Providing a 'visual assist' to ReStore shoppers

If you've stepped foot in our New Brighton ReStore in the last few years, chances are that you've seen the handiwork of one very hardworking and passionate individual—yet you may not have realized it!

Bill brings his experience in sales and commercial office furniture and flooring from his previous work at Herman Miller and DuPont to his current role as Sales Associate and merchandising lead at the New Brighton Twin Cities ReStore. Since October of 2013, Bill has been putting his creative skills to work assembling kitchens, staging pieces, and creating displays for the entire sales floor.

"I’m basically the person who gives the store a cohesive look," Bill said. "I make room settings and turn cast-offs into valuable pieces by the way they are displayed. Not everyone can visualize things, so putting items in this setting helps customers see the potential in pieces."

Bill estimates that he merchandises 30-35 new items every day on the sales floor. That's because the store's inventory is donation-based, and the donation door and ReStore truck are bustling with activity from local individual donors and businesses in the community. Bill gets help moving and displaying inventory from other staff members and volunteers. 

"I go back in the back room and see what came in and make holes on the sales floor to fit them in," Bill said. "I call it 'triage merchandising,' as this approach is quite different from how typical stores might merchandise their inventory."

Bill's favorite items to stage are some of the larger, incredible kitchen sets donated to the store, and the collection that was gifted to ReStore by U.S. Figure Skating and Wayfair. Some of the kitchen sets have sold for over $6,000!

"That's the most rewarding part," Bill said. "I know that those sales are going to support the building of Habitat homes. And I know that those homes are providing children with the stable foundation that they need to succeed. I've seen that success play out first-hand with my previous experience working with kids with special needs. Constant moving and lack of a stable home can negatively impact the lives of children."

Last year, proceeds from items purchased at the ReStore were able to help fund the building of six Habitat homes! With two stores now open, and the support of the Twin Cities community, the ReStore staff hope to keep increasing that number year-after-year. 

“Bill has come up with some creative and inspiring ideas to display our merchandise," said Jill Carmody, ReStore Manager. "It can be a challenge to create a display when the items are ever changing and come for all over the twin cities. He puts little personal touches on displays that inspire our customers to imagine the possibilities ReStore could provide for their property.”