The ReStoration Corner

If you're shopping for a refrigerator, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore has a great selection of refrigerators and other used appliances. But what do you need to know when buying used appliances? ReStore's Jan Hagerman tells you what to look for in this edition of ReStoration Corner.

Business donations to the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore keep the store well-stocked and the inventory fresh. ReStore operates on donated products and all revenue supports Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s work building, rehabbing, and repairing homes for local families. Many businesses choose to donate overstock, mis-orders, discontinued items, or storeroom cleanout.

Inventory management is a big part of running a successful business. But sometimes overstock is unavoidable and businesses have a choice to make regarding what to do next. One option that’s a win-win is donating those items to a charitable organization—like the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore. 

There are many reasons that organizations can wind up with too much inventory. There are also many reasons why too much inventory is a bad idea. For starters, excess inventory takes up your finite retail or storage space--whether that’s shelves on a showroom floor or in the back room. Additionally, that inventory costs money. Capital was invested in whatever the excess inventory is, and that capital is now unavailable for other necessary inventory or additional business reinvestments.

As the weather starts to turn cold and you begin moving all of your outdoor summer items inside to store for the winter, it’s a good time to think about getting your garage clean and organized. Let’s face it, decluttering a garage can be a daunting task. It can be easy to just shove stuff wherever you can find space. But there are steps you can take to make the best use out of this storage area. Here are 4 tips to help make the process go smoothly and free up space in your garage. 

It can come out of nowhere – the dishwasher stops washing, the water heater isn't heating, or the fridge quits cooling. All appliances have a life expectancy. And there are signs to look for that can help you prepare and plan out your appliance purchases to avoid some of those unwanted surprises. Here’s a look at the average lifespan of your refrigerator and other household items, along with some hints on how to tell they're getting too old.

If you’re wondering what a committed volunteer looks like, look no further than Leslie Johnson. Leslie, who goes by Les, gives his time and passion to Twin Cities Habitat both on the construction site and at ReStore.

Our Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore Home Improvement locations have been around for many years, but there are still a lot of people who either haven’t shopped there before or just don’t know what it is!

When you purchase second-hand furniture at a Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore Home Improvement Outlet, you’re doing more than just helping keep quality items and building material out of landfills. You’re also helping support a non-profit organization that uses almost all proceeds from ReStore to help build affordable Habitat homes for local families!

To call Chris Koch a veteran ReStore shopper is an understatement. He has been shopping at ReStore since it opened in 2007, and now he's a regular at both of our current locations –  Minneapolis and New Brighton. But while his shopping patterns have been constant, his reason for shopping has changed along the way. When Chris started looking for bargains at ReStore, he was a DIYer, working on his own home in North Minneapolis. But now he's a professional who specializes rehabbing older homes – and finding unique materials for them at ReStore.