Of Things Past

...from The Toronto Star, dated 2/16/06

"If you are like many of us who leaf through decor magazines, go to home shows, and sigh over antiques and well-made reproductions, but don't possess an immense budget, you might consider consignment.
Buying goods on consignment - items held in trust to be sold for the owner - can mean great bargains for the quick, sharp-eyed shopper.
Of Things Past specializes in the consignment market and will mark its 10th anniversary this month. In those 10 years, they have expanded their space from 4,000 - to 22,000-square-feet and divided into two showrooms - Executive and Exquisite.
Ten years ago, interior designer Doreen Levitz visited high-end consignment stores in California and Florida and thought the concept would work well in Toronto. She teamed with Sharon Jacobson, and advertising designer, and Nushy Vuksinic, a business consultant, and Of Things Past was born.
Of Things Past accepts only high-quality furnishings from homeowners as well as items from interior designers and wholesale importers.
When the business started, Levitz would usually visit a client's home to appraise items, and she still does this for clients not conversant in the email world. But nowadays most people send pictures to Levitz and in most cases she can make an appraisal based on the photo.
How does consignment work? It begins when the store accepts an item from a customer, say, for example, an antique Sheraton-styled table. The table is then taken to the showroom and paired with suitable chairs. Levitz prices it according to its retail value. If it is considered top quality, it finds a home in their Exquisite showroom, along with other antiques and designer modern furniture.
A tag is attached to the table with the current price as well as a pull number that helps buyers and the store keep track of items in the showroom.
If an item doesn't sell in 60 days it is discounted by 15 percent and then 10 percent every 30 days until sold. Those willing to gamble will wait out the reductions, but savvy shoppers know to snap something up immediately.
The staff at Of Things Past will hold items for 24 hours, but not a minute longer; fights have been known to break out over pieces that have been held longer. Some customers actually wait out the 24 hours so they can snap up the item if the buyer doesn't show.
Presently, the Exquisite showroom is stocked with an antique refectory table priced at $4,850 but that price will drop to $3,152 by June. It is accompanied by a set of Tole painted metal chairs, price at $2,050, which will drop to $717 if not sold by April. Other great items in the Exquisite showroom are an antique gramophone with brass horn price at $490, a three-seat leather sofa priced at $2,450, as well as a Chinoiserie styled Chippendale cabinet.
If Art Deco is your thing, consider the blonde wood buffet priced at $690; if you love French 18th-century chateau style, the Aubusson styled tapestry is $533. There's also and 18th-century altar candlestick lamp for $630 and Louis IV-styled fauteuil in needlework, now $189.
Other great bargains include a seagrass chair priced at $169 and modern chrome and brown kangaroo chairs reminiscent of the Barcelona style, at $221 each.
Of Things Past also has a coffee house and ample parking and those in the know come equipped with measuring tapes and pens so if they do find that amazing item, they are ready to pounce."

...noted in the Toronto Star on Feb.12, 2005

Of Things Past
Tenth Anniversary Milestone
"It's always a treat to visit this huge consignment showroom with more than 22,000 square feet of quality furnishings from some of Toronto's finest homes. You can buy and sell furniture, rugs, lamps, wall hangings and china plus thousands of other quality decor items. Pieces are well displayed and change daily. Great bargains, especially on items that have been in stock more than 60 days and are reduced monthly."