By Patricia Dark
For Now Utah
Why buy new?
Times are tough, there is no denying it, so if you are downsizing, upsizing, moving or just simply tired of coming home to the same look the Finer Consigner will help you find just the right pieces, they also accept new or gently used furniture. There you may just find the opportunity to “save money and make money”, as this stores motto declares.
Store manager, Kaelyn Strong says that ironically, “the bad economy has been good to us”. Because when it comes to decorating these days people are looking at recycling and finding great bargains. If you are a savvy shopper with top of the line taste then a consignment is your ideal best solution. One of the best in the area, and the by far the largest with over 6000 square feet, is Finer Consigner in Cottonwood Heights.
Walk into this special store and quiet background music, tea and cookies and a wide selection of lovely little room vignettes greet you. The Finer Consigner’s store manager Kaelyn Strong and her troop of professional decorators focus on one concept: helping their customers turn houses and apartments into elegant and original looking homes. After all we don’t all want our houses to look like an RC Willey showroom.
If you would like to sell your “nearly new condition” furniture Finer Consigner will accept your items and price them at about 50% of their original price. Each item remains in the store for 90 days. If it sells, the store gets 50 percent of the price. If it doesn’t sell, the original owner can take it back or donate it to a local charity. Every 30 days the price will be taken down 15%. Strong says, “We try to sell at highest price but we do turn things over every 90 days”.
If you are looking to buy the Finer Consigner offers a vast and eclectic selection of everything from dining room sets to small accessories, Strong says, “We have several designers from the area that bring us things, there are also a lot of people that are downsizing these days so we have some very high quality items at great prices. Upholstered items, accessories, lamps everything you could need to make your home special. We even offer a service where you can take something home for 24 hours to see how it looks without having to purchase it until you are sure it works in your house”.
If you’re looking for customized items they do have a selection of unfinished pieces and the store recommends a local gentleman who will paint or stain the item any color you want. At the back of their new Pleasant Grove store there is also an upholster who will finish your soft furnishings with any fabric you like.
The best thing about this well managed consignment store is that it offers people a variety of styles and items from different time periods that they can mix together to create a look that is more personal, has more charm and more character.
Consignment stores offer high-quality contemporary, antique, designer and sometimes vintage furnishings and accessories. Since such shops usually share the proceeds of a sale with the original owner, prices tend to be higher than thrift stores. But then the quality on offer also tends to be much higher, and the prices are still far lower than at any retail furnishings store. With the wide array of styles and designs available in consignment stores, shopping in an over-priced store where all you find is the “cookie cutter” look pales by comparison.
Whether you are looking for that special piece or need to decorate an entire house, consignment stores are a great place to shop for gently used furniture. You can also buy the furnishings from a developer’s model home, unused furniture at cost from designers or large furniture stores that want to sell off pieces that may be slightly damaged or been displayed for a while.
For furnishings of all sizes and styles visit the Finer Designer in Cottonwood Heights. Unlike most consignment stores all the employees at the Finer Consigner are professional decorators who will be more than happy to advise you. If you don’t find something the first time around, remember that consignment stores receive new merchandise weekly so visit regularly. You can also view most of the new items on the Finer Designers blog site: http://www.finerconsigner.blogspot.com/
So the next time you drive by a consignment store stop in to browse, you might just find a few special pieces that can turn your house into your special home.
Details
Finer Consigner: 7817 S. Highland Dr, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 Phone: (801) 453-9888
Since November 2008 they have a second store at:
285 East State Street, Pleasant Grove UT 84062 Phone: (801) 701-0603
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How to shop in a consignment store
STEP 1: Shop regularly for the best selection. Visit every few weeks as new merchandise is constantly coming in.
STEP 2: Let your local consignment store know what you’re most interested in and all of your measurements. Many will call you when your preferences come in, or at least consider consigning things they know there is demand for.
STEP 3: Examine all of the items you’re considering buying for damages, including scratches, broken hinges, etc.
STEP 4: Consider altering items that may not fit your style or home perfectly. Consider painting or staining wood items or reupholstering chairs and couches. Even with a nominal charge, you’re likely to come away with a great deal, especially on high-end designer items.
Step 5: Understand the return and exchange policies of each consignment shop. If something doesn’t work out, it’s smart to know your options.
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