The ReStore staff would like to wish a Happy Easter and Passover to all of its customers and donors. Thanks to all of you we are having a great year.
Our staff and volunteers are looking forward to Easter. Along with enjoying the holiday, we seem to have overreached ourselves with some of our Lenten resolutions. The stroke of midnight Sunday morning will probably find us eating foods that have not been enjoyed since February. We are hoping the restraint we have practiced over the last month and a half will keep us from overindulging.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Record sales quarter
Despite sales being low during January we still hit a high for best quarter in terms of sales revenue. As mentioned in a previous blog, February 2012 was our best month ever. We have a slight chance of passing February's sales. Even if we fall short of that, the record quarter is the goal we were hoping for.
These high sales are occurring without a large number of donations. We have gotten several large donations lately from a number of sources. Donations from United Electric Supply, a hotel in Newark, and a donation from a hardware store downstate shared by the Georgetown, DE ReStore among others have all helped to keep the store stocked with great items to purchase.
Today we received a donation of office chairs, desk lamps, and several other items from Discover Bank. Mt Cuba Center has donated cabinets, doors, light fixtures, a water heater, and appliances that were picked up earlier today. We have a few other donations corporate donations planned in the near future.
As great as those donations are and as much as we appreciate the generosity of our corporate donors, we thrive on the day-to-day donations from homeowners in New Castle County. People often plan home improvements for the spring months so we are hopeful that donations from individuals will pick-up. Habitat ReStore is a great source to dispose of gently used items from the home without having to add to landfills. We also provide a receipt for donations so the donor can have a tax deduction. Donating to Habitat ReStore creates a win for everyone.
These high sales are occurring without a large number of donations. We have gotten several large donations lately from a number of sources. Donations from United Electric Supply, a hotel in Newark, and a donation from a hardware store downstate shared by the Georgetown, DE ReStore among others have all helped to keep the store stocked with great items to purchase.
Today we received a donation of office chairs, desk lamps, and several other items from Discover Bank. Mt Cuba Center has donated cabinets, doors, light fixtures, a water heater, and appliances that were picked up earlier today. We have a few other donations corporate donations planned in the near future.
As great as those donations are and as much as we appreciate the generosity of our corporate donors, we thrive on the day-to-day donations from homeowners in New Castle County. People often plan home improvements for the spring months so we are hopeful that donations from individuals will pick-up. Habitat ReStore is a great source to dispose of gently used items from the home without having to add to landfills. We also provide a receipt for donations so the donor can have a tax deduction. Donating to Habitat ReStore creates a win for everyone.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Hardware store and electric supply donation
Late last week we received two large donations. One was from a hardware store that went out of business in Southern Delaware. The donation originally went to the ReStore in Georgetown, DE. It was large enough of a donation that they called us to take some of the items from them. The other donation was from United Electric Supply. Once again they have been kind enough to drop off three skids of lights and other electrical items.
Many of the items from these donations are ready to be sold. We are still in the process of getting everything priced and out on the floor. From the hardware store we have tools, paint supplies, door hardware, electrical supplies, and many other items. From United Electric Supply we have numerous lights of various types (flush mount, chandelier, fluorescent, wall mount, and pendant lights), some halogen bulbs, lamp shades, and globes for lights.
The items that we have put out for sale are selling fast. Both donations are so large that we still have a lot still available from both. We hope to have the rest of the items out during the day Tuesday.
Many of the items from these donations are ready to be sold. We are still in the process of getting everything priced and out on the floor. From the hardware store we have tools, paint supplies, door hardware, electrical supplies, and many other items. From United Electric Supply we have numerous lights of various types (flush mount, chandelier, fluorescent, wall mount, and pendant lights), some halogen bulbs, lamp shades, and globes for lights.
The items that we have put out for sale are selling fast. Both donations are so large that we still have a lot still available from both. We hope to have the rest of the items out during the day Tuesday.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Record sales month
The month just ended was our best month ever in terms of sales. This came as a surprise since donations had been down so we didn't have near as much to sell as normal. Somehow customers kept finding things to purchase. Sales did tail off towards the end of the month as inventory became depleted but the earlier part of the month had been so strong that we still surpassed any previous sales month.
Donations have begun to pick-up again. We had two cabinet sets donated today and have a few more sets on the schedule in the next week. Among the other items scheduled in the next few days are a sectional sofa, doors, and some appliances. The store should be packed with sale items next week.
In the past, our best sales months have been due to large, one time donations. Last year we had cabinets donated from a chain hardware store and a few years ago we had a large donation of decking. Each of these donations caused a frenzy of buying activity at the time but store sales drop off once the donation was gone. This past month we had a large donation from a hotel which certainly helped but it was not a big factor in the amount of sales. We had a lot of people buying a lot of items so we have some hope that this could be a sign of a growing economy. In that case we may be able to continue at a similar pace.
