WHAT IS THIS PLACE?
We are a creative reuse center, aka a weird thrift store, that carries items not found in traditional thrift stores. Our goal is to divert valuable resources from our waste stream that currently are falling through the cracks of the traditional reuse industries. Want to learn more? CLICK HERE
WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?
There is an enormous amount of waste going on in every town and city in this country(and other countries). We all see it piled up on the side of the road on trash day but much of it is never seen by the public. Valuable materials go straight into dumpsters and then straight to the dump without a second thought because it is the easy thing to do. There are limited resources on this planet for us all to share. We are taking and wasting more than we need. We feel strongly that a new USED economy is necessary for the health of our planet and the people and animals on it. Manufacturing of new goods is not only taking a toll on resources, but it also creates pollution that everyone on the planet has to deal with. A new USED economy will keep resources and money in our local communities, reduce our environmental impact, while also creating green jobs. BUY USED!!
WHO DOES IT HELP?
EVERYONE! Teachers, parents, families, students, artists, crafters, low-income, fixed income, homeless, homeschoolers, party planners(weddings), and local businesses. Our customers have access to interesting and low cost materials. Low-income and homeless can get necessities for very little. Artists find one of a kind materials that are not found at traditional craft stores. Students can get school supplies for a small fraction of the money they would spend at big box stores. Businesses save money on their waste disposal costs by donating valuable items to us instead of paying to throw them away.
HOW DOES IT HELP THE PLANET?
When you buy something used, you eliminate all that goes into producing a new product. The raw materials don’t have to be harvested or mined from the planet. The water needed for manufacturing isn’t used. The energy needed to harvest/mine, produce, and ship the product isn’t used. The packaging is eliminated. Buying USED items instead of NEW is good for the planet! We want to encourage everyone to purchase used items whenever possible….and it doesn’t have to be from us! Go to other thrift stores and consignment shops, shop online for used items, buy off Craigslist, or volunteer to take down your neighbors falling over shed(that they want demolished) so you can salvage the materials for your chicken coop!
ARE YOU A NON-PROFIT?
Yes, we are a 501(c)3 tax deductible non-profit. Both monetary and item donations are tax deductible. Our ein# is 45-4241510. Help us with our mission by making a tax deductible donation!
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
We are a non-profit so all the money we receive goes towards maintaining and growing operations at the non-profit. There is no owner who can pull money out of the organization or sell it. The money goes directly into maintaining our operations: rent, electric, insurance, living wages for our very hard working and deserving staff, employment tax, reemployment tax, sales tax, etc. As we grow and our income increases, we will use that additional income to improve and expand our services such as these ideas:
- Hire more staff so we can increase our hours and handle more donations(divert more)
- Expand our pickup services to include an environmentally focused “clean out service” instead of the normal dumpster or junk removal (landfill) service.
- Start a lending library of valuable tools, folding tables and chairs, party supplies, etc that aren’t necessary to own year round but needed for occasional use
- Start a toy library so parents and children can share and borrow toys
- Offer repair services and repair events, so repairable items are saved from the landfill and the need to purchase those new items is eliminated
- Resume our deconstruction service to increase second hand building material salvage.
- Develop a market and system to salvage bulk items. (Example: we get requests to pick up hundreds of one item like desks, but we don’t have the space, market, or help to move and store that much at a time. We would like to develop a way to keep large quantities of donations out of the landfill)
- Workshops to help people learn creative and fun ways to reuse and repurpose various materials
- Run a municipal salvage facility to accept and distribute donations of usable items. Facility will include a large scale second hand retail market (big box store model or specialized thrift store strip mall model or all)
- Expand to other locations: either specialized large stores for bulk material like furniture or building supplies or possibly small satellite stores in rural areas similar to dollar store models but used.
All of these ideas take time and effort and someone to manage them. All income is reinvested into The Project to further landfill diversion and our waste reduction education efforts.
HOW ARE THINGS PRICED?
Many items are now priced because we have learned that customers are more comfortable with priced items and do not want to have to ask about prices. We always try to price things fairly and aim for at least 50% less than market rate, but we are pricing hundreds of random items daily and sometimes get it wrong. You are always welcome to question our prices(nicely!). We can’t and don’t price everything. If an item is not priced we ask the customer to make an offer and we are very open to someones situation. For example, a homeless person can come in and get a sleeping bag for $0.50 or a phone charger for $0.05. On the other end of the spectrum, someone will come in for a printer cable and offer $13 because that is how much they saw if for sale at the electronics store, and they want to support the efforts of the project. It’s a sliding scale pricing system, and the balance seems to be working. The Repurpose Project is thrilled that the organization has found a way to address social and pay inequality issues as well as the environmental ones. Income is not always equal(or fair) so why should prices be the same for everyone?
DO YOU ACCEPT VOLUNTEERS?
Yes, we LOVE volunteers! We have an incredible amount of material that comes in and goes out of our center on a daily basis. Sorting and organizing all of these little bits and pieces is an extremely time consuming task. So…..we would LOVE the help! We have tasks for individuals and large groups. Email volunteer@repurposeproject.org to find out how to get involved and schedule your first visit!
ARE YOU HIRING?
Check our job page to see the most up to date info.
HOW ARE YOU FUNDED?
We are funded almost entirely by the sales from our retail store along with monetary donations from individuals and local businesses(Satchels). We have received one $500 Satch Grant. We have also received a grant from the City of Gainesville, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department to hold workshops and events in 2019 and 2020. Extra funding helps us further our mission and increase our services and impact. If you hear of any opportunity for additional funding, please let us know! info@repurposeproject.org
DO YOU THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD THING FOR OUR PLANET & OUR COMMUNITY?
Help us do MORE by making a tax deductible donation to our organization!
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION WE DIDN’T ANSWER? EMAIL US AT INFO@REPURPOSEPROJECT.ORG!
