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Facility
Facility Infrastructure
Practice: Use industrial racking systems
Where: ReNew Building Materials and Salvage, The Reuse People, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, Restore Home Improvement Center (MA)
Description: Industrial racking used to stock and display product. Various types of specialized racking systems can be employed for products such as lumber, cabinets, hardware, lighting, tile and hangable items.
Suggestion: Lumber racks are often a good first purchase for industrial racking of dimensional lumber. Organization lead to more efficient and quicker lumber sales.
Pros:
- Creates an orderly store
- Allows for increased inventory density
- Increased employee and customer efficiency
- Increase sales price
Cons:
- Capital cost
- Limited mobility
Practice: Innovative racking solutions
Where: Restore Home Improvement Center, Urban Ore, The ReBuilding C
enter, Second Use
Description: Some facilities use reclaimed materials in innovative ways, such as a tub stacking system or the creation of rollable racks from hollow core doors (see examples). Creative racking is often developed in-house by encouraging staff ingenuity and experience.
Suggestion: Place as many items on rolling racks and carts as possible. Make items stackable wherever possible.
Pros:
- Facilitates product stocking, movement, sale and loading
- Create order and neatness of store
- Efficiency through staff time savings
- Encourages staff creativity through innovative material reuse
Cons:
- Reclaimed material requirement
- Personnel time requirement
Feature: Signed and/or numbered aisles to reduce walking with customers
Where: Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, The ReBuilding Center
Description: Use highly visible and clearly labeled signs to indicate product categories and aisles.
Pros:
- Creates an orderly store
- Allows for customer self-help
Cons:
-
Not conducive to some facility arrangements, e.g., open yards with multiple buildings
Strategy: Locate near municipal solid waste (MSW) or other waste reuse services and building material retailers
Where: Urban Ore, ReSource, The Reuse People, Earthwise, Second Use
Description: Locate business near municipal solid waste facility or complimentary building material outlets. This creased convenience for customers to donate (less transportation hassle) and purchase (one-stop-shop) reclaimed materials.
Pros:
- Convenience of customer donation
- Convenience of customer purchasing
- Aggregate marketing potential
Cons:
- Site constraints
- Remote location (for some MSW sites)
Feature: Interior lighting and heat
Where: Second Use, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, Ohmega Salvage, ReNew Building Material and Salvage
Description: Interior lighting and climate control systems installed to enhance customer experience and convenience for nighttime and inclement weather shopping. Small portable systems can be used for localized climate control.
Pros:
- Boost nighttime and winter sales
- Enhance customer experience
Cons:
- Capital cost
- Operating cost
Feature: Loading dock and oversized loading doors
Where: ReNew Building Materials and Salvage, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, Build it Green! NYC
Description: Raised commercial loading dock made accessible to loading and unloading vehicles. Large “garage doors” make docks accessible to small cars and large semi-trailers alike.
Pros:
- Easy loading and unloading
- Bulk and individual items
- Facilitates deliveries from shipping companies (FedEx, cargo shipments)
Cons:
- Requires space and infrastructure
- Interior space and design
- Exterior accessibility – often compromises parking
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