The ClearingHouse

Anyone who has traveled County Road 39 just outside Southampton Village is sure to recognize the red brick building across from the Southampton Elks Lodge. James “Nick” Nicolino and Victoria Collett, who are beginning their second year as owners of a consignment shop, ClearingHouse Southampton, in the building that was once home to Morgansen’s, an auction house, think they can provide motorists with a good reason, or maybe even hundreds of them, to stop in.

“We are the Seinfeld of stores—we specialize in nothing,” said the gregarious Mr. Nicolino of the shop that has two floors crammed full of everything from massive French country style tables, to 1970s-era living room furnishings that beg for shag carpeting, to sleek modern bedroom sets, with art squeezed onto the walls and accessories filing every corner.

While the store’s collection defines eclectic—it can’t be lumped with either the high-end antiques stores or the occasional thrift shops that line Main Streets on the East End— Mr. Nicolino said the goal of ClearingHouse Southampton is to offer shoppers who enter their doors an enjoyable browsing experience and the chance to find a bargain on high-quality secondhand furniture and housewares.

“We are not after the high-end market,” said Mr. Nicolino, although he noted that customers range from “media moguls who pull up in their Porsches” to young couples who need to furnish a first home. The goal, he continued, is to offer shoppers a chance to buy good quality furniture at prices that are typically as much as 50 percent less than what they would pay for the furniture new. A table that could cost up to $5,000 new might be had for $1,500, for example, or a couch that could retail for as much as $3,000 might be had for only $500, he said.

Consignment shops are a staple in California, where Ms. Collett grew up and formed the opinion that “secondhand stuff can be as good as new.” Unlike thrift shops that sometimes find themselves on the receiving end of someone’s well-intentioned dump run, a consignment store is typically more choosy about what it accepts for resale. “It has to be perfect to be here,” said Mr. Nicolino.

Typically, the store receives a call from someone who has just sold a house. “They’ve made a million dollars and they don’t know what to do with their furniture,” Mr. Nicolino said. “Either they don’t want it or it doesn’t work in their new house.”

Mr. Nicolino and Ms. Collett visit the client and take an inventory of their possessions, sometimes buying them lock, stock and barrel, but just as often picking and choosing what they think will sell. If they reach an agreement with the owner, they haul off the goods and pay for them as they are sold. The arrangement allows them to build the kind of stock they need to encourage shoppers to stop in, but relieves the owner of the headache of pricing their goods and holding a glorified yard sale.

After a year in business, the couple has begun to broaden their offerings. They have contracted with an artist who makes bouquets of silk flowers, which they sell in one corner of their showroom. They have another deal with a rug dealer that allows them to sell hand-knotted Turkish rugs “at wholesale prices,” according to Mr. Nicolino. A craftsman who specializes in Adirondack chairs and tables also offers his wares through their store. Ms. Collett has begun to offer interior decorating services as another sideline.

Both owners say they want to encourage shoppers to feel comfortable stopping in to browse, even if they don’t buy anything on the first, second or even third visit, and have tried to dress up the exterior of a building that they acknowledge could be mistaken for a suburban bank branch office.

While they admit that many motorists typically speed past their shop, they choose to look at the bright side, noting that they could never find a space as large in the nearby village. Besides, said Mr. Nicolino, “If you are going to Montauk, if you are going to East Hampton, if you are going to Bridgehampton, you have to pass by here.”

Mr. Nicolino said he was gratified that more and more people who have told him “I must have driven by this place 50 times” are taking the time to stop in and visit. “What we’re marketing,” he said, “is the idea that you can own a piece of the Hamptons.”

Temporary Road May Ease Traffic

Southampton residents who arrive at work with a traffic-induced headache could be in for some relief. Suffolk County plans to add a temporary third eastbound lane to County Road 39 in an effort to alleviate traffic congestion during the morning rush hour. The experimental project will begin July 10, and officials will use it to determine whether or not to invest in a permanent third lane, a major construction project that could cost about $70 million. Major improvements to the road have been made since 1952, and the new project will mark a delayed response to a longstanding problem.

