The Gallery of Westchase; Fine Furniture Not Far From Home

Will the phone ring?

That was the question Nancy Tutt rolled over and over in her mind in the days leading up to the opening of The Gallery of Westchase furniture consignment store. A year and a half later, the phone won't stop ringing.

Each day Westchase's only furniture consignment store recieves dozens of calls from prospective sellers and buyers. The gallery takes up three retail spaces in the Publix Shopping Center, 12231 W. Linebaugh Ave., right behind McDonald's. Inside the store are a wide variety of fine furnishings, decor and gifts. Tutt and her husband, Kelly, own and run the shop with their children. On any given day a range of items can be found from Chinese antiques to modern artwork.

Tutt recently sat down with Patch to discuss what inspired her to open the store and what's kept her successful as a business owner.

Patch: What's been your biggest lesson thus far as a business owner?

Nancy: I've learned to be courageous; to have a dream. I've also learned to think about my customers' taste and not my own. There are buying trends in Westchase.

Patch: What are Westchase buying trends?

Nancy: No pink. No oak. We don't consign futons, because they don't hold up well.

Patch: Tell me about your background.

Nancy: My husband and I are from Kentucky. He was transfered to Destin in 1999. We came to Tampa for Clear Channel, where he worked. I was homeschooling my children. We have five kids all together. In 2001, we moved to Westchase. We just drove and drove and stumbled upon Westchase and loved it. It looks like a tiny little town in a big city. It had a safe feeling.

Patch: Why did you chose this location for your business?

Nancy: We noticed businesses would open and close here. My husband has an advertising background. I was in advertising as well. We wondered what they did wrong. Three years ago we noticed all three businesses here were empty at the same time. We saw it and felt we should do something. But we didn't know what. We sat in the parking lot and watched the traffic pattern. We tried to identify what the typcial person shopped here.

Patch: How did you end up deciding what type of business to open?

Nancy: My husband asked me 'What do you drive outside of Westchase for?' I said just about the only thing is furniture consignment.

Patch: Where did your love for furniture begin?

Nancy: Coming from Kentucky we were used to having quality antique furniture. Whenever we had free time we would drive somewhere and go look around for antiques.

Patch: What are the parameters on what you will accept and how does the process of consigning work?

Nancy: We accept any style of furniture as long as it's in good condition. We keep a wish list, you write down what you are looking for and when something similar comes in I call or email you. I have things from Target to Annabelle's and in between. We do a 50/50 split. You are paid the following month after your items sell. We visit homes to preview furniture, and we also pick-up.

Patch: How have you gained exposure?

Nancy: Word of mouth. I'm usually booked three weeks out to go preview furniture.

Patch: Your place is decorated so nicely. Who does it?

Nancy: I do. I enjoy decorating and I enjoy a challenge. What we found is if you create a vignette in each space, customers can see how it can be used in their home.

Patch: Were you ever concerned about business here?

Nancy: I just wondered 'Would the phone ring?' We knew we needed people to call. And immediately we got called asking people to come to their home. 

Patch: Where did the name come from?

Nancy: We wanted something that would say we are collecting things.

 Nancy Tutt's 3 tips for purchasing furniture:

1. Find out what makes you comfortable.

2. If it's something you're drawn to it's probably something you'd like in your home.

3. Don't impulse buy when it comes to furniture. If you come back to it and still love it - buy it.

Find The Gallery of Westchase online at www.thegalleryofwestchase or 'Like' Gallery of Westchase on Facebook. Their hours of operation are Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. To contact Gallery of Westchase call, 813-475-6963.