January 18, 2011

The Little Brown Table That Won't Sell

Anyone that has an online, brick and mortar store, or booth, knows what I am talking about.  You have a perfect item for sale and it just won't sell!

I have had this table in my booth for 8 months.  

Now, lets face it if we all knew what would sell we would all be millionaires, sometimes it just drives you crazy trying to figure it out. 

This is A picture of my booth in August
 See it there in the back, the brown table, now granted it does not go with the whole pink and white vibe, but everyone said, you can't paint it, this is a "Mersman"
A Mersman is a really good piece of vintage furniture and I guess it is a CRIME to paint it.........Well, Arrest me!
You are all going to have to visit me in jail!

I gave it the full shabby treatment

Vintage paper in the drawer and tassels

I left the feet with the original "Claws" and a little distressing and glaze to bring out the detail

I put it back in my booth today at Orange Tree
I had it originally priced at $125 because that is what the last "Mersman" table in the mall sold for.  Then I started the reductions $85 $65 $42....I called UNCLE!  
I took it home, painted it, polyurethaned it, lined the drawer, added a tassel and repriced it for $65.00

Will it sell???  How long do you think it will take......I suppose it is illegal to put money on this little bet?
I'll let you know!

Happy Selling 
Carol





33 comments:

Jaclyn said...

Oooo, I love it!!! If you weren't across the US I'd buy it. And painted items can always be stripped and restored. (Although it does ruin the value of some antiques)

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

It won't be there long! I LOVE it . . .now that it's shabbied up **wink**

Sue@Uniquely Chic said...

I bet it sells now! It looks so much better painted. I'm giving it 2 weeks and then bye, bye. Let me know how you make out with it. If you said the word Mersman to me a year ago, I wouldn't have a clue what you were talking about. I painted my Mersman find too, ha! Shame on us :)

Sandy~Romantique Inspirations~ said...

Oh, I bet it's going to sell real fast..... I'm sure of that. It looks so much better now, at least it does for me. The tassel is a nice touch too.... it's all in the packaging....... it's an eye catcher for sure! It will be interesting to know what happens. Good Luck!

Enjoy your Evening*

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Hi Carol,
I sure understand about the table..."they" love white and shabby...it's a little frustrating to paint a great piece. I've had to do it too...it will sell :)
Warmly,
deb

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Oh Carol, you have got me laughing on this one!
I do know the feeling. I have one similar to yours that hasn't been painted. Same thing....oh don't paint that piece it is just too lovely to paint......after seeing yours with the fabulous paint job, I'm going to jail too!
I say it will sell within the week. And the price is really low. I always say let someone try to buy a piece that great in a furniture store and they will shell out $200 or more!

I am bringing mine home tomorrow and giving it the shabby treatment. My table looks all wrong in my booth and maybe that's why it doesn't sell, who knows!

Let me know if it sells this week.

hugs
Sissie

Brenda ~ The Heminger Farmhouse said...

Hi Carol :) Love your booth ~ you have some wonderful pretties in there. I like the table painted white; I think it looks much better that way. Do you find it easier to sell pieces that have been painted, or those left in their original condition? I hope someone will snap it right up soon as that is one gorgous piece!

Warmest hugs, Brenda

Unknown said...

Good grief, Carol! I don't understand why someone wouldn't want it either way. In its original state, it was neat. And it's just as neat painted. And $65? That's an awfully good price, I think. I have a strong feeling you won't have it much longer.

Nancy

Linda @ A La Carte said...

It was pretty before and you gave it a chance...now I love the new look! I think it will sell fast.

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

Hi Carol ~ we all have items like that. The things that you think people will snap up right away because they are so cool just sit there and the "iffy" items sell right away. Case in point...I had a pair of vintage shabby end tables in my online boutique for almost two years! I was not willing to come down on price because they were just so "shabby" perfect with worn pink, cream and green paint...gorgeous! They sold on Friday! (*_*)

Createology said...

Your table is probably already sold! It is a beautiful piece. I would adore it either way, however your shabby treatment is perfect. Your price is way too low for such a fabulous table. Happy selling...

Debbiedoos said...

That baby is going this week. I totally was thinking as reading, well no brainer here for Carol, paint it and chippy it up and you have yourself a nice Shabby chic piece. Gorgeous job. Your next step could me to mosaic the top of it and sell it for 175.00 now your talking:)! Nice job Carol.

