Sarah Cyrus makes luxury consigning easy!
Sarah Cyrus says she fell into the consignment world through her family. “My mom would drag me to antique shops growing up, but I never thought this was where I’d end up,” she says. Determined to go the corporate route, Cyrus had jobs in sales and media before moving to Atlanta from New York in 2007. While working, she kept flipping items as a hobby, buying and selling on Craigslist. Eventually, the Chattanooga native decided entrepreneurship was the more likely path to success and opened Sarah Cyrus Home, a luxury consignment boutique on the Upper Westside, where new items come in weekly. Here, she shares more about her last decade-plus in business.
How did Sarah Cyrus Home begin?
I was doing the Craigslist thing until I realized I could almost replace my corporate income with the money earned. So I left the corporate world in 2008 and began working for auction companies, at art galleries and with furniture stores. I spent my 20s learning the business. I’d set up booths at Scott Antique Markets and other stores in town, and it eventually got to the point where I needed to go big or go home. My store manager, Allyn Stewart, discovered this space on Huff Road. We had no business plan and no financing, but we figured we’d been doing this for so long that we could do it ourselves. We’ve been here almost 12 years.
What makes Sarah Cyrus Home different?
We’re a place to find great pieces that mix well, with classic styles, timeless pieces, good brands and high quality. We’re pretty picky about what we take on, and we’ve got great partnerships with local showrooms and galleries to help keep a constant flow of inventory. Most of what we do is consignment from individuals, whether they are downsizing, relocating or have something that doesn’t work in a new spot.
What kinds of items do you offer?
People are always happy to find a good deal on our upholstery. They have to be new or nearly new. We do well with Lee Industries, Restoration Hardware, Hickory Chair, Baker, Design Within Reach and Room & Board. We have antique case pieces, modern media consoles, coffee tables and accent tables and chairs. Accents are our best-selling category. There are lamps, rugs, artwork and more. It’s transitional, traditional and modern, which is good because most people love a curated mix.
How has technology shaped your business?
When I opened my store, none of the other local consignment shops were offering an e-commerce store or utilizing social media as much as we did. We try to make it easy, such as uploading a photo to our website or sending it to us via email. We have a portal where clients can view all items, see payouts and sign digital agreements. We’re big on transparency. We’re really focused on streamlining the experience. I want to make things one-click and offer hand-holding from top to bottom. We also ship all over the country and can help with getting mover quotes.
What excites you most right now?
We’ve grown into new categories this year. We now offer custom draperies. We’re always looking for partners to grow with, too, and I’m going to keep working on streamlining the experience.
SARAH CYRUS HOME
404.481.5881
sarahcyrus.com
@sarahcyrushome
PHOTO: Joann Vitelli
