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Spring 2004

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Profile: The Restore
ReStoring the planet—one lime-green toilet seat at a time

–Carol Cambo




	Opportunity knocks: At Restore, homeowners can buy new and gently used building materials, thanks to the efforts of Holly Milton-Benoit ’92 and Jeff Macfarlane ’00. (photo by Ben Barnhart)

HOMEOWNERS KNOW THE GOLDEN RULE: renovations take twice as long and cost twice the money budgeted. Two UMass alums can’t persuade your contractor to plaster faster, but they can save you money—and protect the planet in the process.

Holly Milton-Benoit ’92 and Jeff Macfarlane ’00 run ReStore, a recycled building materials warehouse. Tucked behind a row of industrial buildings near downtown Springfield, Mass., ReStore is part flea market, part treasure hunt—an emporium of possibility for the thrifty homeowner. Shoppers willing to overlook minor blemishes save 50 to 70 percent off retail prices on everything from PVC piping and oak cabinets to hand-painted Mexican tiles. The store stocks new items, too: On a recent visit we saw Anderson windows, saloon doors and high-end drawer knobs.

“We definitely help low-income people,” said Milton-Benoit, “but you’ll see brand-new Volvos next to beat-up pickup trucks in our parking lot. Some customers visit daily just to see what’s new.”

Restore’s stock comes from homeowners and contractors who remove materials during remodeling jobs in the region as well as retail chain stores that donate discontinued, overstocked or slightly damaged goods. Everybody wins: Donors get a tax break, usable goods stay out of landfills, and bargain hunters take home lime green toilet seats ($5 each) or a set of antique hand-milled pocket doors ($100).

As manager, Milton-Benoit puts her UMass Amherst degrees in education and communication—and several years of experience at Home Depot—to good use. She looks for opportunities to promote ReStore and develop new programs. “We’re gearing up to run workshops on simple remodeling projects,” she says. Another program involves putting a crew together to perform “soft stripping”—gently removing materials and fixtures during deconstruction so they may be recycled.

Macfarlane is ReStore’s inventory specialist. When he’s not on the road picking up donated goods, he organizes stock and works directly with customers. Lanky and strong—after spending a few seasons working for a builder—he found ReStore a surprisingly good fit for his forestry conservation degree. “I knew I wanted to work for a nonprofit,” says Macfarlane. “Technically, what we do conserves forest products.”

Tended by Macfarlane and Milton-Benoit since opening in June of 2001, ReStore has doubled in size to nearly 9,000 square feet, increased gross sales 100 percent, and quadrupled its staff. From all indications, there’s plenty of room to grow: Americans spent over $500 billion on residential home improvement in 2003 alone. At the helm of this smart recycling business, Milton-Benoit and Macfarlane are helping keep the American Dream affordable.

For more information visit: www.restoreonline.org.

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