New Shipping Program Has Chairish Sitting Pretty

Chairish, an online marketplace for home decor, art, and furniture, recently launched Drop Off & Go, a turnkey packing and shipping service that solves the most vexing obstacle to online selling for the home decor industry: the challenge of shipping. Sellers using the Drop Off & Go service simply print out their Chairish shipping label, which includes a prepaid packing code, and drop off their sold item(s) at the nearest The UPS Store franchise location. Chairish offers sellers a fixed packing cost, based on the size of the item.

In this interview with Total Retail, Gregg Brockway, co-founder and CEO of Chairish, discusses the reasoning behind the Drop Off & Go service, and the impcat it could have on the online marketplace's business.

Gregg Brockway, Co-Founder and CEO, Chairish

Total Retail: What challenges were Chairish sellers experiencing in trying to ship product to customers?
Gregg Brockway: Shipping is one of the biggest pain points in selling furniture and home decor. Before the Drop Off & Go service was announced, sellers were responsible for packing their smaller items prior to shipping. While Chairish provides packing guidance, not everyone has access to the proper materials or has the time to learn to do it right. With Drop Off & Go, sellers can rely on experienced professionals to pack their items, saving sellers time, money and potential headaches. It’s a win for sellers, and because the program helps reduce the potential for damage, it’s a win for buyers, too.

TR: How were those challenges negatively impacting Chairish and its sellers’ businesses?
GB: Damage is always a risk when shipping items, and this risk goes up significantly when something is not properly packed. Damage means lost revenue for sellers and disappointment for buyers. It can also lead to customer complaints and a poor review for the seller.

TR: Tell us about the Drop Off & Go service that Chairish has recently launched. How will it work, and what are the potential benefits for users?
GB: Chairish is really excited to be the first and only marketplace offering this service with The UPS Store. Chairish Drop Off & Go makes selling with us even easier because we’re removing the hassle of carefully packing sold items. Sellers using the Drop Off & Go service simply print out their Chairish-provided shipping label, which includes a prepaid packing code, and then drop off their sold item or items at the nearest UPS Store location. There are nearly 4,500 UPS Store franchise locations nationwide.

Although sellers have the option to pack the item themselves, the Chairish Drop Off & Go service will offer sellers a discounted fixed packing cost, based on the size of the item. All items shipped as part of the program will also be fully insured against loss and damage, with coverage provided to Chairish through UPS Capital Insurance Agency, Inc.*

Chairish Drop Off & Go is also a better experience for buyers. Even when damage isn’t an issue, it feels better to receive a professionally wrapped item, and the buyer is more likely to purchase again from a seller they have confidence in.

TR: Why partner with UPS for the Drop Off & Go service rather than some of the other carriers that are in the market?
GB: We’ve partnered with UPS and The UPS Store because it has been a strong partner for the past several years and has the ability to support our unique business model. UPS already handles a significant portion of our parcel volume. When we suggested the Chairish Drop Off & Go service to provide a professional packing solution for our sellers, UPS and The UPS Store were excited to help.

TR: Will customers experience any difference in service if their items are shipped via the Drop Off & Go service?
GB: Although buyers won’t necessarily know whether an item was shipped via the Chairish Drop Off & Go program, all items sold via Chairish are covered by our buyer guarantee and all buyers will continue to receive the high level of service they’ve come to expect from Chairish and UPS. For buyers, the program simply increases the likelihood that their item will arrive on time, professionally packed and in excellent condition.

TR: What other ways is Chairish looking to improve and grow its business, either from a seller or customer perspective?
GB: Our goal is for Chairish to be the easiest way to buy and sell stylish, one-of-a-kind items for the home. Beyond working to make shipping cheaper, faster and more reliable, we’re also making it easier to find the perfect item quickly. With more than 250,000 curated items for sale and over 1,000 new ones added every day, the depth of our inventory can be overwhelming.  To help, we’re working on improving the search experience with more filters fit for every category of decor, art and rugs, and also personalizing our sort order to increase the likelihood that the item you’re looking for is on the first page you see. It’s an ongoing process, but we’re making great progress.

* Claims are filed through Chairish. Neither The UPS Store, Inc. nor The UPS Store franchises are providing insurance, declared value or other coverage for the item, packaging or shipping in connection with the Chairish Drop Off & Go program.