The expected growth stems from a recent growing public interest in classic and vintage furniture pieces. Consumers are turning to vintage pieces in search of great prices and unique styles.
San Francisco, California / September 25, 2021
The past several years have seen a big uptick in sales of used and vintage furniture, and if the industry's soothsayers are right, that trend is only beginning to take off. The upscale vintage retail service Chairish conducted a study that found that the resale furniture industry is expected to grow by over 50% by the year 2025.
This growing interest in vintage and used furniture is being fueled by multiple factors, including economics, growing awareness of the ecological toll of new furniture production, and a rising interest in vintage aesthetics. Style is one of the biggest advantages of going for vintage furniture, according to some consumers. And given that many of the pieces of furniture being sold in the used market today are no longer being mass-produced — if they ever were — buying used can be a great way to ensure you are getting something relatively unique.
Industry experts also note that due to the COVID pandemic and the huge increase in the numbers of employees working from home, creating an inviting home has become more of a priority for many people. For some, this translated to taking care of maintenance or tackling home renovation projects with the help of companies like
Martin Stainless Steel. But for many others, the desire to revamp their homes was impacted by budget constraints.
Used furniture offers many advantages for this type of individual, who is not only looking for a less expensive option but who is also more likely to be willing to put time and effort into restoration or customization. With the pandemic keeping people at home, and many looking for new and meaningful ways to spend that time, restoring furniture has become a much more common pursuit.
Another advantage of buying new versus used is that used furniture is immediately available for purchase. The supply-chain issues that found consumers waiting for back-ordered or out-of-stock items do not apply to vintage furniture, which is ready to buy on the spot. The attitude of "newer is better" is also slowly fading from customers' minds.
Indeed, older pieces can generally be counted upon to be solid and made-to-last. While the new buyer may need to do restoring or minor repairs, the workmanship of the original piece is often excellent to begin with, which facilitates the restoration process. Many vintage furniture pieces were made in small quantities and largely by hand and will be constructed from quality materials. In particular, solid wood — a rarity in today's market of particleboard — is the norm for vintage furniture.
Of course, not all vintage furniture pieces are created equal. The market in used furniture and decor runs the gamut from simple end tables purchased at flea markets and thrift stores, all the way up to pristine historical pieces running in the multiple thousands of dollars. Mid-century furniture — think Mad Men-style pieces — has garnered a large following over the past five years.
This increased interest in mid-century design can be attributed to many different factors; from the popularity of period television shows, to a desire for simplicity amid an increasingly complex world.