Retailer to import French furniture for limited time

Retailers often use the phrase "while supplies last" to generate sales. Evelyn H'Doubler's new business venture means it.

H'Doubler, former owner of Chanticleer, a retail antique business, is taking a chance on a unique sales technique.

She is importing fine French furniture to sell in Springfield for a limited time.

H'Doubler's shipment will arrive the week of Aug. 19, she said, and will be sold at 2831 E. Republic Road in Galloway Village.

The sale will last between four and six weeks, with any remaining items shipped to an auction in a larger city.

H'Doubler said she is targeting dealers and decorators first, then opening it up to the public.

"It's a new concept not to have a shop, just to have a place (where) I'm going to sell (antique furniture) for a certain amount of time," H'Doubler said. "It's going to be an experience."

H'Doubler handpicked the merchandise earlier this year. She and her husband Peter H'Doubler, a retired doctor, have a home in Paris they visit several times a year. The trips allow her to scour the French countryside looking for buys, she said.

H'Doubler is familiar with purchasing abroad. She periodically purchased items overseas as owner of Chanticleer, her retail business that was in the Glen Isle shopping center for 25 years. H'Doubler closed Chanticleer about 11 years ago but retained her business license.

Future partnership

Following this first venture, H'Doubler will team up with partners Nancy Aton and Sally Baird on future shipments. Baird owns the building where the sales will be held.

The trio has formed a partnership called Les Trois Amies, which in French means the three friends.'

Baird's building has not been occupied by a business since Julianna's gift shop closed several years ago, but Baird said she has used the building as a personal studio for designing mosaics and lamps.

"I have been looking for an idea for using that building in some unique sort of way," Baird said. "This seemed like a great match-up."

The partners plan to go to France in late September, and H'Doubler hopes the next shipment will arrive just in time for Christmas.

"The three of us will pick things out," H'Doubler said. "Each of us has a special taste and look, so it will really give more variety to the (items)."

For Aton, who has limited experience purchasing abroad, it's the mystery behind the shopping that entices her. She said she's going into it with an open mind.

"We've just always had a yearning to do this," Aton said. "It will be an adventure."

Baird agrees and said she looks forward to traveling in France.

"I'm sure I'm going places I haven't been before, which is one of the allures of it," she said.

At your own risk

Sending the remaining merchandise to auction in another city, which H'Doubler would not name, lessens the risk, she said.

"I hope I don't lose my shirt on it, but I'm not planning to," H'Doubler said. "If they don't sell here, I know they will where I'm sending them."

The women realize the risk involved. They said they just want to give it a try.

"I think there's risk involved in any kind of retail," Baird said. "If it doesn't work, we'll quit doing it."

Sail away

H'Doubler's first shipment will be imported in a 20-foot container. When the trio shops, H'Doubler said, a 40-foot container will be used.

The larger container is actually cheaper to ship.

"The more you have, the less the cost of shipping is," H'Doubler said. "You have to obviously buy more things, so it's not cheaper that way. But the shipping cost goes down as the volume increases."

Her shipping company is located in France. She did not disclose the shipping costs, or the ticket prices for the items to be sold.

The merchandise will arrive in the northeast United States by sea and travel via rail and truck to Springfield, she said.

H'Doubler said she had often thought about doing something like this because it eliminates employee payroll and the overhead of a permanent store location.

"It's something I've toyed with for a long time," H'Doubler said. "Now it's come to fruition, and I'm going to do it."