The Habitat for Humanity ReStore system: Sourcing and sales of donated wood-based building materials

    Authors

    A. R. Gresock; J. H. Michael; A. E. Echols;P. M. Smith

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    For. Prod. J.

    Keywords

    Forestry; Materials Science, Paper & Wood

    Abstract

    The Habitat for Humanity (HFH) ReStore system is composed of hundreds of retail stores that sell a wide variety of building materials. New and used building materials are donated to ReStores and are then resold to generate revenues to support Habitat's mission of building affordable housing for low-income families. This project examined the sales, marketing, and sourcing of wood-based building materials sold through Habitat's ReStore system. Data were collected through the use of a mail survey to all known ReStores currently selling building materials within the United States. Results indicated that on average, wood-based materials made up nearly 30 percent of 2004 sales. The wood-based product category cited as most difficult to sell was window frames; the greatest challenge to selling wood-based materials was missing pieces or components. Several marketing-related variables, such as having a written marketing plan and tracking store performance, were positively related to store sales. Implications are drawn for managers of used building materials enterprises seeking to improve store performance.

    Journal Title

    Forest Products Journal

    Volume

    56

    Issue/Number

    10

    Publication Date

    1-1-2006

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    37

    Last Page

    41

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000241414400006

    ISSN

    0015-7473

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