Susan said...

You will sale this table soon. I love that you shabbied it up. I think it will make it sell faster!

Christine said...

I get it, I have a problem painting antiques. But, it really does look better with paint! I hope that you will link this up to my Show and Share Sunday linky party, going on all week. http://craftygeordi.blogspot.com/2011/01/show-and-share-sunday_16.html

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

If I could afford it I would snap that little beauty right up so I am sure someone will take the darling home!
You did a wonderful job giving her a new updated look Carol and some lucky person is going to enjoy it for many years to come!
Have a lovely evening...
Tina xo

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Carol, The price of the table is such a great deal! I Love the transformation. I beat it sells very soon. My shop called today and I had an offer on an antique wicker piece. This guy's offer was 75% off my asking price. Get real!!
Hugs,
Sherry

Debbie said...

Well, since you're already in jail for painting it to begin with, what's a little betting going to hurt.

I'll bet it sells quickly. Actually I'm shocked that it didn't sell before. I love it both ways.

I do think that people drawn to the romantic look of your shop will probably be more drawn to it painted. It looks wonderful all shabby and white. I'm trying to get the courage to paint some stuff around here. It isn't even vintage or antique, just eighties oak. I don't know why I'm such a coward. UGH.

Gina said...

I love it! I think giving it the shabby treatment is what's going to make it sell this time...and quickly. I always want to paint furniture but am often bound by the brand name or history of it. I'm glad you went ahead & had the nerve to paint anyway.

Unknown said...

Great job Carol, I would have done the same thing. It looks gorgeous and it will sell. Let us know how soon. I think $65 is too cheap too.

Tammy@Beatrice Banks said...

It's adorable painted white! I'm always scared to paint antiques. I have a little table I've been debating on. This is giving me a serious push in that direction. I think my biggest hangup is not knowing how to paint correctly. Afraid of making it a mess. Did you sand it first?

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

LOL oh yes all to familiar with the "stickarounds". I think they just like us and don't want a new home.
You did a beautiful job and I don't think it will last a week.
(())

Christine said...

thanks for following, I am following you too now. I just love antiques, looking forward to what else you show us.

The Painted Cottage Studio said...

Antique or not, I think it looks much better after you've added your magic! Very nice!

Michelle

June said...

Carol it will most definitely sell now! I don't see why it didn't sell before. Pieces like this are the best. You can tuck them anywhere!
LOVE IT!
hugs

June said...

Oh... and BTW, my husband told me there was an APB out for your arrest! ;)

Unknown said...

It's gorgeous. I prefer the shabby look. I can't believe you have it priced at $65.00. No way that will last. I think you should up your asking price if it hasn't sold already! LOL
Roselle

Char said...

I am not a shabby home person. I have rich dark woods in my home, but my website is cottage. I love the look of your table painted. That being said, I think it's priced too low. I just know that it will sell now....you did a gorgeous job and it won't last, Char

Tara said...

Carol,I'd buy it! Glad you loved the look of Australia courtesy of Oprah,WE really ARE as nice as she says we are !!!...xxx

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

I love it! I'd be doing life in prison if I got arrested everytime I slapped some paint on a vintage piece;-) I think this looks gorgeous now. I'll bet you there were so many people who just loved it before, but didn't want to take the time to paint it....now you did it for them. As long as it's not a rare piece and expensive piece, no harm done.

Anonymous said...

If it doens't sell at that price, everyone there has a hole in their head. It looks great painted and I am glad you left the feet shoes as they were. I got a call today from a new mall opening up just a few minutes from my home. It's right on the highway and a great location. I am going up this afternoon to look at the spaces. We'll see. :) I love the white sponges. And they don't get any dirtier than the colored ones. And you can just pop them in the dishwasher every so often to keep the sanitized and cleaned too. xoxoxo

{ProtoDoom} said...

When a friend of mine had a store, we would talk about what made things fly off the shelves. She this one shade of green she would paint things and we swore that she could paint a poo and sell it with that color!

ShabbyESP said...

I love that table!!!
I might have to make a trip over to you shop!!!
Suzann xoxox

Anonymous said...

Looks just like the one I have from my Grandmother. I have no room for it now and it is the main reason I have a storage unit. Most everything else I have is square and I could pack those things into a back corner of my apartment, the the round table just takes up too much space and is awkward. And I love it. I hope to never have to part with it. Good luck finding a loving home for it.