NYC: The City of Dreams and the Land of Free Furniture
New York City has a reputation for innovation. Being a city made up of millions of people, it comes as no surprise that many trends find their origin in the Big Apple. Some practices may arise out of creativity while others form out of necessity. Stooping, the act of leaving unwanted furniture and items on the sidewalk for anyone to take in, is the perfect culmination of both and has since transformed into an industry of its own.
The origins of stooping can be rooted in a variety of reasons. Perhaps one was moving and not having access to a vehicle and realizing that for the price of renting a U-Haul, they could buy an entirely new piece of furniture. Therein lies a stoop. On the other hand, a piece of furniture may have a minor (or major) imperfection that causes it to be tossed to the curb by the owner (literally). Whatever the case, such thought processes have led to the conception of the exciting pass time that many find themselves indulging in.
While the term stooping may remain fairly unfamiliar to some, the practice has been alluded to in mainstream media for years. For example, in the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” a subtle reference of stooping is found when speaking about “The Triangle,” the corner adjacent to Ted Mosby’s apartment where their unwanted furniture was placed and radically vanished nearly instantaneously. That scene may seem exaggerated, but I have witnessed a similar occurrence during which an individual was setting out a chair and before the legs had even reached the concrete, a passerby asked if he could take the seat for himself. Next thing I know, the chair ridder’s face morphs from confusion to a dismissive shrug as he hands over what he believed to be a worthless piece of clutter a mere seconds before to a beaming stranger. On that note, I believe there are many appeals that factor into the popularity of the stooping venture. First, what is more exciting than spending months envisioning the perfect Victorian style mirror taking up residence in the blank corner of your living room only to stumble upon one during your daily stroll to your local grocery? Or walking home to find a seemingly outdated coffee table that has the potential to be the DIY of your dreams? When it comes to stooping, the opportunities are truly endless.
Alternatively, the Instagram account StoopingNYC has taken peoples’ interest in the activity to another level by creating an entire community made up of a common love of second-hand searches. Here’s how it works: An item is found on the street, photographed, and submitted to the StoopingNYC account. Resulting from the growth in popularity, the account owner then filters through the submissions and decides which are most worthy of being posted for the public’s consumption. Then starts the clock on how long it takes before the item is retrieved. The account is incredibly wholesome in nature with its audience interacting to give updates on whether or not an item is still available or to share photos of the furniture in its new home. StooberNYC is another service that will pick up a stoop and deliver it to your home for a small fee, which varies depending on the size of the item. Both services are ingenious and have assisted in pioneering the change of the public’s perceived value of used furniture.
In the end, the practice of stooping is not only convenient and affordable but also promotes the concept of sustainability within the furniture industry. Many pieces are in near perfect condition and would be a unique and beautiful addition to people’s homes. With so many benefits to consider, the saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” has never rang truer than it does within New York City’s stooping community.
Article by Sierra Daniels, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Design Intern, PhotoBook Magazine
*Photos courtesy of KVD Beauty
