As of May 22, 2020
Dear BRG Family,
I hope this email finds you all safe and healthy. While the pandemic has wreaked havoc on so much of our lives, I hope you have been able to find the good around you. Grant and I have been able to spend quality time with our five kids and reflect on how blessed and lucky we are to have a successful business.
Many of you have continued to enjoy our online auctions and purchase directly from our store, Black Rock Interiors. We thank you for your continued support and hope you had fun bidding!
As our communities begin to open up we will be taking a slower approach to opening and will continue to hold safe pick-ups with masks and social distancing.
Here are the updates for operations:
-
All locations are open for auction pick up on the designated days outlined in each auction. You do not have to make an appointment for pick-ups, but if you have a large order we request advance notice. Please do not attempt to pick up your items on days other than what is listed in the auction winning email. (Note: Bridgeport will only be open on Fridays and Saturdays for pick-ups until further notice.)
-
No one will be allowed into the buildings for auction pick-ups at this time. Please call the phone number outside each location to let us know you have arrived and we will be happy to bring out your items for safe curbside transfer. Social distancing must be followed and masks are required for all staff and customers.
-
Lastly, the Black Rock Interiors showroom in Bridgeport will be open by appointment only, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call the main number at 203-335-0000 to schedule. We'd love to see you from six feet (6’) away 🙂.
Again, we thank you for your continued support and we hope you and your inner circle have remained healthy and safe.
Be well,
Christie, Grant &
the BRG Team
As of April 8, 2020
Updates & Changes at a Glance
We hope you and your families are well. BRG is actively monitoring and taking the advice of local governments and federal agencies in regards to our current operations. While there are many inconveniences for all of us during this time, we are doing our best to protect our incredible staff, customers, and clients. Below you will find some answers to recent frequently asked questions:
"Let us stay far away today to embrace ourselves tomorrow" - Guiseppe Conti
-
TRANSPORTS: All current auctions have TRANSPORT ONLY options. This means there is no free pick up option on-site and the items you win will be transported to one of our warehouses. You will select which warehouse in a pop-up before you place your first bid in any particular auction. This action must be completed for each auction you bid in.
-
TRANSPORTS: All transport fees are listed in the items' description page along with the measurements, condition, etc. The transport fee is listed to the right of the "PLACE BID" button.
-
TRANSPORTS: Your items will be transported to the warehouse of your choice and held WITHOUT risk of forfeiture or additional storage costs until we are ready to open again.
-
PICK UP DATES: We do NOT have firm pick up dates for any of our locations at this point. We are waiting to see when it will be safe to open our doors or hold curbside pick up. The dates you see are place holders for now. When we have firm dates and times, they will be emailed to everyone, posted on social media and on our homepage.
-
SHIPPING OPTIONS: Some of our auctions have options for for direct shipping of smalls. This will be arranged through BRG after the conclusion of the auction. We will be in touch to confirm mailing address and cost. We use USPS flat rate and will include insurance costs. We will need to be in touch to charge your credit card after the auction for these costs.
-
CLIENTS: If you have any immediate need for selling services due to a real estate closing, please contact us at 203-335-0000 or email jessica@blackrockgalleries.com, we may be able to help.
-
APPRAISALS: If you have an immediate need for an estate appraisal for probate or for insurance purposes we may be able to help. Please contact us at 203-335-0000 or email christie@blackrockgalleries.com.
-
STORAGE: If you have a need for storage during this time due to a move or uncertain circumstances, we offer reasonable rates for pick up and short/long term storage solutions.
As of March 25, 2020
To Our BRG Community,
This past Saturday the Governor of Connecticut signed an Executive Order requiring all non-essential businesses to close for thirty days. While we like to think of ourselves as essential, the majority of our business would not be considered as such. As you know, we have closed down entry to all of our physical locations and have allowed for curbside pick up only at our auction sites. We have put strict policies in place regarding social distancing, cleaning, and sanitizing at all of these events.
Unfortunately the time has come to stay home, for each other, our families, and the communities and populations we serve.
We will be making the following adjustments to our operations, auction schedule, and services. Please read through them all to avoid any confusion.
Critical Changes in Operations, Auction Schedule, & Services
|
Please call us with any questions or concerns at 203-335-0000. We are here for you and thank you for your continued support of our business.
Be well, stay safe and take care of your families. We will see you soon!
Fondly,
Christie & Grant Panarese
March 16, 2020
The BRG family believes it is our role and responsibility during this time to prioritize the health and well-being of our team and customers, while also playing a constructive role in supporting local health officials and government leaders as they work to contain the virus. That said, we will continue to make decisions informed by the latest science-based information.
|
UPDATE: Black Rock Interiors luxury consignment showroom in Bridgeport will be closed to the general public but will remain open to the trades (by appointment only). The online showroom will remain open to anyone interested in purchasing merchandise online and then following our new pick-up procedures (below). Pick-up Procedure: For online showroom purchases, customers are asked to remain outside and call the showroom (203-335-000). Interiors' staff will bring the merchandise outside and high-touch surfaces will be wiped down. The customer is responsible for loading their own vehicles. Black Rock Interiors staff will not load items. As before, if you've purchased items and are unable to pick-up those items due to COVID-19 (you are ill, have been exposed to the virus, or are in quarantine), please let us know and we will work with you to make alternate arrangements. If you have any questions about the showroom merchandise available for outright purchase, please contact our showroom manager, Roger via email or call 203-335-0000. |
ONLINE AUCTIONS:
BRG is still running online auctions and pick-ups as normally scheduled. Although direct interaction between staff and customers during pick-ups will be very limited, we can and should prioritize taking steps to enhance the safety of all during pick-ups, as well as all other direct interactions. With three basic principles top of mind: cleaning, sanitizing, distancing, our staff will be taking the following additional precautionary steps:
|
|
Prior to client/estate site visits and pick-ups, BRG will confirm the status of any known exposure to COVID-19 before allowing staff to safely visit the site. Any changes to pick-up dates/times will be communicated with you as timely as possible. Extra preparedness and organization in advance of auction pick-up windows to ensure a quick and seamless exchange of goods. Keeping a safe distance of at least 3+ feet from others. At pick-up, items will be brought outside the home/warehouse to a pick-up area by employees, but not loaded onto vehicles by employees. For Bridgeport pick-ups, please call 203-335-0000 upon arrival and remain outside the building. Your auction merchandise will be brought outside. The BRG staff will sign-off invoices for the customer, once given a thumbs up. We will be wiping commonly used surfaces in the pick-up areas often. We initiated a comprehensive, thrice-a-day sanitizing and disinfecting regimen which encompasses all doors, knobs, locks, latches, jambs, countertops, work surfaces, and other generally accessible surfaces in our showrooms and warehouses. Conducting as much business as possible online and only when necessary and appropriate send our staff out for site visits. |
We'd like to share a note from one of our customers who attended Saturday's pick-up under our new procedures:
| " |
|
" |
For your part, we ask for your cooperation especially if you are feeling ill or have been exposed to COVID-19. Please take the appropriate actions to care for your health and ensure the safety of others by not coming to our locations or pick-up sites. If you are ill, quarantined or have been exposed to COVID-19 and have a scheduled pick-up, consider having a healthy family member or friend pick-up on your behalf. Alternatively, if you do not have anyone who can pick-up your goods, please reach out to BRG at 203-335-0000 or info@blackrockgalleries.com to make alternate arrangements.
We assure you that we are monitoring the situation closely based off the latest news and will be sending future updates as needed.
Thank you for your continued support of Black Rock Galleries.
All the best,
Christie & Grant
