In the late 1980s a group of buyers traveled the country purchasing fine china in an attempt to compile inventory for a new mail order business that would be based in North Carolina.
A friend of mine had the good fortune to meet one of these buyers and arranged to “pick” for them. For the next three years she scoured the flea markets, garage sales and estate sales of central Indiana buying partial sets of Noritake, Haviland, Pfaltzgraff and other brand-name tableware made from 1930-1970. By purchasing partial sets and individual pieces she was able to acquire them for pennies on the dollar and then in turn sold them to her “buyer” for 4 times her purchase price. He also had her watch for mint condition crystal stemware and sterling and silver plate table settings and serving pieces which she often acquired at jewelry stores and gift shops that were going out of business. Eventually their arrangement dissolved, but not before she had provided her employer with over three thousand pieces of tableware and netted a healthy five figure profit for her efforts.
The china, crystal and other table service acquired by my friend, and dozens others like her, were assembled in an attic in Greensboro, North Carolina. Here Bob Page, a former state auditor, cataloged each piece worked diligently to build his inventory. Over the next few years he would move a number of times, increasing his square footage with each relocation. In four years Page’s company grew from $159,000 in sales to nearly four million and established itself as the number one replacement company in the U.S. He appropriately named it Replacements.com.
By 1989 sales had surpassed nine million and Page reinvested in his business adding flatware to his inventory and purchasing land in McLeansville, North Carolina. The company relocated in 1990, moving its inventory into a series of warehouses and setting up headquarters which remain in operation there today.
Among Replacements customers your will find names like Barbra Streisand and Rob Lowe. The producers of Everybody Loves Raymond purchased the Barone family china from the North Carolina warehouses. Carnival Cruise Lines ordered 500 pieces for their main dining room when they launched their “Legend” ship, Oprah has used their services to locate hard to find pieces and even the Vatican has turned to Replacements when they were searching for fine china.
In 2018 Replacements added a line of estate jewelry to their selection of collectibles. This addition has met with rave reviews from customers who, while they cannot replace the actual piece, can own a necklace or broach just like the one left to them by a family member. As expressed in the company purpose statement, it is the goal of Replacements.com to “create, honor and preserve traditions by connecting our customers with their most cherished memories.’
While the Replacements.com website is a wonderful way to find a single place setting of your favorite china, or to replace Great Grandma’s serving dish that was broken last Christmas, this is NOT a source for valuing your items. Replacements has a massive inventory and overhead and you are paying a hefty premium for the convenience of finding the exact piece that you need. This is why a cup and saucer that will cost you $24.99 on their site can be found at a local antique mall for $5 or at a flea market for 50 cents. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