Southampton has been urging Suffolk County to widen the road for years, but officials have always rejected the requests, citing expense issues. Between 1990 and 2000, the average daily number of cars and trucks traveling Sunrise Highway at Shinnecock Canal near County Road 39 increased from about 23,000 to about 30,000.‹Ashleigh Crowther

High-End Consignment Shop Opens

Anyone looking to do some antique shopping this weekend? Victoria Collett and James Nicolino have opened up a new offshoot of their Clearing House consignment shop in Greenport on the North Fork. The business partners already own The Clearing House in Southampton, which opened three years ago and now has over 200 consignors. Offering artwork, furniture, drapes, lamps, rugs and antiques among others, most pieces sell for 25 to 75 percent of their original retail price. An aggressive mark-down policy‹ 20 percent taken for every month the item remains in the store for up to four months‹ ensures a quick turnover of selection. The savvy shopper knows that consignment shops are like high-end thrift stores, offering pieces that are often as good as new, but for bargain prices. The Clearing House, which has already become a well-known Hamptons favorite, also holds on-site tag sales and plans to eventually expand to a third branch.‹Ashleigh Crowther

Hamptons Wine and Food Festival

Sink your teeth into the second annual Hamptons Wine and Food Festival featuring culinary entertainment, charity auctions, competitions and music.

From August 11 through August 13, Ross School in East Hampton will host special events including live cooking demonstrations from experts like Food Network stars Sandra Lee and Dave Lieberman.

Other savory events include Grand Tastings that will feature local and international wines and signature dishes from top Hamptons restaurants. Local chefs can test their skill while accompanied by their favorite bartender to create drinks to complement the food in the Hamptons¹ Chef and Bartender Competition along with the bartender. Not a whiz in the kitchen? Compete in other ways by bidding on one-of-a-kind chef jackets designed by celebrities for Make-A-Wish Foundation and participate in a silent auction for the Steven J. Ross Scholarship Fund. Later in the evening, dance the calories away with sunset celebrations including tapas and live music.

Tickets are available from $50 to $500 and can be purchased at www.hamptonswineandfood.com or by calling (631) 613-3110. ‹Courtney Reed Family Friendly Charities

If you¹re looking for some family-friendly, charitable ways to spend your time and money this summer, the Hamptons are a great place to be.

The ³Super Saturday² fashion fundraiser and carnival to be held July 29 in Water Mill will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and Hamptons Family Day, coming up on August 6 at Diamond Ranch in Water Mill, is a Wild-West themed carnival that will benefit research at Yeshiva University¹s Albert Einstein College of Medicine. What makes these events so popular in the Hamptons‹where many residents are parents who outgrew the Manhattan scene long ago‹is that they are accessible to the whole family, with events catering to all ages.

Local events are supported by both residents and local businesses, as well as more high-profile names. A recent opening of Gucci in East Hampton benefited Jessica Seinfeld¹s Baby Buggy charity, and the June¹s Love Heals gala raised about $175,000 despite being rained out.‹Ashleigh Crowther

Estate Sale Strategies

ON A RECENT SATURDAY morning, visitors and residents of Long Island's tony Hamptons were up for a special treat: a 15,000 square-foot ocean-front home normally behind closed gates at the end of a private road, opened its doors to the public.

Dozens of cars lined up against the perfectly-groomed hedges as casually-dressed Hamptonites hurried in. Those already leaving lugged random objects: an outdoor clay pot. Two pillows and a sham. An oversized pepper mill.

Inside, women gathered at the kitchen bar — a CorningWare casserole and a coffee machine were quickly snapped up — while the men gravitated toward the garage where handyman tools were available for browsing. "Sold" stickers appeared on furniture pieces next to price tags displaying between 50% and 60% off the items' original cost.

