It used to be that when Habitat for Humanity ReStore Manager Doug Willey would accept a large donation – be it a discarded door or heirloom dining room set – he’d have to think long and hard how to best fit the new addition into his 10,000 square foot Dover showroom.

“There were times when we couldn’t accept a delivery because the showroom was too full, or other times where we’d have a trailer unloading that was blocking three parking spaces,” recalls Willey of his store’s halcyon Dover days. “It always felt like we could do a lot better if we just had more space.”

That all changed on October 1st of last year, when the ReStore officially opened its new Newington showroom.

Located in the old roller skate rink, the new-look ReStore managed to double the floor space of its old quarters. Not only that, but having the showroom housed on one floor – a majority of the old ReStore’s space was located in the basement – made arranging and rearranging the myriad tables, chests, and other, smaller household fodder all the more safe and seamless.

“It makes it relatively easy to move materials in and out, and to shuffle materials around as necessary,” says Willey. “And partly because of that, donations have increased dramatically these last few months.”

Whereas their Dover home’s limited parking and driving space led to constant receiving logjams, ReStore now boasts a drive-thru style drop-off center, complete with a retro gas station bell that rings every time a new car approaches.

Drive in, drop off, grab a donation slip for any tax deductions, and you’re on your way – simple as that.

And lest you think the items brought through ReStore receiving constitute little more than landfill fodder, think again: For every half-used can of paint, there is a gorgeous heirloom desk; for every used tool, a perfectly usable, sleek appliance.

In the Holidays’ wake, Willey says his store witnessed a wave of new donations, primarily from large-scale operations – hotels and big box stores, and the like. The reason for the end-of-year boon, of course, is obvious: Companies often look to donate as much used equipment as possible at the end of the year in order to qualify for the aforementioned tax deductions.

Which is all well and good for Willey and the rest of the ReStore team.

“Last week was a banner week as far as pickups and drop-offs go,” exclaims Willey. “We received 20 rooms worth of stuff from a Hampton Inn, and we’re expecting another large shipment from an Inn in York, Maine in the coming days.”

Willey says the store will likely get another influx of donations during the spring and summer, when residents start their spring-cleaning and renovation projects.

Unlike in years past, however, Willey and the rest of the ReStore crew expect the recent business boom to continue throughout the winter and early spring. That means more money in the Habitat for Humanity coffers and, as a result, more money to do what the famed nonprofit does best: Construct affordable, move-in ready homes for Strafford and Rockingham County residents.

It also means far fewer appliances, tools, building materials, and other perfectly usable items meeting an untimely, landfill-destined death. Indeed, since opening their Dover doors in 2008, ReStore has looked to actively tout this “green” aspect of their business.

In fact, they were one of the first to join Green Alliance, a Portsmouth-based organization that certifies and promotes sustainability-minded businesses. In so doing, the store has succeeded in tapping into a growing eco-consciousness in and around the Seacoast, drawing in an increasing number of Green Alliance members, who receive discounts at the organization’s near 100 partnering businesses.

ReStore, for example, offers members – named “Green Card” holders for the credit card-sized logo-emblazoned ID – receive a 10% discount on everything in the store. And that’s on top of a stock of items already discounted up to 80%.

Taken together, ReStore’s increased exposure and unique green branding have given an old school company – nonprofit organization, more accurately – a decidedly 21st century look and feel.

But it took an eastside move, and the flexibility it provided, to take the bread and butter of its very foundation – donations – to the next level.

“Since we moved to Newington, I think a lot of our success has to do with word of mouth – people talking to friends, talking to neighbors, that sort of thing,” says Willey. “After a while the growth became exponential. In fact, I think we doubled the amount of paying customers in just those three months.”

“A lot of times, on a particularly slow day, our Dover show room would be empty. But it’s never empty here.”

For more information on ReStore, go to www.senhhabitat.org/restore
To learn more about Green Alliance, visit www.greenalliance.biz