Donations have begun to pick-up again. We had two cabinet sets donated today and have a few more sets on the schedule in the next week. Among the other items scheduled in the next few days are a sectional sofa, doors, and some appliances. The store should be packed with sale items next week.
In the past, our best sales months have been due to large, one time donations. Last year we had cabinets donated from a chain hardware store and a few years ago we had a large donation of decking. Each of these donations caused a frenzy of buying activity at the time but store sales drop off once the donation was gone. This past month we had a large donation from a hotel which certainly helped but it was not a big factor in the amount of sales. We had a lot of people buying a lot of items so we have some hope that this could be a sign of a growing economy. In that case we may be able to continue at a similar pace.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Delaware Home Show
The ReStore has gotten a table at the Delaware Home Show. Wilmington's Chase Center will host the event next weekend. Saturday the show goes from 10-6 and Sunday from 11-4. The Home Show's website, http://delawarehomeshow.com/show.html?show.id=2431, has lists of exhibitors and events for the weekend.
We have attended the Home Show in the past and have done well to attract new customers and donors to the store. It is a great way for us to get the word out as to who we are and where we are located. For anyone interested in home improvement projects for the spring the Delaware Home Show is the place to start. Vendors from every kind of home improvement company will be there to discuss projects with attendees.
If you are attending, please stop by our table. The ReStore can be a great place to find low cost alternatives for home improvement projects. Even if you are planning to get supplies and equipment from other places, we still can provide a way to donate appliances, cabinets, bathroom fixtures, or other home items that are being replaced and are still in saleable condition. We can provide a reciept for tax purposes.
We have attended the Home Show in the past and have done well to attract new customers and donors to the store. It is a great way for us to get the word out as to who we are and where we are located. For anyone interested in home improvement projects for the spring the Delaware Home Show is the place to start. Vendors from every kind of home improvement company will be there to discuss projects with attendees.
If you are attending, please stop by our table. The ReStore can be a great place to find low cost alternatives for home improvement projects. Even if you are planning to get supplies and equipment from other places, we still can provide a way to donate appliances, cabinets, bathroom fixtures, or other home items that are being replaced and are still in saleable condition. We can provide a reciept for tax purposes.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Art work donations to the ReStore
The ReStore has recently received donations of artwork that may have some value beyond what we would be likely to get by selling these items in the store. An art dealer has advised us on the worth of these items. We plan to put each piece on eBay in the near future.
Two of the pieces are contemporary works. "Little Abstraction" (pictured to the left) by Robert A. Nelson was done in 1981. Mr. Nelson is from Indianapolis. His art has been displayed in at several major museums. "xxx's" done by Sharon Lewkowitz Oran in 1983 is another piece we will be featuring on eBay.
The prize of the group is an oil painting pictured to the right. Habitat is having this one appraised. The painting was done by S. Cederburg. Part of the appraisal will be an attempt to find out who the subject was. If he is someone of some fame or prominence the value of the painting could increase significantly. Even without knowing the man's name we have been told the painting is a valuable piece.
Most of the artwork we sell in the ReStore are framed prints. Typically these sell for $5-15. Many of the people buying prints just want the frames. Selling these pieces of art on eBay will allow the pieces to be purchased by someone who will appreciate the art while allowing us to raise more money than we would receive otherwise.
Two of the pieces are contemporary works. "Little Abstraction" (pictured to the left) by Robert A. Nelson was done in 1981. Mr. Nelson is from Indianapolis. His art has been displayed in at several major museums. "xxx's" done by Sharon Lewkowitz Oran in 1983 is another piece we will be featuring on eBay.
The prize of the group is an oil painting pictured to the right. Habitat is having this one appraised. The painting was done by S. Cederburg. Part of the appraisal will be an attempt to find out who the subject was. If he is someone of some fame or prominence the value of the painting could increase significantly. Even without knowing the man's name we have been told the painting is a valuable piece.
Most of the artwork we sell in the ReStore are framed prints. Typically these sell for $5-15. Many of the people buying prints just want the frames. Selling these pieces of art on eBay will allow the pieces to be purchased by someone who will appreciate the art while allowing us to raise more money than we would receive otherwise.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Furniture from a Newark hotel
The ReStore has recieved a large furniture donation from a hotel in Newark. Thanks to the MI Group and volunteers from St. George's Technical High School we were able to fill our ReStore truck and a tractor trailor in one day with all of the furniture being donated. Our furniture room is fully packed with these items and a variety of other items.
The hotel donation includes end tables, coffee tables, credenzas, sofas, mirrors, small square tables, TVs, wall mount headboards and framed prints. Everything is on the floor in the furniture area except the headboards. We expect to have the headboards available for sale in the near future.
Along with the furniture we still have many of the lights and other electrical items from the donation last week. These have been selling well. We have many other pieces of electrical equipment such has dimmer switches, and exit signs. In many cases we have more than one of some items and plan to offer some of the duplicates on eBay.
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