Anybody ever been to the Furniture Market in Tupelo?

[Commodore]

I have access using my mom's blinds business. So we are going down there to score some furniture. Everyone I talk to tells me the price savings are insane. What would cost $1200 is more like $400.

Is that accurate? I need a new couch, chair, 6-drawer dresser and nightstands so I figured this would be a good deal.

I know the furniture biz has insane markups, but like how much really? I am just trying to get an idea for when I go down there.

And RULEMAN bros, expect a phone call soon. I'm 45 minutes away from you knuckleheads. I think some meet & greet drinks are in order.

[Nauty]

I haven't been to the Tupelo market because it is very small in comparison to Highpoint and now Vegas. Our upholstery buyers usually go because there tends to be more upholstery showrooms there as opposed to case goods.

If you're looking to buy you'll want to go on the last day or the day before the last day (23rd and 24th). Those will be the days that showrooms will be looking to unload samples. However, with the Highpoint market coming up in April it would be my guess that many vendors will be shipping their samples from Tupelo to Highpoint.

As for mark up, the initial mark up may be high, but the blended margin is not as much as you think. For example, take the retail price and cut it in half; this is typically the landed cost of the goods (1st cost plus freight from the factory). So the target margin is 50%. Out of that profit comes the cost of operating the company (payroll for all depts, bills, etc.). Now take into consideration that 20% of all deliveries will result in some sort return or exchange (industry average). This furniture will then come back to the warehouse and most likely get dinged up along the way. Now you have to sell the dinged up furniture in an outlet center at a substantial discount or even at a loss.

So, if you blend all of the sales at full margin and below, along with the costs of operating the business, the blended margin on the furniture you sell really isn't as much as you would think. However, if you can get the goods near cost from a market showroom you will definitely save close to 50% off retail.

[ohsix]

I went to one in Dallas at the World Trade Center. Worst 3 days of shopping in my life. I think it took us 2 1/2 days just to look at everything. See if your mom and gf can scout the place for a couple of days while you hit the Casinos (is that Tupelo or Tunica?) then show what looks good in one day.

[Tyler T]

HeyNauty, do furniture stores ever have days where they aren't having a sale extravaganza? And why do they all have "going out of business" sales every month and never go out of business?

[Nauty]

[Commodore]

wes reeves, yeah I feel ya on the long time to cover everything. But what have I got to lose? And it's Tunica for gambling.

My problem is time to go from location to location to location, and then trying to deal with their prices and stuff. I don't have that much time. So having a large supply in one place just makes it easier. Plus I'm not that picky.

[goofyboy]

you could also look into getting the stuff directly from North Carolina. I found a bed from Bassett at the basset store and went online to a dealer in NC. $1000 in the store - $550 plus $100 for shipping from NC. Decent savings.