Vancouver building material reseller helps families, contractors' bottom line – and the environment
Nothing it seems, not the current struggles of the region's construction industry or a recent name change, can keep the Clark County Habitat For Humanity Store from raking in bigger and bigger profits to help area families in need.
Buoyed by a rise in do-it-yourself home projects and contractors looking for ways to cut down on costs, the store's profit on sales of used building material and other recycled goods rose two-fold this year since the Fourth Plain Boulevard facility's opening in fall 2008, according to manager Mark Haley.
"Our goal all along has been to absorb all of our operation costs so that as much money as possible goes to builds," Haley said.
The Clark County ReStore, technically called "Store" since the name was already in use by a retailer elsewhere in Washington state, is one of a growing number of 740 similarly-affiliated locations across the U.S.
A relative newcomer to the building and home improvement scene compared its 10-year-old sister location in Southeast Portland, the Store has seen impressive growth – not just in spite of, but because of the plunging fortunes of the region's construction sector.
"Individuals and businesses, including contractors, remodelers and re-renters … they are coming to our store to get things cheaply," he said. "The current state of the economy has helped us in a big way."
All of the Store's profits are evenly distributed to help fund Habitat For Humanity projects in Clark and Skamania counties in Washington state and Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties in Oregon. Often newer donated building materials are incorporated into the housing projects, Haley said.
Apart from its charitable mission, the store also boasts a large positive net impact on the environment – one recognized by the state Dept. of Ecology, which awarded one of its largest grants last year to the Clark County branch to create a fulltime outreach and marketing position.
According to Haley, 2,000 cubic yards of waste had been diverted from local landfills during the Store's 20-month history. In addition to its own operations, the Store also leases out part of its facility to Empower Up, a computer and electronics recycler, which runs an Internet café and educational center.
"We see ourselves as a key part of the reuse trend," he said.
A former site supervisor with Habitat For Humanity in Portland, Haley joked that the Store offers "everything – and the kitchen sink," including tile, toilets, garden supplies, lumber in all sizes and smaller items, as well as furniture.
Far from struggling, Haley said there was one thing the Store needed most: people.
"We're doing so well," he said. "What we need now are volunteers."