Amid the mayhem, some couples took a moment to admire the spectacular ocean views, while others wasted no time trying out the designer patio furniture.

It was your typical upscale estate sale: The owners had sold the house and commissioned a local consignment store, the ClearingHouse of Southampton, to sell everything in it. Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. that day, deals were available on everything from designer furniture and swimming pool equipment to pots, pans and Tupperware.

Estate sales — often called "tag sales" because all items have predetermined prices — have a religious following among collectors, antique dealers, interior designers and your basic bargain lovers. Typically held in "old" homes — many sales take place when the household owner dies or moves to a nursing home — they're an excellent opportunity to find antiques or collectibles at 30% or more below what they'd sell for on eBay or in antique stores. The discount is an incentive for dealers and collectors to attend the events, explains Diane Hudec, vice president of Auctionbay Estate Sales, a Chicago-based estate liquidator.

The chaos of estate sales can be difficult to navigate if you're a novice. You're competing with estate-sale veterans — even professionals — for a limited number of deals that are gone in no time. So some prep work is needed if you want to come home with a great find. Below is a guide.

Finding the good sales
Your local paper may be chock full of estate sale ads, but here's a little secret: That estate sale you drive to in the wee hours of a Saturday morning may turn out to be nothing more than a garage sale, says Harry Rinker, antiques and collectibles expert and host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Whatcha Got?" The difference: People have yard sales to get rid of their junk, so while inexpensive finds may abound, you'd be hard-pressed to find higher-quality items.

"In a true estate sale, you'd expect higher-end merchandise: jewelry, higher-end home appliances, collectibles," Rinker says. And as estate-sale regulars are perfectly aware of that, many homeowners shamelessly upgrade their yard sales to "estate" or "tag" status simply to attract more customers.

The easiest way to avoid the fakes is to stick to estate sales run by professionals. They typically list estate sales on their web sites at least a week in advance and post pictures of some of the sale pieces. Professionally-run sales tend to be in higher-end houses that have more antiques, explains G.G. Carbone, an antiques expert and author of "How to Make a Fortune With Other People's Junk."

The downside? Professionally-run sales may have higher prices. After all, estate liquidators do try to price all items to sell quickly, but they are paid on commission.

Have an action plan
Being an early bird pays off in estate sales: The best goods are typically snatched up within the first couple of hours. "It happens fast and furious," says James Nicolino, co-owner of the ClearingHouse in Southampton that hosted the Hamptons estate sale. If a sale starts at 9 a.m., for example, "by 11 a.m. about 60% to 70% of the stuff is gone."

Estate-sale goers typically start lining up an hour or more before the doors open, Carbone says, to make sure they get first dibs on the best items. Because of space constraints, many estate-sale companies actually give out numbers to the people in the line and let in 10 to 20 shoppers at a time.

Some estate liquidators also hold previews for their regular customers, so they get to choose and buy furniture a day or so in advance. If there's a consignment shop in your area that handles estate sales, be sure to get on their mailing list.

If you have full run of the house (not uncommon, particularly in family-run sales), consider heading to the basement to hunt for collectibles or interesting memorabilia, says Tom Zarrilli, a school librarian in Atlanta, Ga., who spends his weekends at yard and estate sales, snapping pictures for his Yard Sale Addict blog. "You could find anything, all the unusual things people put down in the basement," he says. "You may find souvenirs from the 1950s, you may find brochures for high-end hotels from the 1930s."

Negotiating tricks
Estate sales are great places for hagglers, but there are rules. For example, prices are generally solid in the first few hours of the sale, Rinker says. The owners or estate liquidators will be a lot more flexible toward the end of the day, but by that time, most of the good stuff is gone.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't try negotiating at any time, Nicolino says, but don't be pushy. At the Hamptons estate sale detailed above, he had to ask one aggressive negotiator to leave. His "ridiculously low" offers — like $100 for two TV sets priced at $150 each — got to the point of insulting. "We told him, 'That's it, we're done with you. You need to leave now,'" he says.

