March’s – ‘The Sustainability Issue’ – Download Now
Nancy Hood, Chief Marketing Officer of 1stDibs on creating the leading online marketplace for extraordinary design.
What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine?
The first thing I do every morning, even before coffee is walk my dogs, Tallulah and Scout in my Brooklyn neighbourhood. This gives me time to think about the day ahead and what I want to accomplish.
What is at the heart of 1stDibs’ DNA as a brand and how has the brand evolved over the years?
1stDibs as a brand was launched with the tagline ‘The Most Beautiful Things on Earth’ and that is still our North Star. Then and today, 1stDibs has been uniting design devotees with their hearts’ desire, placing exquisite objects in the hands of those who treasure them most. We began as a listing site, which connected people with the dealers and incredible finds of Paris’ famous Marché aux Puces, without having to get on a plane. Over the course of 21 years, we have evolved into an e-commerce marketplace for extraordinary designs that encompass vintage, antique and contemporary furniture, home décor, fine jewellery, watches, art, fashion and more. We seek out the dealers, gallerists and makers who bring us the most extraordinary and storied pieces from more than 600 cities around the world. This, and the sense of discovery and joy it brings our customers, sets us apart.
How does the brand incorporate its love for one-of-a-kind pieces and antiques into this business?
There is a romance that imbues pieces from the past. The essence of the time in which it was created, its origins and patina, the role it played in its owners’ lives. Then eventually there is a story of how the pieces found their way to a seller on 1stDibs and their journey to its new home. It’s the story of why it mattered and still matters to date. We know our customers cherish and share these stories and, in that way, the history of a piece lives on for the next generations. One-of-a-kind designs, whether created centuries ago or weeks ago, represent the craftsmanship, passion and communities that are central to our brand. Knowing that you own a painting or necklace or a chair that started as someone’s dream, was made by a human hand, in one moment in time and in one unique place, brings our customers joy and adds meaning to the purchase. By offering a wealth of such meaningful items on the platform, we have always been proud to carry this heritage forward.
What is the most complex part of the marketplace business when it comes to furniture?
The coordination of shipping is quite complex given we are a marketplace, and our sellers and buyers are all over the world, which also means we work with many shipping companies. The average distance between our buyers and sellers is over 2,000 miles.
Which pieces consistently drive sales and are there any pieces that can go up in value over time?
We work with over 4,200 sellers from all over the world to market their products to global consumers and interior designers. Those sellers make beautiful and often one-of-a-kind pieces in the areas of furnishings ranging from vintage to new and bespoke art, jewellery and fashion. For fashion some of the pieces that stand out and do well include the Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags, the Cartier Love collection consisting of the bracelets and rings, the Cartier Trinity ring and the Tank Française watch, the Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace, the Patek Philippe Calatrava watch and art deco jewellery. The new and custom pieces are the Ultrafragola mirror by Ettore Sottsass and the Roly Poly armchair by Faye Toogood. Another vintage standout piece is Isamu Nogushi’s Akari light sculpture, which people seem to adore, as well as the Barcelona Chair designed by Mies Van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, Eero, Saarinen’s Pedestal Table and the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman.
What is, personally, your most treasured furniture piece for any home?
The kitchen table, with family around it as some of the most cherished memories happens there.
How has social media helped build the brand and do you connect directly with clients through this platform?
Through our social platforms, we invite our audience into the world of 1stDibs through layered content that highlights the richness and many facets of the brand. On social, we engage with the design community, with those passionate about design and we celebrate our sellers. Whether it’s someone discovering a piece they love on Pinterest, or reading an editorial piece on our NFT artists, or simply dreaming about how they might design their own home, ultimately social media at 1stDibs is an important way we can connect with the customer and with future customers. We also do have clients that contact us through social media for pieces varying from a 19th century Neoclassic Italian console to a 46-carat aquamarine ring, all these items result in sales.
This is The Sustainability Issue – what does it mean to you?
Sustainability is so important to our world, today and for future generations. 1stDibs contributes to this in several ways by buying furniture, decor, jewellery and fashion that has been passed down and celebrates the past and reframes it in a modern way, while eliminating the need to create more. Buying an object that is beautifully designed and of high quality, new or old, adds things that last to the world, things that are passed down and treasured for years. This is the opposite of fast fashion and home design as the pieces on 1stDibs are not destined for landfill. It’s a marketplace that is inherently sustainable from an economic and social point of view as we are bringing together buyers and sellers and allowing small businesses to access a wide range of customers all over the world. This is somehow the only way they can survive and the most sustainable way to decorate your home is with vintage and antique furniture, which are easy to refinish if you desire.
March’s – ‘The Sustainability Issue’ – Download Now
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: Supplied
