Renewing Resources: How Business Donations Create Community Impact

When Robin Henrichsen, Director of ReStores, first started at Twin Cities ReStore eight years ago, she often heard this phrase: "ReStore is the best kept secret in town." Today, that secret is getting out, as businesses across the Twin Cities discover an innovative solution to their inventory challenges.

Warehouses tell a familiar story: high-quality flooring materials stack up in corners, while lighting showrooms face their quarterly display rotations. These challenges led companies like ProSource Flooring and Muska Lighting to ReStore's door, where they found not just a donation center but a business partner ready to transform their surplus into community impact.

"We're helping businesses solve problems they have," Robin explains. "Their business problem is unproductive inventory. They need to make room both physically in their space or financially on their books so they can buy something that will sell." 

Last year alone, this approach helped keep 5.9 million pounds of materials out of local landfills.

Transform Excess Inventory into Opportunity

It starts with understanding that every business's needs are different.

For busy managers, ReStore's 24/7 online portal makes donation requests as simple as a few clicks. For larger projects, ReStore's team will visit sites to identify materials and create pickup plans. 

"What works best for them, we can set up the lines of communication along what they want to do," Diane Rae, ReStore's business donation manager, notes. This flexibility includes a free professional pickup service–whether it's multiple trips for heavy tile or a one-time collection of display items.

For companies like Presbyterian Homes, this partnership has become seamless. During facility renovations, ReStore coordinates the removal of kitchen cabinets, bath vanities, and appliances–turning a potential disposal challenge into a community benefit.

The impact of these donations extends beyond ReStore's shelves. ReStore donations help support Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s mission. ProSource Flooring's cabinets went directly into Habitat homes, creating a link between business donations and community housing solutions. 

Building a Sustainable Future, One Donation at a Time

As businesses increasingly focus on environmental responsibility, sustainability has moved from aspiration to action. 

"We're seeing more signature lines at the bottom of emails that list sustainability as the person's job title," Diane observes. From healthcare facilities renovating their spaces to flooring companies managing inventory, diverse industries are discovering ReStore's role in their environmental goals.

The Bottom Line Benefits

Many businesses initially seek a solution for excess inventory, but they also discover multiple financial advantages: eliminated disposal fees, valuable tax deductions, and freed-up resources for new inventory. 

While larger retailers might focus on space savings, Robin notes that "for smaller business entities, the tax write-off can be a big deal."

"We're happy to come over, walk around, and let them know how ReStore can help them, what we do and don't take," Diane adds, describing how a single successful donation often leads to lasting partnerships.

More Than Just Donations: Building Community Partnerships

What makes ReStore's approach unique is how these individual benefits–operational efficiency, sustainability, and financial advantages–combine to create lasting partnerships. 

"Make the ask. You might be surprised what we take," Diane encourages. She's seen businesses start with a single donation and grow into regular contributors, each finding their own rhythm in the partnership.

For businesses looking to make a difference while making smart decisions, ReStore offers more than just a donation center–it offers a pathway to lasting community impact. Find out more about our business donation processes and benefits.