The Hope Store
When passing by this store, you would assume it is just another consignment store. However, the old adage; “don’t judge a book by its cover,” truly fits this store.
The Hope Store was an idea born and brought into fruition by Cathy Bailey. Cathy worked for a non-profit organization for eight years. When the economy soured and funding dried up, Kathy was laid off. She knew funds would dry up for many charitable organizations and wanted to find a way to help raise funds. To finance her idea, Cathy used an old button and lace collection and an inventory of cosmetic products. These items sold well on E-Bay and even raised enough money to open the first store.
The business model for The Hope Store is quite simple. Charitable organizations (must be a 501C-3 non-profit) donate items to the store that are put up for sale. These items consist of gently used furniture, clothing, kitchen items, appliances, books and electronics. Cathy and her staff of mostly volunteers’ display organize and sell the items. Cathy’s husband works diligently assisting her, one of his many chores is making pickups for the stores. On a monthly basis the charitable organizations receive a check for 100 percent of the proceeds minus operating expenses incurred by the store. The organizations are local charities and ministries.
There are two locations. The John’s Creek Store, opened in May, 2010, and has a different charity each month, which donates and receives the profits. This store currently has 12 months of commitments from various charities. The Roswell location, which opened in October 2010, has nine different organizations that work together to fill the store with sellable merchandise and in return receives monthly checks. Since May the stores have earned and impressive $40,000 in profitable sales which were distributed to the organizations.
Both stores display literature from the various charitable organizations explaining their purpose and mission. These brochures are available to the public. There are also donation boxes in which organizations request specific new and unused items (i.e. hotel size beauty aids, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.). The public may also make tax deductible donations of household items, appliances, clothes and furniture. Realtors, if your listing has too much clutter, or sellers/ renters have left behind sellable items, The Hope Store will pick these items up from you. Home Stagers should consider the store for your staging needs, these items will certainly be cost effective.
This is a wonderful story with a bit of irony. Cathy Bailey lost her job, but with hope, prayer and creativity she generated a new job for herself in The Hope Store, whose mission is to help the community and offer hope to those less fortunate.
Store Locations: Johns Creek Location 9850 Nesbit Ferry Road Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 770-807-0651
Roswell Location 8560 Holcomb Bridge Road Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 770-643-8464
Store Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10:00 to 7:00
