The slogan for the Indian River Habitat for Humanity ReStore is “the gift that keeps on giving,” and it’s poised to generate even more revenue to support Habitat’s mission of building communities through the construction, rehabilitation and repair of homes for families in need. On Oct. 13, Habitat will cut the ribbon to its newly expanded and enhanced ReStore, located on U.S. 1 just north of 45th Street.
The numbers are already impressive for the donor-driven business, which currently funds the construction of one in three Habitat homes. The ReStore opened in September 2005 and by 2015 was the 18th highest-grossing ReStore in the nation, nearly double that of similarly sized ReStores. And once the 9,500-square-foot expansion is completed, the 39,500-square-foot facility will be among the 50 largest in the country.
But numbers don’t tell the whole story. Visiting can be a shopping experience like no other, with donors quickly becoming shoppers. Regulars appreciate that the ReStore is a one-stop-shopping cornucopia for the home that offers construction materials, appliances, furniture and home décor; basically everything but clothing.
“They get these very unusual items, like art glass and even Highwaymen paintings,” says Jerusha Stewart, marketing consultant for the project. “That’s what I find incredible. It’s where you can literally find bathroom fixtures, an antique crib or a zebra print couch. If you buy a fixer-upper, you can come here and outfit a whole home.”
“I come about twice a day; it’s one of my favorite things to do. I thrift shop for clients that have a wish list,” says thrift stylist and designer Ambie Hay. “The inventory changes every hour on the hour. There’s always new merchandise being rolled out. You’ve got to be on your toes. They just have this huge array of items to furnish your home. The volunteers and management are all so wonderful and helpful.”
Hay also purchases pieces to hand-paint or reupholster, adding, “You can reimagine and recycle, and that’s so important. It’s just such a fun place. Everybody is thrift shopping; we love to redo. This truly is my go-to store for everything from a basic dining set or sofa, which every home needs, to Chinoiserie lamps, designer carpets and decorative chandeliers. Gosh, there’s so much; it’s really a treasure trove. Why would you shop retail when you can buy here? Some things are brand new. It’s just truly amazing.”
ReStore General Manager Sheradi Monroe says conversations surrounding the $1.5 million project began about three years ago, explaining, “Our donation flow is so heavy that we were running out of space.”
“Part of the overall project has been to air-condition the warehouse,” adds board member Rene Donars. “We were losing volunteers over the summer because it was just too hot in there.”
“We cannot do this without volunteers,” says Monroe. “It’s a professionally run organization but we’re doing a professional job with volunteers.”
The space is also being enhanced with new flooring and lighting, new restrooms, an expanded check-out area, a covered drop-off area and a locked security cage for high-value collectibles.
“People are recycling; trash to treasures,” says Monroe, noting that about one-third of total donations come from barrier island residents. That number is around 90 percent when pertaining to materials from homes being remodeled by construction firms.
“They’ll give us a call and we will take a crew out there and we’ll take everything we can – the windows, flooring, cabinets, plumbing, air-conditioning units, even whole theaters. We clean it out,” says Donars. “And so we have another customer group if you will, Do-It-Yourselfers and small contractors in this area, who will come in and shop that stuff. That’s why we have that hardware section. One time we inherited 73 commodes at one shot. They were redoing a retirement home and the commodes didn’t conform to ADA so they gave them to us.”
The process is a win-win for everyone involved. Habitat keeps meticulous records of the value of everything they remove, at no cost to the homeowner, who receives a tax receipt at the end of the year.
“So it gives the donor a savings at the front end – they don’t have to pay the contractor – and a savings at the back end with a tax deduction,” adds Habitat CFO Sara Mayo. “It helps save the environment because it doesn’t go to landfill and all of the money from sales goes to our needy families and our mission.”
“And because we have built a reputation with the contractors and good will from donors, we get a lot of referrals,” agrees Monroe. “They know that we take seriously our stewardship of donations and they feel good about what we’re doing.”
They encourage everyone to visit and enjoy the treasure hunting experience, with Donars adding, “We have so many people who have never been here. I run across these people all the time. They’re never been in the store and don’t know what they can find here.”
“But once they do they’ll want to volunteer because volunteers get a first look at what comes in,” Mayo says with a grin.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the ReStore and opportunities abound in areas such as customer service, administrative work, sorting and staging merchandise, and helping to value items. Others like to tinker with appliances or do a little woodworking. “Whatever your niche; wherever you feel you can serve, we’re open,” says Monroe.
“Not everyone can handle the physical labor at the jobsites but they can volunteer at the ReStore,” says Donars, referencing the volunteers who help build Habitat homes.
“We’re more flexible with our hours,” adds Monroe, noting that while store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. volunteers are at the store from about 8 a.m. to closing.
Two Habitat trucks make pickups all over the county, but a third is needed to shorten the wait time. Donation pickups are free and they can also provide delivery for a reasonable fee.
Stewart notes that instore signage will “share the mission story of what we do, which will be totally unique. It’s going to be the wow factor on the walls.”
“We’re going to do a better job of using the store to tell what we do,” explains Monroe of using signage to highlight Habitat’s homeowners, neighborhood revitalization projects, new construction and volunteers. “We want them to feel the experience, that every time they make a donation or sale in the ReStore they’re helping a family. So they feel good and will want to come back. It’s going to be fabulous. If you haven’t come in a long time, come and reacquaint yourself with the ReStore.”
