This readers’ favorite consignment/resale store serves as a sustainable model for creating less waste and more savings
Words and photography by Anna–Rhesa Versola
Movers quickly unload vintage furniture and boxes of kitchenware from inside a truck to a storage bay in Chapel Hill, where The Consignors practice sustainability one auction at a time.
“Our slogan is, ‘Don’t buy new,’” says Elizabeth Hirsh, owner and founder of The Downsizers, the parent company of The Consignors. The spinoff venture launched in March 2023 to consign items acquired through The Downsizers’ decluttering process. “I think the mission of the business is, from a sustainability perspective, getting high-quality, unique items into other people’s hands. That is really a huge reason why we do what we do.”
Elizabeth says the downsizing industry roughly estimates that a 3,000-square-foot home contains approximately 300,000 individual items. The Consignors typically post a new auction every two weeks, with each one containing about 350 lots that could include mid-century modern pieces, retro housewares, art prints and paintings, books, jewelry, porcelain, pottery, glass, crystal, antiques, collectibles and curiosities.
The online auction industry, which includes estate and tag sales, is expected to generate $9.7 billion this year, according to a recent IBISWorld report.
to enjoy themselves while doing good.
THE PROCESS
Elizabeth says The Downsizers is the largest senior management company in the Carolinas and one of the Triangle’s leading professional home organizers. In her experience, many homeowners want to liquidate anywhere between 70% and 100% of their belongings in a very, very short period of time. “It is extremely difficult,” she says. “Probably one of the most difficult things you could ask someone to do.”
When a homeowner dies and their possessions are liquidated, this is known as an estate sale; if the homeowner is living, then this would be called a tag sale. In either case, The Consignors can place items for sale using an online platform to attract bidders for each lot. Anyone interested in a particular item would simply register for a free account on the website and place a bid, which often starts at $1. Winning bidder collect their item(s) in person.
“I always ask people if they got everything they wanted, and it’s fun to hear their responses,” says Auction Manager Angela McGinn. She recalls one gem of a story about six months ago when a UNC student was the highest bidder on one lot of three first edition Mark Twain books. Angela says that a local book buyer passed on the lot. The student had previewed the books prior to the auction and discovered a printing error.
It’s a full circle – it’s not just the buyers, and it’s not just the sellers; it’s sharing the stories between the two so that everyone can just feel good. [The item] is being reused by somebody who really wants it. I think the very special part of this is that we connect the two.
Elizabeth Hirsh
“[The student] figured out that first editions with errors in them are incredibly rare and valuable,” Elizabeth says. “He had done his research and actually ended up winning it, and he has a very valuable book.”
Angela adds that costume jewelry is an unexpected draw for bidders. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a fine gem or a precious metal,” she says. “It can just be something really vintage. And they will do very, very well. We have a lot of people who come to the auction just for the vintage jewelry.”
Elizabeth says people find a way to connect across time and place. “What they’re more excited about is the fact that someone wants their items,” she says. “Because they’re very special, [sellers get] really excited when they see multiple people bidding on their items … and that gives them a tremendous amount of joy.”
