Reuse, Recycle & Reduce Furniture Waste
Eisenhower Consignment is committed to social and environmental responsibility in all aspects of our business. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of furniture and furnishings dumped into the landfills rose from 2.1 million tons in 1960 to 9.79 million tons in 2017, and the rate of increase is accelerating. Nearly 10 million tons of furniture end up in our landfills every year. EC has been in business over nine years continuing to divert pre-owned luxury furniture and furnishings from end-of-life to the landfills. We’re proud to say, we’re making an impact on our environment little by little, and we hope to encourage others to join us in our pursuit by recycling and reusing furniture. Reduce your carbon footprint!
SHOULD YOU CONSIGN, AUCTION, OR HOST AN ESTATE SALE?
Downsizing, refreshing, and decluttering can leave you with saddled with unwanted possessions. When considering selling your items the factors to take into consideration are: timeline, type of item, and condition. The resale market has evolved tremendously and transformed peoples’ perspective on second hand merchandise. Here are three options to consider:
Option 1 – Consignment – often yields the greatest return and suits longer timelines
At Eisenhower Consignment (EC), EC’s website and social media have far reach and presences in the online space as well as the brick and mortar showroom. We have a knowledgeable sales staff, an online presence, a large network of clients, and a beautiful showroom to deliver results. Your property will be showcased beside high quality fine furniture, artwork and home decor. We specialize in finding buyers over an extended period of time, which greatly improves the likelihood of a sale at market value. Consigning is the best way to recoup the greatest value from your used items.
PROS
• Monthly payouts
• Higher payout potential
• Captures target market and potential buyers
• Allows for a longer time period to sell & find the right buyers
• Longer and greater exposure through website, social media, other online venues and showroom
• Maximum exposure through our showroom coupled with the online marketing
CONS
• Selective acceptance: not all items are accepted
• Payout may take longer due to buyer search
Option 2 – Auction – suited for rare and high quality holdings, but you are subject to the unpredictability of what buyer’s on auction day are willing to pay.
A reputable auction house will provide a swift and efficient solution for eliminating large holdings of high quality personal property. Items that cannot be sold in auction are: clothing, appliances, and other such miscellaneous items. Auctions are especially suited for sellers with a large quantity of rare and high quality holdings. An auction’s payout is unpredictable because it is wholly determined by the buyers present at a given auction. Be careful when selecting an auction house and give due consideration to an estate sale as well.
PROS
• Finding a buyer for rare, in demand & high quality items
• Caters to fine art, furniture, artifacts & objects
• Local auction houses are frequently providing estate sale services
CONS
• At least a month or more to execute sale
• Shorter selling period prioritizes expedience over finding the “right buyer”
• Selling price determined by smaller subset of potential buyers attending an auction
• Overall lower payout for fine furniture that requires a target market
Option 3 – Estate Sale – Good for those who want a quick turn around, but you give up the luxury of finding the “right buyer”.
Estate Sales provide complete solution for entire household of personal property, however finding the buyers occurs over a 3 to 4 day period. Unsold items are donated—although there are some exceptions where items of value be sent to auction. Essentially, estate sales can liquidate personal belongings in a short period of time, however like the auction, payout is wholly determined by the attendees of that particular weekend.
PROS
• Estate Sales offer a full services which include a one-stop solution of clearing the entire contents of a house
• high convenience factor
CONS
• At least a month or more to execute sale
• Shorter selling period resulting in fewer buyers
• Selling prices determined by smaller subset of potential buyers
• Overall lower payout for fine furniture that requires a target market
Final thoughts – EC is an alternative to auctions and estate sales, however using all three options can optimize the greatest return on your home furnishings. The resale market has been greatly impacted and improved by the internet, however selling requires science and art to “close the deal” so to speak.
DECORATING WITH MIRRORS
A well placed mirror brings light, depth and focal point to a space. Here are some shapes, sizes and styles that lend a distinct tone to a space.
Mcguire Robert Kuo Puso Mirror