Manager Julie Atkins. “Rookwood and Longaberger are pretty popular around here, too.” Stahl adds.
They do offer buying services, putting their expertise to work if you are looking for that particular needle in a haystack, but they predominately deal in selling merchandise.
It’s a very simple process, with the folks at Cin-C-Bay doing all the legwork for the seller. “After they bring the item in, we do the assessment and give them an idea of what price we should list it at and what we should expect. After that, they never have to set foot into the store if they don’t want to.” From there, Stahl and his staff take photos, set up the auction on eBay, and send updates to the client as things progress. Once the item is sold and payment is confirmed, clients receive a check in the mail.
Leaving a Legacy
For something decidedly more traditional, both in technique and style, check out Legacies. Dealing mostly in furniture, home goods and artwork; they also have an assortment of jewelry and other items. In fact, they have so many items going in and out that they are expanding into the shop next door to their current space.
Alice Lucas, an original founder, beams as she tells of how she never dreamt it could grow to be this successful. The enterprise began in 1994 as a fundraiser for The Wellness Community, an international non-profit that provides education and support to people with cancer and their families.
“We started a decade and a half ago with very little, but knew we could make it into a steady stream of income for The Wellness Community. We were originally over on Michigan avenue, then moved here in 2002, and now we are expanding again,” Lusas explains. She says that at certain times over the past 15 years, revenue generated by Legacies was the only way The Wellness Community could make payroll.
“We have over a hundred volunteers that help us on an ongoing basis,” says Susan Clayton, General Manger. She explains that the selling price of the item is split right down the middle, with fifty percent going to the seller and the other fifty percent going directly to The Wellness Community.
She calls in Carole Bowman, a volunteer with a background in antiques. Bowman recounts a few of the “peanuts” as they call them – the special and rare finds that have passed through the shop. There were works of art from Kathe Kollwitz and Johnny Friedlander, a pair of Dutch marquetry beds, sterling silver from Tiffany’s, and an Ivory tankard that sold at auction for $8,000.
Again, not all the items are that exotic or expensive. “We have really special pieces, antiques, and large, big ticket items. But we also have jewelry, accessories, wall art, and lots of other things that appeal to every need and price range. It really makes me happy when a younger person comes in and gets a beautiful, quality piece like a lamp or side table at a really great price.”
One such “younger person” is Beth McPeek.
“You’re probably wondering why I bought a bright yellow table with a rooster on it,” she says. “Well, the color of the room it’s going in is dark blue, so I think this will look great in the space.” Despite looking like she is in her mid-twenties, she admits to having a design sense that belies her age. “I don’t like matchy matchy stuff, and my style is very traditional.”
Though she recently moved back to Oakley, she spent seven years in Chicago, and loved the availability of high-end merchandise at an affordable price that the city offered. She says that she is now a fan of Legacies and will be back many times in the future.
Susan Clayton emphasizes this point, saying that “about eighty percent of our clients are repeat customers.”
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If you think you have unwanted or unneeded items that might not be suitable for consignment, but would still do someone some good, please donate them to Goodwill at 3080 Markbreit Ave. in Oakley (just off Oakley Square, behind Closson’s) or The Salvation Army at 2250 Park Ave. in Norwood (behind the Fitworks shopping center).
There are a bunch of consignment and antique shops on the east side. These two look cool and Snooty Fox is good. Plus yard sales are great in the summer.
Yard sales are good, and so is Snooty Fox. But for furniture I like Legacies in Hyde Park Plaza and Astute in Oakley Square. You should check it out if your into traditional furniture.