Habitat for Humanity’s
RESALE STORE
Helping to fund the homebuilding mission of Habitat for Humanity
What is HOMEWORKS?
HOMEWORKS is Habitat for Humanity’s 9,000 square
foot resale store in downtown Champaign.
HOMEWORKS sells traditional resale items such as
furniture and housewares, but also offers building
materials such as sinks, cabinets, light fixtures, doors
and windows. HOMEWORKS does not sell clothing.
The store opened in 2003 to help fund Habitat’s
homebuilding projects. It is open to the public.
This year, sales are projected at over $150,000!
HOMEWORKS’ mission
is three-fold:
To raise money to support Habitat’s
homebuilding projects;
To keep valuable materials out of the
landfill; and
To offer reusable materials to the
public at very affordable prices.
Where do you get 9,000
square feet of merchandise?
ALL HOMEWORKS merchandise
is donated. We do not purchase
any items.
Merchandise, which is both new and
used, is donated by community
residents and local businesses.
All merchandise donated must be in
clean, usable condition.
What Does
HOMEWORKS Sell?
Housewares – small appliances, knick-knacks,
glass/cookware, books, pictures, lamps…
Furniture – sofas, dressers, tables, chairs,
shelves, end tables, hutches, desks…
Gardening Supplies – pots, planters,
outdoor/patio furniture, tools…
Building Materials – doors, windows, lumber,
tools, vanities, paint, plumbing, electrical…
Appliances – refrigerators, stoves, washers,
dryers, dishwashers, microwaves…
WHY SHOP HOMEWORKS?
Merchandise at HOMEWORKS is sold at
least 50% off retail prices.
All merchandise is in good, reusable
condition.
All purchases at HOMEWORKS benefit
Habitat for Humanity’s homebuilding
projects.
Habitat for Humanity
of Champaign & Piatt Counties
Founded in 1991 by a group of local
citizens, Habitat for Humanity has
built 36 houses in the area, providing
homes to 162 people in need,
including over 100 local children.
PICK-Ups…
So, I have some merchandise to
donate, but I have a VW bug. Will
HOMEWORKS pick up my stuff?
YES!
This service is available in Champaign-Urbana only, and there is
a $5 requested donation for pick-ups to help offset costs.
… & DROP-OFFs
So, I found a great sofa and table
at HOMEWORKS, but I drive a
Fiero. Does HOMEWORKS deliver?
YES!
This service is available in Champaign-Urbana only, and
there is a $10 delivery fee for drop-offs to help offset costs.
VOLUNTEERS:
The Heart & Soul of HOMEWORKS
HOMEWORKS is run primarily by volunteers.
About 30 volunteers donate over 150 hours a
week help to run the 9,000 square foot store.
3 staff members – a full-time store manager,
Angela Miller, a full time Assistant Manager,
Lauri Smith, and 22 hr/week Store Assistant,
Laura Fitch – also help coordinate sales,
donations, marketing, merchandising, and
advertising for the store.
WHERE IS HOMEWORKS?
In the heart of downtown
Champaign at 40 E.
University. In the old
Champaign Surplus building,
HOMEWORKS is just north of
Illinois Terminal and just west
of the railroad viaduct.
Parking is plentiful across the
street to the south of the
building, and spots are
available along Market Street
as well.
WHEN IS HOMEWORKS OPEN?
Tuesday/Wednesday
12 – 7PM
Thursday/Friday/Saturday
10AM – 5PM
Sunday
1 – 5PM
Do most Habitat affiliates
have a resale store?
HOMEWORKS is not unique to your local
Habitat, though the name is. A growing
number of Habitat affiliates have opened
resale stores, often called “ReStores or
Habitat Re-Use Centers” to raise money to
support homebuilding projects. There are
about 200 Habitat Re-Stores nationwide.
There are 5 in Illinois, and another one is
underway.
Sinks, washers and dryers, plates, books,
lamps and lights, tables, kitchen counters,
doors, couches, lumber, hutches, tile, paint,
refrigerators, chairs, electrical supplies, stoves,
glassware, desks, vanities, cookware, kitchen
cabinets, gardening supplies, pots and pans,
entertainment centers, shutters, exercise
equipment, filing cabinets, holiday items,
windows, power tools, small appliances,
dishwashers, mirrors, microwaves, knickknacks, wall art, bookshelves, finished glass,
and much, much more!
For SHOPPING and DROP-OFFS,
head to Habitat for Humanity’s
HOMEWORKS resale store!
40 E. University, downtown Champaign
Open:
Tuesday/Wednesday 12-7pm
Thursday/Friday/Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 1-5pm
help build houses for families in need
Who shops at HOMEWORKS?
There is no way to know for sure, but
here’s my best estimation:
50% low to lower-middle income
20% contractors/property owners
10% students
20% general public, people looking for
a good deal or fairly priced antiques
How do we advertise?
Word of mouth
Flyers
Radio
Newspaper
Community events
TV
Magnets, balloons, giveaways
List serve, Habitat newsletter, website
Brochures
Word of mouth
Probably our best way to advertise
Customers love our store, and freely tell
others
FREE!
Flyers
Brightly colored flyers are put up on
community bulletin boards across town
and on campus by volunteers
Have put up about 300 in the last 2
months
Radio
PSAs (public service announcements)
on WEFT and WDWS
Commercials on WEFT, WKIO, and
WWHP, generally $7-10 each
Radio speaking engagements – WDWS,
WBGL, WEFT
Newspaper
Display ads – Thrifty Nickel, the Hub
(1/16th page filler ad for free)
Classified ads – News-Gazette, Thrifty
Nickel (garage sale or furniture section)
News articles – News-Gazette, DI
Community events
Sweetcorn Festival – booth
Taste of Champaign – booth
Quad Day
Farmer’s Market – weekly April –
November
Student sale – annual sale in Frat Park
Television
News coverage of hours expansion on
Channel 3 & 15
Coldwell Banker donated 100 commercials to
Habitat for Humanity on WCIA
50 will be used for HOMEWORKS
Filming was March 7th
Tape will be given to us to use on other stations,
possibly as a PSA
Magnets, balloons, giveaways
House-shaped magnets given to customers &
donors, also given away at community events
and speaking engagements
T-shirts given to volunteers, sold in store and
at Farmer’s Market
Balloons decorated the store for our grand reopening and will be used at community
events
Habitat advertising
Website – HOMEWORKS page on
cuhabitat.org
Habitat newsletter – sent quarterly to
over 4,000 residents & donors
List serve – weekly e-newsletters sent
to over 400 people
Brochures
HOMEWORKS Brochures – sent to local
businesses along with a letter asking for
donations
Also given to individual donors requesting
additional information
Now what?
Goal for this project:
To find low- or no-cost marketing, advertising, and
outreach options to attract the following groups:
Customers – homeowners, apartment dwellers, low
income residents, students, contractors, property
managers, artistic/creative, rural/surrounding
communities
Donors – individuals, contractors, local businesses,
manufacturer’s rep groups, corporate sponsors