ReStores Now Open in Oakland County
Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County’s ReStores offers a great example of how entrepreneurial methods can be used to further nonprofit goals.
Essentially a discount home goods store with a social mission, there are more than 900 ReStores in North America. Oakland County’s are located in Farmington and Pontiac. The outlets collect used and donated home goods like furniture, paint, appliances, cabinets and lights and sell them to help fund Habitat for Humanity’s work building homes for people in need.
Donated ReStore items cost about 50 percent less on average than what you might find at regular retail outlets, and donors get a tax receipt for bringing in used goods.
Products are often dropped off at the ReStores, but the organization also picks up donations with a service truck. In addition to individuals, items are also donated by retailers like Lowe’s and Home Hardware.
The Pontiac and Farmington stores are a new venture for Habitat Oakland County, which took over running the shops and pick-up operations from Detroit’s Habitat branch this past April. With the recent change in management, the nonprofit is eager to educate the public about what products they take and to recruit folks to help with intake, sorting, stocking, customer service and other tasks.
“We are just starting up in Oakland and many ReStores support 50 percent of their respective Habitat organization’s top line revenue,” says Nathan. “The more volunteers we have, the more we can support the mission through revenue supporting the home program.”
Excerpt from article written by David Sands. For full article, click here – http://www.oaklandcountyprosper.com/features/socialenterprise.aspx
