Kooky castoffs for your castle

Early morning shoppers swarm to grab the oversized and the unusual at Burdines' annual display and prop sale.

By PAMELA DAVIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 13, 2000

[Times photo: Tony Lopez] This Christmas tree with legs is actually Heidi Ake of Tampa, carrying as much garland as she could shoulder.

TAMPA -- It was a wacky playground of home decor.

The goods were spread out in neatly organized rows. The mannequins were in the back, the gigantic sea horses up front. In the middle were the starfish Christmas ornaments and empty Godiva fixtures.

When Burdines changes its store displays, all the old stuff -- the discarded polo mallets and trophies from the Ralph Lauren section and oversize Eternity fragrance bottles that were used as cosmetic counter props -- ends up at the department store's annual display and prop sale. The goods are snatched up to transform living rooms, porches, classrooms, nightclubs, even a pond.

The sale originated in Miami, where Burdines is based, but for the past eight years has been held outdoors in Tampa, in a lot nestled between Burdines' distribution center and visual warehouse on Gandy Boulevard. Burdines won't reveal how much it makes at the sale, a two-day event that took place this year on Thursday and Friday, but a steady stream of vans, trucks and cars left the lot filled with castoffs.

Shoppers showed up days in advance, hoping for a glimpse of the goods while employees were still setting up. They peered from behind the chain link fence, scouting for items they wanted to buy. Some were especially enterprising: From the bed of a pickup truck outside the enclosed sale area, a man scanned the sale grounds with a telescope.

The merchandise came from displays in all 44 Burdines stores. Most of it had been in stores several years before it made its way to the Tampa lot.

People who bought items for their homes outnumbered business owners who were interested in store fixtures and office furniture.

The lure of cheap and really unusual stuff got people up early. For Thursday's sale, one shopper had been in line since 3 a.m., another since 4 a.m. When the gates opened at 7, the line broke apart and everyone sprinted to the merchandise they had been eyeing while in line. After grabbing their first choice goods, gonzo shoppers either stood guard over their treasures or moved on to more merchandise.

It was survival of the smartest shopper.

Francis Roy of Tampa headed straight for a colorful, oversize sea horse on a stand. He bought the prop for a goldfish pond he wants to build in his yard. He plans to "marbleize" the sea horse and stick it in the center of the pond.

Lynne Breda of St. Petersburg, who had been in line since 5:15 a.m., went with a nautical theme. She snatched a basket of colored Styrofoam starfish and added them to the lifesaving ring, crab, rope, chest and other fish she had already set aside.

"Everybody has an idea of what they want when they come in here," said Susanne Hebert, Burdines' corporate visual production manager and sale organizer. "Of course, they also buy things they had no intention of buying."

Such was the case with Melinda Pletcher, who bought a 3-foot-tall faux-evergreen starfish.

"It was too cute to pass up, but we don't know what to do with it," said Pletcher's mother-in-law, Gale Pletcher.

Cheryl Mistretta of Port Richey actually had a purpose in mind. She was buying fixtures for a business she will open next month, the Bed and Bath Shoppe. She found lots of fixtures for holding towels and sheets.

The most expensive item at the sale, a $2,000 pine credenza, sold during the first 30 minutes, as did many other desirable items, including all the large furniture pieces, antiques, giant fragrance bottle props, a pair of life-size white tigers and a faux carousel horse.

[Times photo: Tony Lopez] Many mannequins and assorted mannequin parts awaited buyers at the Burdines display and prop sale.

Steve Hall, in line since 4 a.m., is a Burdines display and prop sale veteran. He brought along his shopping troops (wife, daughter and daughter's boyfriend) and a truck. Within the first hour, Hall had already collected a dining table, coffee table, dress form, armoire, trunk, antique suitcase, basket and galvanized tin pail.

While he stood guard, the troops hunted for more.

"I have had to assertively say this was mine," Hall said while guarding his loot. "Some lady tried to pull the sold tag off my armoire. It's dog eat dog out here."

Hall's total came to $910.58 for 52 items, including the large furniture pieces.

Linda Killam of St. Petersburg didn't have to be at work until 9 a.m., so she got in line at 6 and was able to score a basket full of Tommy Hilfiger hangers.

Sadie Dingfelder, a student at Smith College in Massachusetts, who is visiting Florida for the summer, bought a dark red male mannequin for her dorm room. She'll pair it with the female mannequin she already owns.

"I go to a women's college, so I need a man around," Dingfelder said. "I'm sure he'll be a big hit."

She plans to use a large fragrance bottle prop as a vase. The cloth banners with logos for Wonderbra, Lagerfeld and Elizabeth Arden will decorate her dorm walls or cover her furniture. She purchased a pair of Styrofoam crossed legs (no body attached) on a whim.

"I never bought a body part before," she said. "You never know when you will need an extra pair of legs."

Dingfelder found the legs and red man in mannequin row, where prices ranged from $20 to $70. All alone and naked in the back of the sale were men's torsos.

There was also a skinny, silver woman with crossed legs, cropped 'do and big attitude, and three men bending down for a golf swing.

"All kinds of people buy mannequins," sale organizer Hebert said. "I don't even ask questions, especially when they start buying just the parts like legs, arms and feet."

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