Harnessing the Power of the Crowd
Operating a thrift store is challenging. There are a myriad of different tasks that must take place everyday, in the right order, and as efficiently as possible in order to be (and remain) successful. To make it even more challenging, the team executing these tasks is often in flux, with new team members being added […]
Tracking Each and Every Donation
When does a relationship really begin with a donor? When they first hear about your organization or see an ad in the community? As soon as he or she arrives at your location? When a conversation is shared with the donor? I would argue that a relationship doesn’t truly begin until after the donor leaves […]
Don’t Forget Your Customers
If you’ve spent any time with the SMCo Thrift team, you know we spend a great deal of time focusing on donors. We do so because donations are the lifeline to a thrift organization. We have to make sure we have products available to sell first. However, our first thought on the donor doesn’t mean we disregard our […]
Marketing in Thrift Versus a Typical Retail Store
In a recent conversation with a thrift store operator, I was asked the question, ”So you channel all your marketing efforts toward donors?” My answer was a resounding, “Yes!” Conventional wisdom tells you to focus your marketing on the customer. Retailers want the customer to come to their store to buy the widget instead of going to another store […]
Transportation Unloaded (2 of 2)
Your transportation department could be the greatest untapped opportunity for your thrift operation. So, how do we maximize it to support your non-profit? Focus on Timing In evaluating the current state of a transportation operation, two questions need to be asked. What is your pick up request volume? How far out is your promised pick up time? Both […]
Transportation Unloaded (1 of 2)
As in all aspects of the thrift store operation, there are critical questions to be addressed for your transportation department. Interestingly, there are three reasons management does not ask the questions of cost and efficiency. There is a major lack of control. The phone rings for a pick up whenever the donor chooses. The request comes […]
The Real Cost of Trash (Part 4 of 4)
What are the hidden costs of retaining non-sellable goods? Unlike a payroll expense, the dollars and cents of not disposing of non-sellable goods quickly is not as easy to see. But, I believe you’ll quickly see there is a very real and tangible cost as demonstrated by the three drivers identified below. The age old […]
Overcoming Trashy Roadblocks (Part 3 of 4)
Why are non-sellable items not identified and disposed of rapidly? These answers are many and varied. I’ve included three. (Feel free to include other roadblocks in the comments.) A quick answer is insufficient staffing to keep up with donation flows. While this answer may be correct, at least in part, it does not have to […]
Pre-sort = Your Just-In-Time System (Part 2 of 4)
Our previous post discussed the first step in a pre-sort process: removing the trash from the treasure. The reasons are numerous. Without a pre-sort system, many valuable items can be left in bags with trash for days, if not weeks. A pre-sort process minimizes damage since fragile items can be quickly shown needed care in […]
The Art of Disposal (Part 1 of 4)
In evaluating a thrift store processing operation, the expedient removal of non-sellable items is step number one after receiving a donation. There is nothing more detrimental than having a backroom operation that is not structured to identify and dispose of non-sellable items efficiently. To maximize the throughput model, three questions must be answered. Who determines whether an […]