Learn About Habitat Newark > Virtual ReStore

Habitat Newark's Virtual ReStore: A Win-Win for All

Habitat Newark's ReStore operates as a virtual store on the internet. Most of the goods sold are quality, reusable used kitchen cabinets, appliances, patio sliding doors, windows with nailing flanges, exterior doors, pianos, stone countertops, bathroom vanities, tools, pavers, bathtubs, hot tubs, medicine cabinets, building materials or anything of significant value.

Here's how it works. Goods for the ReStore are frequently generated by people with good, reusable cabinets and appliances who are redoing their kitchen or similar remodeling. When a potential donor calls or e-mails Julian will review the item with the donor. Julian knows what type of goods he will be able to resell and if they fit the bill he will make an appointment to visit and examine the goods for potential resale value. If, for example, the goods are kitchen cabinets, Julian examines the cabinets for construction and materials. He inventories and photographs them so that bidders have an accurate description of the items. Countertops made of Granite and corian also have resale value and may be added to the donated goods. Habitat Newark does not have trucks or staff to pick up donations, so typically, the donor's contractor will carefully remove the cabinets and put them in the donor's garage for pick-up by the winning bidder.

Potential donors learn about the Restore in several ways. Some call Habitat directly; others, through their kitchen cabinet retailers who share with them the information that the perfectly good cabinets they wish to replace can be recycled by donating them to Habitat Newark and getting a tax write-off; and some, through their contractors.

Besides kitchen-related goods, Habitat Newark's ReStore has sold items such as a gas fireplace insert, relatively new Andersen French doors, exterior doors, late-model double paned windows, and outdoor play sets. Unfortunately, because Habitat Newark's ReStore has no physical plant or storage, Julian must limit donated items to those he can quickly sell on eBay and thus cannot accept every item that is offered.

Goods auctioned on eBay. Once the item is offered on eBay Julian's extensive commentaries and willingness to respond to potential buyer's questions have earned him rave customer reviews. The bidding is started at a very low price as an incentive to get bids. Typically buyers are local (coming from within an 80-90 mile range) since the buyer must pick up the goods. It is not unknown, however, for buyers to come a significantly greater distance to pick up their new purchase or have plans to install it at a remote location.

Astute budget buyers. Julian describes his buyers as "terrific people", frequently family people with limited means on a budget and other times, astute buyers who recognize a great bargain.

Team fund-raising effort. Sometimes when additional support is needed to help operate the virtual ReStore Carpenter Club volunteers Steve Beck, Jim Waldron and Joe Schachtele all pitch in to help what is really a team effort to help raise funds for Habitat Newark. Julian points out that he is just doing what works for him to help Habitat and notes that volunteering for Habitat is not limited to home-building and can take many non-construction forms.

A Win-Win for All. When the goods are sold, Habitat Newark gets the proceeds; the donor homeowners get a tax deduction; budget-conscious buyers get quality goods at a very reasonable price; and, the donated goods are recycled rather than sent to a dump. By running the ReStore in a virtual environment, Habitat Newark avoids the expense of renting or purchasing a store and related overhead costs. Certainly Habitat Newark's virtual ReStore is a win-win for all. To learn more about Habitat Newark's ReStore, Julian 973-454-3487 or e-mail him at sailhappily@optimum.net.

To see what is for sale by Habitat Newark at eBay, click here.