HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-29, Page 10Page A10 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Huron County Habitat Restore open five days a week
Denny Scott
signal -star staff
Only a month after opening their doors,
the Habitat for Humanity ReStore is upping
their business hours from one day a week to
five.
The store, which is located in the Zehrs
Plaza in the former Giant Tiger outlet is now
open TLiesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Pre-
viously the store was only open Saturdays.
Kevin Morrison, executive director of
Habitat for Humanity Huron County, said
that the interim spot was exactly what the
project needed to hold them over until later
in the year, when construction of a new Par-
sons Court store will open.
"We have a lot of people coming in al-
ready, and they can't believe what they see,"
he said. "And Giant Tiger's head office just
jumped when I approached them. They have
basically donated $25,000 to us by giving us
the store for the time we need it for."
The store sellsretty much everything
and anything for a house except clothes ac-
cording to Morrison.
"We have used items, but a lot of items
are new," Morrison said. "We've got things
that have been donated by companies and
we can sell them at a huge discount."
Morrison pointed out several items that
have been given to the ReStore, which they
sell for less than other retailers can.
Morrison said the new location will con-
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Photo by Denny Scott
Habitat for Humanity Huron County's ReStore, which opened last month, is now open
five days a week. The temporary storefront is in the previous Giant Tiger Outlet.
tinue to grow thanks to the customers they
have accumulated at their current location,
which he says is definitely prime real estate.
"People have asked if moving will be a
problem, but I don't think it will." He said.
"People can see how it works, and they will
come with us."
When I first came here, I questioned the
[Parson's Court] property too, but then I saw
that there are networking opportunities all
around it."
Morrison also said that the old cliche of
"Location, location, location," is a myth and
that it should read "Destination, destination,
destination."
"The ReStore will be the best one in the
area, and we're going to make it the new des-
tination for shopping," Morrison said.
The ReStore is currently well ahead of
their revenue budget, and Morrison says it's
because of the way they do business. Cus-
tomers are impressed with the dedication of
the all -volunteer staff.
"It's the little things [that are making us a
success], we always have someone to greet
customers at the front door, we have Re -
Store aprons, and we're always getting posi-
tive feedback," he said.
A fun place to volunteer and shop, Mor-
rison said that the ReStore provides a great
service to local communities as well as
shoppers.
"Goderich and Central Huron love it. The
products aren't going to landfills, and it cre-
ates a need in local markets," Morrison said.
"Some people may think that we're going to
compete with other stores, but that's not true.
We may sell similar products, but the things
we sell are going to generate business else-
where. If we sell a tub, then someone's going
to need installation parts, if we sell a sink,
they're going to need faucets."
The store is also revealing who is trying
to save that extra buck, and Morrison said
that a lot of it is coming from younger gen-
erations.
"We see a lot of young people trying to
save money," he said. "And we have a lot of
parents coming in. They know their kids are
going off to college or university, so they're
getting what they need and storing it in their
garages until it's time."
Morrison also said that people like stu-
dents are a great resource for the ReStore,
because, when they move on, or move
home, they can simply call the ReStore in
their area, have the items picked up, and
resold, benefitting two different chapters of
Habitat for Humanity.
The store is currently running on 30 vol-
unteers, but is seeking 75 to help maintain
the new hours. Anyone interested can stop
by the store to pick up a form.
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