We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zac Hensley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Zac, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

The ReStore primarily serves the community by providing affordable construction supplies, furniture, home goods, appliances, and other items that can be used in a home. These are sourced via donations throughout the Greater Dayton Area. Whether it is a residential donation or a corporate partnership, The ReStore can provide new or like new items at a fraction of the cost to new homeowners, landlords, or those in need.

The capital raised via these sales goes directly back into the programs that Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Dayton Area facilitates. The revenue from both stores is typically enough to build between 3 and 4 houses in the region. That’s three to four families that receive a no-interest mortgage that would not have been able to.

A portion of the donations that we source are also utilized by our Critical Repair Team. Bathtubs, wheelchair ramps, cabinets, roofing, and other items are used to rehab houses throughout our region at no cost to the homeowners. Everyone deserves a decent place to live. That’s our primary mission.

The ReStore has partnered with other nonprofits in the area. We now have a mobile clothing drop-off box for Paralyzed Veterans of America. We’ve worked with several families referred to us from other agencies to get appliances and furniture.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I come from a logistics background, and COVID shut down. On a whim, I applied to work at the ReStore. It was never what I intended to do for long, but working directly with the partner families changed that.

I drank heavily of the Kool-Aid. Every new group of partner families that have come in is better than the last. You become personally involved in their story. You become an advocate for their dreams.

For this generation, owning a home seems like an impossible goal. Rent and food continue to go up while wages stay the same. Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Dayton Area provides a lifeline to our partner families. It guarantees that they have a safe and secure place that they can call home.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Earlier this year, we found ourselves severely understaffed. Two open positions and an injured worker should have created the perfect storm to set us back. However, my remaining team and I pivoted. We all tightened our belts and took on other responsibilities. I’ve always led from the front, but my remaining team stepped up with me.

There is always another option, a plan B. As a business that relies heavily on donated materials, we found partnerships that allowed us to fill in the cracks quickly forming in our foundation. Many of these new policies and partnerships have stayed. They’ve made us stronger and ready for any new surprises.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

It’s all about word of mouth, and that needs to be added to most business plans. We’ve all become so accustomed to relying on a marketing department to put out a newsletter or post something on social media that Grassroots marketing works best for us. With donors, simply showing up in person and discussing what you do means more than utilizing social media or email.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://daytonhabitat.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaytonReStore
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hensley-85bab5171/