Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. The organization’s mission is to provide affordable housing for families in need by building and renovating homes. Volunteers and homeowner families work together to construct decent and affordable homes. Homeowners purchase their Habitat home through an affordable no-profit mortgage.
In 1992, the first Habitat for Humanity ReStore opened in Austin, Texas. ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials, and more to the public at a fraction of the retail price. The proceeds help local Habitat for Humanity affiliates fund building projects in their communities. ReStores also aim to reduce waste by diverting reusable materials from landfills.
Origins
The first Habitat for Humanity ReStore opened in October 1991 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was opened by Ken Campbell, who had the idea of selling used and surplus building materials as a way to raise funds for Habitat. The store proved to be popular and successful, launching what would become Habitat’s ReStore initiative (source).
Later in 1991, the second ReStore location opened in Austin, Texas. The ReStore model caught on rapidly, with Habitat groups across the U.S. and Canada opening their own stores. The stores provided valuable reused and recycled materials for home projects, while benefitting the mission of Habitat. The ReStores offer a sustainable alternative to throwing away quality surplus materials from jobsites, while also generating funds for Habitat house building efforts.
Growth
Since the first ReStore opened in Winnipeg, Canada in 1988, Habitat for Humanity ReStores have experienced significant growth and expansion over the years. According to Habitat for Humanity, there are now over 900 ReStore locations across the United States, Canada, and 10 other countries.
Some key milestones in the growth of ReStores include:
- The first ReStore in the United States opened in 1991 in St. Joseph, Michigan (Habitat for Humanity).
- By 2000, there were over 100 ReStore locations across North America (Retail Insider).
- ReStore sales reached $100 million annually by 2005 (Habitat for Humanity FAQ).
- In 2015, ReStores surpassed 500 locations worldwide (Habitat for Humanity).
- As of 2022, there are over 900 ReStores, with continued plans for expansion (Retail Insider).
This significant growth demonstrates the success of the ReStore model and the increasing demand for reused and recycled home goods and building materials.
Business model
Habitat for Humanity ReStores operate as nonprofit home improvement stores that sell new and used building materials, furniture, and appliances donated by individuals and businesses. The stores help fund the building of Habitat homes by selling these donated items to the public at a fraction of the retail price.
ReStores help support Habitat’s mission by generating revenue through the sale of donated goods. The money raised is used to build and repair Habitat homes for families in need of decent, affordable housing. Habitat ReStores follow a unique business model that benefits the organization, donors, customers, and the environment.
Donors receive tax receipts for their donations. ReStores then sell the donated items, generating funds to support Habitat builds. Customers get great deals on home goods and building materials. Diverting items from landfills also benefits the environment. It’s a win-win model that allows donors to support Habitat’s cause while the stores make money to fund affordable housing projects.
According to the Habitat for Humanity Blog, ReStores help local affiliates fund the construction of over 10,000 Habitat homes per year across the U.S. and Canada. The reuse model brings in revenue while promoting community donation and shopping.
Inventory
Habitat for Humanity ReStores get their inventory from a variety of sources. Many products are donated by community members who are remodeling their homes or businesses and have lightly used materials, furniture, home goods, and building supplies to spare. Local contractors and builders also donate new and surplus materials from construction projects. Some inventory comes directly from retailers and manufacturers in the form of returns, discontinued items, floor samples, and products with minor flaws or damage.
Habitat ReStores carry a wide variety of products including appliances, furniture, home decor, doors, windows, flooring, hardware, lighting, kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures, lumber, and other building materials. Shoppers can find anything from couches and dressers to sinks, paint, and tools. The inventory at each location is unique and changes daily based on what has been recently donated. By purchasing used and surplus goods at greatly reduced prices, customers get great deals while also supporting Habitat for Humanity’s work building affordable housing in their local communities.
Environmental Impact
Habitat for Humanity ReStores have a significant positive environmental impact by diverting usable materials from landfills. According to the ReStore in Thunder Bay, the ReStore model reduces the need for the manufacture of new products, which conserves energy and natural resources.
ReStores accept donations of new and gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials and more. By reselling these items, ReStores give products a second life rather than having them end up in a landfill. As Habitat for Humanity notes, ReStores help minimize the environmental impact of excessive waste and manufacturing by promoting the sustainable shopping of reused goods.
The Riverside ReStore explains that the inventory at ReStores consists of items donated by local businesses, contractors, and individuals that are still useful and in good condition. Shopping at ReStores diverts these products from landfills and reduces unnecessary waste and consumption. Overall, ReStores have a profoundly positive effect by reducing environmental degradation through recycling and reuse.
Community Impact
Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations have a significant community impact. According to Community Impact, the ReStore in Collin County, Texas provides jobs, volunteer opportunities, and generates funds through its sales of donated goods to support Habitat for Humanity home building in the community. The ReStore accepts donations from community members and resells these items to fund Habitat’s mission. Volunteers also assist with tasks like sorting donations, merchandising, and customer service. The ReStore provides an avenue for community members to get involved with Habitat’s work, whether through shopping, donating goods, or volunteering their time. ReStore operations create local jobs, engage volunteers, and generate funds that directly serve the community.
Current reach
Habitat for Humanity ReStore currently has 974 locations globally, the majority of which are located in the United States. According to Habitat’s website, there are over 900 ReStore locations across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Canada (Habitat for Humanity ReStores). As of 2022, ReStore has a presence in over 50% of counties in the U.S. alone. This extensive reach allows Habitat’s ReStores to make a significant impact by providing low-cost home goods to millions of customers each year and generating profits to support affordable housing initiatives.
Future plans
Habitat for Humanity ReStore has ambitious plans to continue expanding in the coming years. According to the Habitat for Humanity website https://www.habitat.org/restores, their goal is to open 1,000 ReStore locations across the United States by 2026. This would nearly double their current footprint of over 600 stores nationwide.
A major initiative supporting this growth is developing new ReStore locations in underserved areas to increase community access. Habitat plans to target opening stores in food deserts and other high-need areas. They also aim to launch more mobile ReStores and pickup/delivery options to make donating and shopping more convenient.
Additionally, ReStore locations will focus on green building supplies and materials salvaged from deconstruction projects. This supports environmental sustainability and expands inventory selection. Overall, Habitat for Humanity ReStore has bold plans to continue providing affordable home goods while positively impacting more communities.
Conclusion
In summary, Habitat for Humanity ReStores are an important part of Habitat’s work to provide affordable housing and support communities. With over 900 locations across North America, ReStores help fund the construction of Habitat homes by selling donated items like furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances. Revenue from ReStores helps local Habitat affiliates reduce costs so more families can purchase Habitat homes. Beyond funding construction, ReStores also benefit the environment by diverting usable materials from landfills. They provide job training and volunteer opportunities that build skills. ReStores offer an affordable shopping option for home goods to community members. As Habitat for Humanity continues to grow, ReStores will remain a key program that embodies the organization’s values of partnership, affordability, and environmental stewardship.