Many people who hear the words "consignment shop" incorrectly think of some sort of thrift store that sells used clothes, collectibles, antiques and home decor. Although there are many places that resemble this kind of shopping experience, many consignment shops are very upscale galleries and showrooms that shoppers can visit to buy new home furnishings such as high end, brand name, antique and contemporary furniture, expensive lighting, area rugs and accessories such as china and vases at discounted prices. These pieces of merchandise are not new but often slightly used or maybe have been in storage for many years or decades. Most upscale consignment shops only accept "like new" merchandise that is in excellent condition. Consignment shoppers often find valuable unique furnishings and home decor even jewelry that could otherwise never be purchased anywhere else. Consignment or the process of consigning means that someone who has these items, known as the "consignor" wants to sell their valuables and seeks a venue where they can be displayed properly and be accessible to thousands of shoppers which gives them a greater chance to make the sale quickly with very little effort. The owner of the consignment shop is known as the "consignee". The ownership of everything for sale or "consigned" remains that of the seller or "consignor" until those pieces are sold by the consignee at their consignment shop. The consignment shop who contracts with the consignee takes a commission, fee or percentage of the sale price for representing the consignor and allowing them to use their showroom, sales people, and overhead for the process of moving their inventory. Good consignment shops have a loyal following and high turnover because they are well known and carry quality unique merchandise so the consignor is well represented and their consigned items move quickly. Another reason is that pricing is reasonable, providing great value for the shopper and a quick sell for the shop and seller. But, in the case where a consigned item does not sell quickly, most shops have automatic price reductions in place in their contract where, after pre-established periods of time, the price is reduced until the item sells or reaches the end of it's contract period. Consignment offers all these advantages to sellers and in addition the shop can arrange different items from various consignors and display them in a way that they appeal more to shoppers than they would if they just sat there by themselves. It also creates an atmosphere where more items will be sold because they all go together well and, as a whole when combined, look as if an interior decorator created an entire room. That is the sign of a good consignment shop… how talented they are at interior decorating, understanding their merchandise and marketing their client's items to the shopper. So there you have it, when you think of consignment it is probably much more than you ever imagined. The entire business benefits the seller, the shop owners, the shoppers and also the planet because we are sort of recycling merchandise that has already been manufactured and preserved. Consignment shops are a wonderful way to furnish your home with valuable, unique high end furnishings at a great price. They are also a means to profit from your own possessions in a seamless professional way with little effort. In the end, someone else will continue to enjoy what you have cherished for so many years.
