Insights behind the scenes.

What started out as a business based on me scurrying around to find cheap vintage inventory in thrift stores, yard sales and roadsides has literally evolved into a machine of connections, referrals and being an integral part of helping families recoup some money after the loss of a family member or clean out of a property. I love to thrift but I don’t live to do it anymore. This business consumes a lot of time quickly. Between the sourcing, cleaning and repair, photo shoots and listing and then the customer services, shipping quotes, packing and delivering. As you grow you realize that you cannot do it all. I am very grateful for the connections I made along the way! I have cut the whole looking for inventory out. I basically just review photos and show up and pick it up these days. It has been liberating especially since I do have a real paying job to deal with….and by the way, I still don’t get paid from doing this. My car is finally mine…..compliments of 5 years of hustling vintage. I am paying rent in 2 retail spaces for now but I do have goals of combining into one at some point. I do still wish my local presence would leave more of an impact of my sales, but I do better in the national market. Play bigger, win bigger I guess. I have people asking me to sell their stuff regularly now and although I never intended to do consignment or buy complete collections, I will attempt to help as budget and time allows.

I want to leave you with some thoughts of the coming months. Shippers have done a great job throughout the pandemic keeping vintage furniture moving around the country. The younger generations really appreciate vintage and that is a blessing for those of us in the business. I don’t see this slowing down yet, but I do see a hurdle or two. Shippers are dealing with high gas costs and travel expenses. I see one of my own markets low balling them. I also see shippers on to this and letting bids sit so out of desperation to get an item shipped, the price goes up benefitting the shipper. Well deserved, but now we have a situation where the middle man who arranged the shipping lost money. Sure they take a hefty cut off our sales with them so they have a buffer, but no telling how long this can sustain without some new rules. As an observer, I will sit and take this in. They are still, in most cases, charging the buyer less than I could arrange shipping for myself. Oh and by the way, they just bought a similar company in Europe and expects to open that up for us and Europeans can buy our stuff and they will ship it there. There is much to be excited about, leery of and patient for right now in this ever changing world. That said, while things are still the way I know, please check my Chairish shop first when looking to purchase a large item. I can price my network of shippers but if the price is good, I may not be able to beat it anyway. They are currently offer the best rates, in most cases and I can’t afford to pitch in to your shipping like apparently they are! Shop early if you need stuff for the holidays! Shipping large items can take up to 8 weeks! Previewing of upcoming inventory addition below! Good stuff!
XO MALISSA

Preview of some great danish i Have committed to buy and will be pIcking up early october!