How to Sell Furniture on Chairish (Step-by-Step)

How to Sell Furniture on Chairish (Step-by-Step)

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The world of online vintage and antique furniture sales is thriving, and Chairish stands out as a premier platform for connecting with design-conscious buyers. This comprehensive guide will lead you step-by-step through the process of effectively listing and selling your furniture on Chairish.

Table of Contents

I. Pre-Listing Preparation:

1. Understanding Chairish:

  • Target Audience: Chairish caters to a discerning clientele of design enthusiasts, interior designers, and homeowners looking for one-of-a-kind pieces.
  • Platform Strengths: It offers a curated marketplace that emphasizes quality and style, backed by a strong brand reputation. This translates to a higher likelihood of connecting with serious buyers who appreciate the value of vintage and antique furniture.

2. Identify Your Ideal Items:

  • Research: Explore the Chairish platform to identify trending styles and popular categories. Mid-Century Modern, Hollywood Regency, and Art Deco often perform well.
  • Value Assessment: Utilize Chairish’s “Pink Book” pricing guide to analyze past sales of similar items. This will provide invaluable insights into current market value and help you price your pieces competitively.
  • Condition is Key: Prioritize furniture in excellent condition, free from significant damage or excessive wear. Items with unique features, designer provenance, or interesting historical backgrounds are likely to generate more interest.

3. Optimize Your Furniture:

  • Presentation Matters: Thoroughly clean and polish your furniture to showcase its best attributes.
  • Minor Enhancements: Consider making minor repairs or touch-ups to address any superficial imperfections.
  • Staging for Success: Stage your furniture for photos using neutral backdrops and simple props to create visually appealing compositions that will attract buyers.

II. Creating A Stellar Chairish Listing:

1. Captivating Photography:

  • Light It Right: Use natural lighting to capture your furniture in the best possible light. Avoid harsh shadows or artificial lighting that can distort colors.
  • Multiple Angles: Capture photos from various angles, showcasing details, textures, and overall dimensions. Close-ups of intricate carvings, unique hardware, or fabric patterns can enhance your listing’s appeal.
  • Showcase Sets: If you are selling a set of chairs, a dining table with matching chairs, or other groupings, photograph them together to highlight their visual impact and demonstrate how they work as a cohesive unit.

2. Compelling Title and Description:

  • Title: Craft a concise and keyword-rich title that immediately captures attention. Mention key features such as the furniture style, material, brand (if applicable), and any unique attributes. For example: “Mid-Century Modern Walnut Credenza with Brass Accents.”
  • Description:
    • Start with the Essentials: Begin by providing essential details about the furniture: artist/maker, dimensions, materials, period/style, and provenance (if known).
    • Tell a Story: Go beyond basic details by adding a narrative element. Highlight unique features, historical background, design inspiration, or any interesting stories associated with the piece.
    • Transparency Builds Trust: Be transparent about any imperfections or wear consistent with the age of the furniture. Honesty about minor flaws can build trust with potential buyers.

3. Strategic Keyword Optimization:

  • Leverage Chairish Resources: Utilize relevant keywords from Chairish’s suggested list and the “Pink Book.” These keywords are commonly used by Chairish shoppers and will help your listings appear in relevant search results.
  • Incorporate Key Terms: Include brand names, materials, styles, and design periods in your description. For example, “This vintage Eero Saarinen Tulip table features a white marble top and a cast aluminum base. It’s a classic piece of Mid-Century Modern design that would be a stunning addition to any dining room.”

4. Effective Pricing:

  • Research is Essential: Conduct thorough research by analyzing comparable sold listings on Chairish and other platforms. Understand the price range for similar pieces in varying conditions.
  • Consider Market Trends: Factor in current market trends and demand for specific furniture styles. Are certain periods or designers particularly popular right now?
  • Strategic Pricing: Price your furniture strategically, leaving room for potential offers and trade discounts. A slightly higher initial price can provide flexibility during negotiations.

