The Friday Fix: An Exciting New Way to Thrift Shop
Are you one who is apprehensive about purchasing items from the thrift shop? Do you love a great bargain, but cringe at the thought of bringing a pre-loved item into your home? Do you have a home staging business and need to update your furnishings? Are you an interior stylist, who needs a great go-to place for unique, high quality finds for your clients? Or, perhaps you're totally committed to thrifting, but you like the scent of something new every once in a good while.
If you answered "yes" to any one of the above questions, this post is for you. Today, I'm going to let you in on my secret for getting 30-75% off of brand new, high-end furnishings.
Affiliate links may be included in this post. This means that should you purchase a linked product, I may receive a small commission, but at no additional cost to you. To read my full disclosure click here.
How I Get 30-75% Off Brand New Home Furnishings
Some years ago a number of peculiar shops began popping up in discreet locations near my hometown. They all shared the same characteristics. Each was:
- Tucked away in a modest location
- Located in a no frills warehouse or raw store space
- Fully stocked with brand new furniture - much of it still in boxes
Naturally, I was quite suspicious at first. 'Was this some sort of money laundering scheme? Was the merchandise stolen? Where did all this... this... good stuff- name brand stuff - come from? ' All of these questions played in my head like a broken record, while my heart raced with excitement at seeing the deeply discounted prices.
But I didn't trust it. So I refused to buy anything.
That is until I did a little research. You see, stores like Wayfair, Joss & Main, All Modern, Bed Bath & Beyond, and other major retailers have sort of gotten themselves into a somewhat unavoidable revolving door. In an effort to keep up with rapidly changing trends, consumer demands, and to remain relevant in their market, they stock their warehouses with tons of the latest must haves. But when the demand for the product(s) decline, the company is left with warehouses filled with unsold merchandise.
The Bullwhip Effect- What is It?
It's called the "bullwhip effect." No industry- clothing, food, or suppliers of household goods- is immune to it. When the boomerang or Bullwhip strikes, suppliers can handle their left over merchandise in a number of ways. They can:
- Liquidated it (i.e., destroy it to prevent competition)
- Sell it to discount stores like T.J. Maxx or Marshalls (which ironically creates competition)
- Donate it
- Sell/donate it to small, no-frills overstock warehouses for resale (which drastically reduces the chain store competition)
While I can't be dogmatic about it, that last bullet point most closely resembles what I see happening around my area. Now that the technical stuff is out of the way, let me show you some of the deals you can find at an overstock warehouse (also known as "Scratch and Dent" warehouses). All of the items were found at my favorite warehouse called Salvage+, located in Dyer, Indiana.
As you can see, the items are sold "as is", and all sales are final. So be sure to take good measurements if you're furnishing a home.
Related Post: How to Decorate on a Slim Budget
Other items, although new, were floor models or slightly damaged during transit. So it's a good idea to ask the warehouse owner to pull the entire piece into the open so that you can examine it carefully before making a purchase.
Can you imagine the money you would save furnishing your or a client's home with these discounted items? If you were thinking of starting a home staging or interior styling business, warehouses like this make the idea totally within reach! You can even purchase rugs, curtains, bedding and artwork here!
That red chair and ottoman are just everything, right? The lumbar pillow is from Bed Bath & Beyond, but in my excitement I forgot to get the price.
I tried desperately to get out of this store without spending a dime. Remember in this post how I explained that I hate spending money. WELL... I had a moment of weakness when I spotted this lovely lamp sitting all alone, and looking for a home. There are three possible rooms where it would be suitable in my home, it doesn't look like every run-of-the-mill lamp that I've been seeing, and it's super solid. So I figured it was worth the $39 bucks.
- What do you think of this warehouse overstock store, Salvage+?
- Do you have any stores like this in your area?
One more favor may I ask of you?
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Merci Beaucoup!
