🔒Boyne’s thrift store gives homeowners hope

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It's 10:30 a.m. and Matt Boyne is maneuvering a forklift, relocating slabs of wood doors inside a one-story concrete building.

Volunteers assist him with the repositioning. The 22,000-square-foot structure, a former contaminated machine shop, is already buzzing with shoppers looking for a steal.

Eventually, those doors will be sold at discount — and new products will come in.

It's the nature of ReStore, a unique thrift shop on Cottage Grove Road in Bloomfield, which sells donated new and gently used home improvement products, building materials, furniture, appliances and other items.

Revenue from the nonprofit, affiliated with Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity, is used to build homes (and provide 0 percent mortgages) for families with modest incomes.

Boyne, ReStore's director, said the operation relies on a three-pronged system:

• Donation of items — The tax-deductible offerings come from home improvement stores, contractors, tool manufacturers and homeowners. ReStore also picks up many of the donated items with its truck.

• Shoppers — The items are heavily discounted and popular with landlords, handymen, shelter operators and soup kitchens.

• Volunteers — Among those who assist are senior citizens, college students and individuals who need to work off community service hours after a nonviolent criminal offense. About eight volunteers are on duty daily. Pratt & Whitney once provided 145 volunteers to help unload trucks. The University of Hartford also has sent a contingent of volunteers.

ReStore's concept reflects Habitat for Humanity's social consciousness and community outreach. Instead of going to the dump, the items on display are sold and put to better use.

Overhead signs describe the products being offered: power tools, lighting, windows, doors, cabinet and counters, and plumbing.

There's also an “Oldies But Goodies” and “Cool Stuff” section for items such as pictures, rocking chairs and antique music organs.

On this particular morning, ReStore is buzzing with activity. One shopper is looking at framed pictures, prices ranging from $5 to $10. Another customer is eyeing an organ ($75), while others are looking at appliances, building materials and plumbing fixtures. Refrigerators sell for about $200; $400 for a washer/dryer; $125 for a recliner.

Boyne says his management style in supervising three full-time employees and four part-timers can be summed up in one word — simplicity.

“What comes in must go out,'' he said. “If we market at a good price, it's going to sell. When it sells, we've got room for the next thing that goes there. If we keep it simple, this is going to work.”

Another element to Boyne's simplistic approach is “I surround myself with an eclectic group of people with diverse backgrounds.''

There are 468 ReStores in the country and Canada, he said. The Bloomfield operation launched in October. Cottage Grove Road got ample traffic; parking was available and the building had a motivated and cooperative landlord.

Instead of getting involved with a costly building-contamination clean-up, the areas of concern were encapsulated in concrete, said Boyne. Four years ago, this New Haven native who grew up in Greater Hartford, volunteered to help Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity identify a site for the store.

He ended up running the place. Boyne's experience as a manufacturer's representative, restoration company project manager and carpenter made for a good fit.

To keep things churning, ReStore tries to sell each item in 90 days. Every 30 days another discount is applied. If the product is not sold in 90 days, it will be offered for free for 15 days.

If the item is still on the shelf, it is discarded or sold for scrap. ReStore's most popular items are furniture, appliances and kitchen cabinets. The clientele is varied and includes landlords, home remodelers and homeowners. The marketing is mostly word-of-mouth and via a web site.

Ultimately, Boyne expects ReStore to generate $1.5 million in yearly revenue. He concedes that may take a few years.

This novel thrift shop, open every day except Sundays and Mondays, is certainly aptly named. It rehabilitated a vacant and dilapidated building and is playing an influential role in restoring the American dream to those who thought homeownership was out of reach.

Stan Simpson is the principal of Stan Simpson Enterprises LLC, a strategic communications consulting firm. He is also host of “The Stan Simpson Show” which airs Saturday, 5:30 a.m., on Fox CT — and online at www.foxct.com/stan.

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