I’m OBSESSED with secondhand decor.
(I mean, I literally built an entire retail store off my love of thrift, sooooo…)
You don’t have to be thrift-obsessed like me to have an appreciation for giving an old item a new home. The growing-in-popularity consignment route allows you to make money (for more decor obviously) by parting with your still-beautiful-but-no-longer-sparking-joy things.
From clothes to furniture, Calgary has got some great consignment stores.
But, what about decor? Are there options for consignment decor in Calgary?
While there are some stores that take decor, none specialize in it… and none are run and owned by interior designers who can help you style it… until Unshelf Boutique 🙂
So, without further adieu, here is my complete guide to consigning decor in Calgary with Unshelf Boutique!
Why Should I Consign My Decor?
Have you ever been in any of these situations?
- You’re moving and your new home doesn’t have space to house all of your decor
- You’re spring cleaning and decluttering, which includes getting rid of your unwanted accessories
- You want to refresh your home, and your existing decor doesn’t suit your current design aesthetic
- You’ve simply fallen out of love with certain items – they do not ‘spark joy’ when you look at them.
- You do NOT want to try to sell things on marketplace/Kijiji and have strangers come to your house to barter for a few dollars.
If you’ve answered yes to any of these, raise your hand (and call us).
I’ll wait (by the phone).
Sometimes donating your decor, especially pieces that are in pristine condition, can feel a bit impersonal, like a loss of value for you, which is why we are a great stop beforehand.
Unshelf is truly the perfect middle-ground!
We sell consigned pieces that are modern, trendy, and in good condition, so people know to come to us before heading to HomeSense.
We also curate consignment decor into professionally styled vignettes, meaning that we bundle complimentary decor to show each item in its best ‘arrangement’, guaranteeing they sell for more.
(In case you needed reminding, this whole process ends with you, the consignor, making money!)
So, before you drop off a box of decor to donation, bring it to Unshelf Boutique first so we can sell it for you! If we don’t take your decor (or if we can’t sell it), we will donate it to participating charities on your behalf. Win/Win!
How Do I Consign Decor in Calgary with Unshelf Boutique?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that:
- We are NOT an antique or vintage store that takes high valuation items and we are not appraisers
- We are NOT a thrift store, so items need to be in great condition, modern, and trending
Here’s our step-by-step process!
Step 1: Decor Consult & Drop Off
Gather up all your decor and home accessories and bring them to our store located at 3411 8th street SE, Calgary.
You will leave the items with us to review within 1 week. We will then sort through them and choose items to consign based on:
- Condition
- Style
- Trend-factor
Even though we love and welcome walk-ins, we recommend making an appointment, especially if you want to take items home with you that we do not accept, rather than having us donate them.
Step 2: Cataloguing & Pricing
We price each of your items and attach them to your consignor file.
All items are priced based on:
- Age
- Condition
- Current market trends
- Current market demand
Note: We determine and set the prices for all items. We are not appraisers and use our judgment for value based on the above.
Step 3: Vignette Styling
Your items will be paired with complementary pieces from other consignors to create beautifully styled vignettes to sell as professionally designed bundles.
Note: Items can also be purchased individually and vignettes will be broken up because of this. However, the vignettes do act as inspiration and emotional appeal regardless of the bundle selling together.
Step 4: Marketing
We take professional photos of each individual item and curated styled vignettes and add them on our website’s “Shop” page. Items will also be showcased on our retail floor in a variety of areas and promoted during our workshops in the design lab.
Unshelf Design consists of expert marketers (truly, the owner owned a digital marketing company for 9 years), so you can rest assured that your consigned goods will be strategically blasted all over our socials, marketplaces, and buy & sells.
Step 5: Sale e-transfer / Credit
Cha-ching! This is where you get paid.
Once sold (and upon request), we’ll send you 40% of the sale price.
Consignors can also choose not to withdraw their funds. This option means you keep 100% of your earnings PLUS an additional 5% as store credit. That means 45% of your items’ sale price to be spent in store.
What CAN I Consign?
The following items are very much welcome:
- Wall art
- Clocks
- Lamps
- Candle holders
- Vases
- Mirrors
- Decorative plates and bowls
- Crystals
- Faux plants and flowers
- Baskets
- Sculptures and decorative figurines
- Trays
- Ceramics
*Wall art and clocks are accepted in limited quantities due to wall space. Wall art is only accepted with neutral colouring/themes. It is recommended to send photos prior to bringing them.
What CAN’T I Consign?
We don’t accept the below items and therefore, actively discourage you from bringing them in:
- Furniture
- Antiques
- Valuable vintage items
- Cookware
- Dinnerware
- Glassware
- Kitchen utensils
- Appliances and electronics
- Clothing
- Fashion accessories
- Backpacks and purses
- Shoes
- Books
- Linens and bedding
- Musical instruments
We will also immediately turn away items that are:
- Stained
- Cracked
- Ripped
- Frayed
- Broken
- Greasy
- Dirty
- Smelly
We are committed to making consignment decor in Calgary easy, profitable, and fun!
Say goodbye to trying to sell your decor online (only to get no-showed), and hello to getting money for your quality items without all the headache of a garage sale.
We can’t wait to see all your beautiful home decor, and hope that you will find a few new pieces for your home while you’re here!
Ready to consign with us?