5. Shipping Logistics:

  • Accurate Measurements: Accurately measure and enter the shipping dimensions of your furniture. Add 3 inches to each side to account for packaging materials. Accurate dimensions are crucial for calculating shipping costs and avoiding issues with delivery.
  • Choose a Shipping Method:
    • Chairish In-Home Delivery: This professional service is ideal for large or fragile furniture items that require specialized handling.
    • Chairish Parcel: Pre-paid UPS labels offer a convenient option for smaller packages that can be shipped via standard ground services.
    • Local Pickup/Delivery: Offer flexibility for local buyers by allowing them to pick up items directly or arrange for local delivery at an additional cost.
    • Seller Managed Delivery: If you prefer to handle shipping yourself, you can opt for this method and set your own shipping rates.
  • Chairish Drop Off & Go: This program simplifies the process by allowing you to drop off your sold furniture at a UPS Store, where professionals will handle the packing and shipping for you.

III. Maximizing Your Chairish Sales:

1. Trade Discounts:

  • Attract Designers: Offering trade discounts (typically 15-30%) can attract interior designers and trade professionals who are frequently seeking unique pieces for their clients.
  • Flexible Discount Options: Chairish allows you to set a flat trade discount for all listings or apply individual discounts for specific items.

2. “Make An Offer” Feature:

  • Embrace Negotiation: Be open to negotiation by pricing your items slightly higher to accommodate offers from buyers. The “Make An Offer” feature encourages engagement and can lead to faster sales.
  • Prompt Responses: Respond quickly to offers and counter-offers to keep the momentum going and close deals efficiently.

3. Reserve Prices:

  • Protect Your Profit: Set a reserve price for your furniture listings. This represents the minimum price you are willing to accept, ensuring you don’t sell your pieces below a certain threshold.

4. Profile Branding:

  • Personalize Your Shop: Enhance your Chairish shop by adding a visually appealing cover image, a profile photo, and a compelling shop description.
  • Build Trust Through Expertise: Share your expertise, style preferences, or unique offerings to establish a connection with buyers and build trust in your brand.

5. Continuous Listing and Promotion:

  • Fresh Inventory: Regularly add new items to your Chairish shop to keep your inventory fresh and capture attention in the “New Arrivals” section. This will increase your visibility and showcase the diversity of your offerings.
  • Social Media Integration: Promote your Chairish shop across your social media platforms. Share links to your listings and encourage followers to visit your shop.
  • Strategic Markdowns: If an item has been listed for an extended period (30-60 days) without selling, consider taking a markdown to re-spark interest. Chairish will notify users who have favorited the item about the price reduction.

IV. FAQs:

  • Q1: How are payments handled on Chairish?
    • A1: Chairish processes payments securely through PayPal. Sellers need a PayPal account to receive funds. Chairish covers the associated PayPal fees.
  • Q2: What commission does Chairish charge on sales?
    • A2: Chairish has a sliding scale commission structure. For listings with 20 or more items, the commission is 20%. For listings with fewer than 20 items, the commission is 30%.
  • Q3: Does Chairish review every listing?
    • A3: Yes, every listing submitted to Chairish undergoes a curation process. Chairish’s team of experts reviews each listing for quality, style, and compliance with platform guidelines. They may edit descriptions, optimize images, and enhance listings for search engines (SEO). Not all submitted items are guaranteed to be accepted.
  • Q4: Can I sell art on Chairish?
    • A4: Absolutely! Chairish welcomes art listings alongside furniture. Follow the same guidelines for photography, descriptions, and keyword optimization to create compelling art listings.
  • Q5: What are some of the most popular furniture categories on Chairish?
    • A5: Mid-Century Modern furniture remains consistently popular, as are Hollywood Regency pieces, iconic designer brands, vintage seating, statement lighting, and unique accent furniture.

Conclusion:

Selling furniture on Chairish provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with a passionate design community and find buyers who value unique, high-quality pieces. By following these steps, you can create captivating listings, optimize for maximum visibility, and attract buyers seeking stylish additions for their homes.