Hey, friends! This week’s podcast episode is all about second-hand shopping and our favorite places to find great pieces.  This is a topic that Kaley & I absolutely love chatting about because we second-hand shop all the time. Hope you enjoy it! 

Why You Should Second-Hand Shop

First and foremost, let’s talk about why second-hand shopping is so important for rental businesses! It is truly such a great tool to have under your belt. 

1. You will save SO much money!

You can find brand new, designer furniture pieces online for a fraction of the retail price.  The best part? The money you make off of these rentals will be pure profit because you will likely be renting those pieces for what you bought them for. Talk about a WIN!

2. It’s a sustainable practice!

Shopping second-hand is sustainable and great for the environment. You are giving a pre-loved piece a second chance at life, rather than it going to waste.

3. The pieces you have will tell stories.

Buying second-hand means you will have unique pieces that tell a story! Something we love about our second-hand items is that they are conversation starters.  We know where they came from & they are unique to our inventory!

How to Find Second-Hand Pieces

1. Thrifting 

There a ton of different thrift stores you could go to, but some well-known ones are Goodwill and Salvation Army! Kaley prefers the Salvation Army in Dallas because it has a much larger furniture selection.  You definitely have to dig at thrift stores to find the good stuff, but when you do, it’s so worth it! Thrift Stores are going to be the best place for deals.  They’re also great for styling pieces like books, frames, and other small items! 

2. Antique stores

For the most part, antique stores are going to be more expensive & have higher quality items than thrift stores.  This is because they have curated their selection and understand how much items are worth! One of my favorite places to shop in DFW is Lula B’s in the Design District.  

3. Estate Sales

We love a good estate sale! You can find estate sales by googling, “Estate Sales near me” and searching through the internet.  If you find a home that has your aesthetic, you’ve probably hit the jackpot.  

4. Auctions

Auctions are also a great place to find high-quality furniture at a great price.  One auction site that I have used is Hi Bid. There, you can search through tons of auctions and find ones that are local to you.  A few things to note about auctions: They can be very competitive and sometimes the photos are deceiving.  My advice is to  make sure you really love the piece if you are bidding higher than you thought.  Sometimes, though, you can be the only bidder and get the STEAL of your life!

5. Flea Markets

We love heading to a flea market for the weekend as a team! Nothing is more fun than finding a booth full of mid-century gems and Moroccan rugs.  One of our favorites is the Round Top Antiques Fair here in Texas!

And last but certainly not least….

6. Facebook Marketplace! 

Facebook Market is our secret gem. We have furnished our homes and quite a few rentals through this amazing marketplace! In my opinion, Facebook is the most user-friendly resale site and has so many good finds.  Some pieces in our collection that are from Facebook Marketplace are the Hayes chairs, Aria rug, and Blakely Rug!

If you know of any other great resources for second-hand shopping, let us know! We love finding new ways to get pre-loved furniture. 

Joyfully, Brooke Hicks | Render Co.