Asking nicely, on the other hand, can take you places. "Throw it out as a question," Nicolino says. "What's the best you'll do on that?"

If you're still turned down, consider leaving a bid with the sellers. That can be as simple as a note with the price you're willing to pay. If the item isn't sold by the end of the day, it's often yours.

Large furniture pieces are easier to negotiate, especially if they're custom-made. They're hard to sell and transport, so estate liquidators don't even take them to their consignment shops to sell in the future (a common practice with unsold estate items). Ask nicely, and with the owner's approval, you may get it for next to nothing, Hudec says. "If it's the end of the sale and you've got your truck outside, we say, OK, we've got this couch for you. It's $10."

By Alex McNear

When Dorothy clicked together her ruby slippers, she might well have had in mind No Place Like Home, a charityfoundation in Southampton dedicated to providing furniture and home furnishings to people in need.

No Place Like Home is the offspring of The Clearing House, a consignment store on County Road 39 in Southampton opened in 2003 by Victoria Collett and Nick Nicolino of Hampton Bays. The store quickly grew from a fledgling business to a thriving one, according to the couple. In fact, the store now has such a large roster of consignors—approximately 300—and so many of them with “excellent” furniture and household goods that don’t fit the criteria for display in the consignment store, that it occurred to Ms. Collett and Mr. Nicolino to encourage people to donate the excess furniture and furnishings to people in need.

In February, the couple launched the not-for-profit No Place Like Home Foundation and began making monthly deliveries to local organizations and agencies that assist people in need.

“We are committed to giving local people a hand. The working poor, they are our most important recipients,” said Mr. Nicolino.

Donna Calvert, a single mother holding down two jobs, recently received furniture from No Place Like Home and said she felt “blessed.” Living in a two-bedroom house in North Sea with three of her children—two teenage daughters and a 20-year-old son—Ms. Calvert said she works hard to make ends meet.

“After I’ve paid all my monthly bills, I have $32 left,” she said.

A co-worker at the Southampton restaurant where Ms. Calvert works told her about Ms. Collett and Mr. Nicolino and their foundation. When No Place Like Home found out she was unable to afford even the cost of one bureau, Ms. Collett and Mr. Nicolino provided her with several of them for her house, as well as a mir-See HOME, Page R7 ror and television set.

“They are very loving, generous people,” Ms. Calvert said.

The idea for the charity foundation was such a good one that when Mr. Nicolino and Ms. Collett asked one of their regular consignment store patrons, actress Lorraine Bracco, if she would “lend spotlight” to the charity, she said yes. Ms. Bracco, who signed on to work with No Place Like Home a few weeks ago, said she was “thrilled” to be involved.

“I’m a big believer in supporting women and children who are trying to get their lives back together,” the Golden Globe Award-winning actress and star of “The Sopranos” said during a phone interview on Monday. Ms. Bracco was referring to the fact that No Place Like Home donates furniture to The Retreat, a local organization that provides support, shelter and legal assistance for victims of domestic abuse.

Ms. Bracco said she will be involved in future fund-raising events for No Place Like Home when she is not busy filming “The Sopranos.” She is also expected to be at a charity auction in May at the Home Expo convention in Southampton. Included on the No Place Like Home website is a personal statement from Ms. Bracco asking prospective contributors for their “generous tax-deductible financial support.”

Long before No Place Like Home came to fruition, Ms. Collett got the idea for The Clearing House when she realized the area had no consignment stores, which provide a display setting for people selling their furniture or household goods, and then receive a percentage when the object sells. “I’m from the San Francisco area, and there are consignment stores everywhere,” she said.

In the beginning, when the store was a daily hustle, Mr. Nicolino and Ms. Collett pounded the pavement and “knocked on every door.” They went to tag sales advertised in the paper and convinced the owners to let them try to sell whatever furniture didn’t sell at the tag sale.

