Old Stuff in the New Economy

The Antique Hardware and Home Store of Bluffton, S.C. has a yearly mailing list of just over 1 million and an online store. The company was started almost 20 years ago by Tim and Ellen Judge, who had just renovated their own home.

"Searching through catalogs was exhausting and time-consuming, and the selection was disappointing," say the Judges. "Oftentimes we spent more than we had to. We thought that high prices meant high quality!"

In addition to furnishings, fixtures and hardware, the store offers such items as Victorian umbrella stands, antique doll carriages, tin ceilings and cornices and a myriad of gift ideas to complete any decorating project.

The store’s website, www.antiquehardware.com, is open 24 hours a day and offers how-to information for installers and do-it-yourselfers. Sales consultants are available to help customers find exactly what they’re looking for, and the company offers a 60-day "you must be happy" guarantee with a full refund or exchange for an item of equal value. To order a catalog or item, call 800/422-9982.