Acquisitions
We believe vintage and antique furniture provides a sustainable and renewable resource that should be regarded as a positive reinvestment for the next generation of furniture buyers. With this goal in mind, we curate our furniture purchasing and have procedures in place to better serve both our resellers and customers. Our goal is to keep our prices fair and provide an affordable and sustainable service.
Wholesale vs Retail
Harrington Galleries purchases furniture from individuals at wholesale price with the intent to resell at retail prices. Many individuals are hoping to sell items for half or their purchase price but in reality it is best to expect much less for second hand and antique furniture as we need to resell as used furniture. When negotiating a purchase price we must consider our labor, repair, time on floor, insurance, marketing and other expenses. We also mark down all vintage and antique inventory in our shop 20% to insure faster sales so pieces find a good home and are reused and repurposed.
Instant Purchase vs Consignment
We find that many vintage items take longer to sell in this market and we need to be able to mark down prices at our discretion. Therefore, we do not purchase on a traditional consignment model but on an instant purchase model and pay up front not on the condition or percentage of sale. In addition, if the lots do not sell, the cost of labor to move furniture multiple times by seller is not cost effective.