Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Trey Robbins, Habitat ReStore store manager in Rockingham, hooks up some television sets before lunch Monday in preparation for Tuesday’s ReStore relaunch.
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ROCKINGHAM — The Habitat ReStore is Rockingham is a little cozier these days.
Habitat for Humanity of the North Carolina Sandhills is supporting the Rockingham store’s renovation and relaunch on Tuesday, Sept. 2, beginning at 10 a.m. — a few days past the four-year anniversary of the store’s opening. The store is located at 1300 E. Broad Ave., Suite 6, in the Lowe’s Shopping Center.
All week long, the ReStore Renovation Celebration will be giving away daily door prizes for Lowe’s Home Improvement merchandise and there will also be special sales and promotions. See the Events Calendar for details.
The ReStore “refresh” will also serve as an introduction for Kimberly Kinney and Danielle Castellino to the Richmond County community.
Both Kinney and Castellino are new to Richmond County. Four months ago, Kinney was hired as director, a position in which she will oversee the operations of the Habitat ReStores in Richmond and Moore counties. Castellino, public relations and resource development director, was hired at about the same time as Kinney. The Rockingham resident spends the majority of her time in Moore County, but she and Kinney were on site Monday helping longtime store manager Trey Robbins get the store ready for Tuesday, the first day of a week-long celebration.
Quick with a quip, Robbins said the smaller store allows him to “take a few less steps in a day’s time.”
Practically, though, the more manageable floor space allows each staff member and volunteer to spend more time assisting customers.
Led by Robbins, three staff members and an army of 12 to 15 volunteers, the Rockingham store has become smaller since not renewing its lease for the other side of the building in June. Having only to fill 6,500 square feet — about half the amount of previous available space — is a complete advantage, Robbins said, to both the store and its customers.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Kimberly Kinney, director of the Habitat ReStore locations in both Moore and Richmond counties,
“Newer stuff comes out more often,” Robbins said. “You really gotta come by once a week to make sure you don’t miss something.”
Kinney and Castellino led a Post reporter on a brief tour of the renovated place. New paint. New lighting. Furniture. Kitchenware. Clothing. Books. Hardware. Knick knacks. A new merchandising effort that includes higher quality items for sale. The idea is to have better things to sell — which, in turn, will allow more proceeds to be allocated to the ReStore’s Repair and new-home construction.
The latter has been a focus for the past year, as well as building the corps of volunteers to work on that ministry. However, Castellino said that between now and Spring 2015, there will be a renewed focus towards a goal of breaking ground on a new home in Richmond County.
There have been 10 new homes constructed by Habitat for Humanity over the years, and four of them have been built with help from proceeds from the ReStore’s proceeds.
It’s Kinney’s job to help track proceeds of stores in both Moore and Richmond counties. The goal, she said, is to increase sales by 35 percent — and more, eventually. Robbins and Kinney also emphasized the need for donations.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Danielle Castellino, public relations and resource development director, helps put some merchandise on display.
Kinney and Castellino aren’t the only new people to Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills. Longtime Executive Director Elizabeth Cox retired Friday, and Amie Fraley has been hired as her successor.
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