8/8/2019 Aladdin Spotlight

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6B The Virginia Gazette Nov. 17, 2010

Earlier this fall, a Richmond fam-ily brought a whole dining roomof Henkel Harris furniture to

Aladdin Consignment inWilliamsburg. Although there areplenty of furniture consignment storesin Richmond, this family knew thateven after hiring movers, they’d stillcome out ahead. “It still paid them tobring their furniture here,” Aladdinowner Mary Ann Gist says. “There

were shocked.”The consigners weren’t the only

ones to come out ahead. The buyersalso felt fortunate. “The Henkel Harristable and chairs went out the sameday,” Gist says. “A woman came in

 just as we got it set up, took a pictureand went home and showed her hus-band. He said, ‘You better get backthere and buy it. That stuff goes fast.’She got lucky.”

You’ll hear stories like this often atAladdin Consignment. Aladdin, besideWaWa on Merrimac Trail, is your des-tination to find high-end, gently usedfurniture and accessories at reason-

able prices.

At Aladdin, you may be able tofurnish an entire home with coordi-nating pieces that someone else lov-ingly assembled over the years. “Wehad a big houseful of natural cherrycustom made furniture fromKingsmill—four corner cabinets,tables, chairs, dressers, a bed and a lot

of artwork,” Gist says. “We soldalmost everything.”

Consigners like Aladdin becausethey get 60 percent of the sales price,a better split that many similar storesoffer. They also appreciate that their items usually move quickly. Gist hasan expert eye for what will sell so ifshe takes your sofa, china cabinet or other pieces, she’s confident there’s abuyer somewhere. Aladdin’s mark-down after 30 days is just 10 percent,compared to 15-20 percent at someshops. Accessories such as lamps, mir-rors and art are never marked down.But most items never make it to mark-

down.“Eighty-five percent of my inven-

tory moves out in less than 30 days,”Gist says.

If you’re a seller, Gist will make anappointment to go to your home andlook at large pieces you’re interestedin consigning. If you have accessories,you can bring them in and Gist, her 

daughter-in-law Lori Detwiler, or another member of the talentedAladdin team will look at them in your vehicle and determine if they’re agood fit for Aladdin and its clientele.Aladdin also can arrange for pickupand delivery.

Call Gist a furniture matchmaker.She has a two-week waiting list to getitems in the store. She also has awhole wish book of items that buyersare looking for. Often when someonecalls her with an item they want to

consign, she already has a buyer inmind from her wish book. “I even call

people on the wish list and tell themwhat date ‘their’ item is going tocome in the door,” Gist says.

Sometimes the store gets so busy

that regulars checking on when cer-tain items are arriving end up pitchingin to give the team a hand. “Everyonewants to be in the know,” Gist says.

Aladdin regulars stop by as oftenas three times a week—the store isopen 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.on Saturday. Others customers from

Richmond, Tappahannock, Mathewsand elsewhere check in on Saturdays,often lining up at the door for the 10a.m. opening. Customers havebought furniture at Aladdin andmoved it to homes in North Carolina,Florida, Massachusetts, and Iowa.

If you really want an item atAladdin, don’t hesitate. One manrecently told Gist he liked a sofa, andthen walked away to look at other furniture and accessories. Within min-utes, a woman walked in the store

and began admiring the same sofa.Gist quickly went back to the man andasked him his intentions. He wasready to buy, so she marked the sofa‘sold,’ and the interested lady missedout by mere minutes.

Gist enjoys redecorating the shopafter items sell. She also helps her buyers with decorating tips. Stop byduring the holidays, look at the deco-rations including a fabulous Christmastree, and take time to enjoy Christmascookies.

You’ll quickly see why Aladdin hasbecome a favorite stop for buyers andsellers alike. “In 3.5 years, I’ve built my

clientele of buyers and sellers into thethousands,” Gist says. “The quality offurniture I get is high-end and thatquality reputation and our reasonableprices attract both buyers and sellers.”Come in once and you’ll see why.

Spotlight on Success is a paid advertorial feature. If you are interested in having your business represented on this page, please contact your Virginia Gazette sales representative: 757.220.1736.

Featured Success Stories

Aladdin

Consignment7131 Merrimac Trail

Williamsburg, Va. 23185

757.206.1665

www.aladdinconsignment.com

HoursMON–FRI • 10AM–5PM

SAT • 10AM–4PM

Closed Sunday

the virginia gazette • williamsburg, virginia november 17, 2010

Matchmaker 

Aladdin Consignment: Bringing Lovers ofFine Furniture and Accessories Together 

By K.H. Queen

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757.206.1665www.aladdinconsignment.com

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www.tncc.edu

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75.229.0275

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www.windsormeade.org

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