If it doesn't move in 30 days at that price, a red slash is put through its price sticker, and it sells for half price. At the consignor's option, anything still around after three months either goes back to the consignor or is donated to a charity, with the consignor getting the charitable tax deduction. The two shops carry furniture, art, decorative objects, and unusual odds and ends, but no longer any clothing, because space is at a premium. Ms. Finnerty has noticed that the public's buying habits have changed over the past 20 years. They're looking for authentic antiques, and quality furniture is getting harder to come by.
People are more interested, more informed.
It's made the business more challenging. Residents of retirement communities frequently consign their excess belongings here. We've created a sense of trust. They have a complete accounting. The accounting has become less of a chore since son Tommy Finnerty set up an integrated computerized system five years ago that links the two shops.