Ways to Sell Refinished Furniture

Refinishing furniture can be a rewarding and profitable hobby or business. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or a professional furniture restorer, there are many options available for selling refinished furniture. Let’s talk about ways to sell refinished furniture…

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Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces are a great place to sell refinished furniture and the number one place I always sold furniture. Platforms like CraigsList, Etsy, eBay, Amazon, and Facebook Marketplace are popular options. These platforms provide a vast audience of potential buyers, allowing you to reach people across the country or even internationally. You can also list your items at a competitive price and customize your listings to make them stand out.

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Online Groups

Facebook groups and other forums have communities dedicated to refinishing furniture, painting furniture, DIY projects, and selling pre-owned furniture and other household items. Simply run a search with keywords that include the “name of your town + yard sale or online yard sale”. Or, include “your state + furniture yard sale”in the search term. By sharing your work and engaging with these communities, you can attract potential buyers and grow your network.

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Flea Markets

Flea markets are a great way to sell refinished furniture. You can rent a booth and display your items for sale. Fees can range from $25 to around $300 depending on the size of the flea market. A weekly local market is usually at the lowest price point and the fairs that only occur 1-3 times per year and attract thousands of people, like the Brimfield Antique Market, will run on the high end.

There are several benefits to selling at flea markets. They attract a high amount of foot traffic and a diverse audience. People are often looking for unique pieces to add to their homes. You can also network with other vendors and potentially collaborate on future projects.

However, selling here will also require you to rent a truck in order to bring several pieces of furniture to fill your space. You’ll need to hire some extra labor to help you load and unload the truck. And at the end of the day, you’ll need to bring any unsold pieces back home.

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Consignment Shops

Consignment shops are another option for selling refinished furniture. Consignment shops have programs where they will feature your furniture in their shop and when it sells they keep a percent of the sale.

The consignment shop keeps on average 50% of the sale price. The shop usually insists on setting the sale price, which in my experience has always been lower than what I would have listed the furniture for sale. The reason they do this is because the most important thing to the shop is selling the furniture fast so they can rotate their inventory often.

While consignment shops do generate traffic and put your furniture in front of customers, if your furniture does not sell, you need to pick it up by a set date or the shop usually donates it. I’ve also picked up more than one piece of furniture, only to find that it was damaged because the shop owner dragged it across the floor and broke a table leg or placed a glass dish on top and scratched the surface.

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Small Local Shops

You may be to approach a local shop and ask if they are willing to sell your furniture in their store. This allows you to get exposure to a local audience, and unlike at a consignment shop, you may be able to set the sale price and negotiate a commission rate paid to the shop owner.

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Booths

A booth is a small sales space within another shop and a very convenient way to sell furniture. There are shops specifically set up strictly for vendor booths. Similar to booths at flea markets, but these are indoor spaces you pay a monthly fee to rent the space year-round.

You maintain the inventory and displays within your own booth. The shop owner provides a sales clerk that rings in the sales for customers so you do not need to be present in the shop.

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In conclusion, there are many options available for selling refinished furniture. Online marketplaces, local furniture stores, flea markets, consignment shops, and online groups and forums are just a few options to consider. By exploring these options and finding what works best for you, you can turn your hobby or business into a successful venture.