Later, as the business grew, they became more discerning. Eventually, “it took on a life of its own,” Ms. Collett said. People with large estates started coming to them. Homeowners selling their house in the Hamptons and moving on to other communities who were looking to unload entire contents asked Mr. Nicolino and Ms. Collett to sell, or in some cases dispose of, their furnishings.

Furniture was stacking up in our store, Mr. Nicolino said. “We had to start turning things down,” he said. However, it didn’t take long for them to realize that the things people no longer wanted that they couldn’t sell at their consignment store would be, well, consigned to the trash.

They decided that No Place Like Home would be dedicated to helping people in the community, Ms. Collett said. Mr. Nicolino mentioned numerous charities that raise money in the Hamptons and then send that money elsewhere. “We are neighbors helping neighbors,” he said.

In the last year, No Place Like Home has delivered hundreds of items to the The Retreat’s shelter in East Hampton, which needs beds, couches and even children’s desks for families that have fled violent homes. In addition, the charity foundation will help furnish the house of a woman leaving the shelter and starting a new home.

Lauren Walsh, deputy director of The Retreat, said that they get regular deliveries from No Place Like Home. “If we need a couch and a table, they bring it,” Ms. Walsh said. A lot of household items from estate sales—items in excellent condition that for one reason or another didn’t meet the criteria for being sold at The Clearing House—were offered to The Retreat, according to Ms. Walsh.

In cases of domestic abuse, “victims get out of the house with no more than the clothes on their back,” Mr. Nicolino said. “We’ll give them the pots, pans, pillows, blankets, and bunk beds,” Ms. Collett added. They will not, however, give anything that is stained or broken; furniture and furnishings given to people in need must be in good condition.

No Place Like Home also donates furniture and furnishings to Head Start, a federally funded program that provides numerous services to economically disadvantaged families with preschool children.

Carol E. Burnett, the manager for the Head Start center in Shirley, said her job is to “beg for funds.” In June she saw an article about No Place Like Home and sent them an e-mail. “I asked if they would be willing to help, because I have families I work with that are really struggling,” she said.

One of her caseworkers discovered that a woman and her child were sleeping in their bathtub. “We’re going to make sure this woman gets a bed,” Ms. Burnett said. She added that there is poverty right here on the East End: “You don’t have to go to the Third World to find it.”

Now, No Place Like Home makes deliveries to Ms. Burnett’s Jamesport house several times a month. She has a garage and barn to store the furniture and has no trouble finding a home for the goods. She canvases families from Bridgehampton to Amityville and finds families who need everything from pots to mattresses.

“We’re also trying to reach out to religious organizations and the local schools,” Ms. Collett said. “Guidance counselors know which families might be in need,” she added. Recently, they contacted Southampton Human Services and will eventually work with them, too. Houses built by Habitat for Humanity may also one day be recipients of furniture and household items. All recipients of furniture and furnishings must be referred by an organization or agency working with economically disadvantaged people.

A winter fund-raiser event for No Place Like Home is in the works, according to Mr. Nicolino and Ms. Collett. Details will be posted on their website. In addition, a fund-raising auction to benefit No Place Like Home will take place in May at the Home Expo convention, which showcases vendors displaying everything from plumbing fixtures to state-of-the-art hot tubs. The event will be held in the lot next to the Elks Club across the street from the consignment store.

“What we really need now is a warehouse or storage space to put all the furniture and furnishings for No Place Like Home,” Mr. Nicolino said. Overloaded with furniture donations, they are in search of a place to store everything. At the moment they are renting space from a nearby storage company.

“Maybe someone will donate a warehouse or a barn to store all this furniture,” Mr. Nicolino said with a laugh.

Nick Nicolino and Victoria Collett,owners of The Clearing House in Southampton,are the founders of the new No Place Like Home Foundation,which donates furniture to the needy. ALEX MCNEAR

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