Putting the effort into developing the background systems for stock control has paid dividends for Seattle based Second Use. Starting out in an open field in 1994, Second Use have put a real free-market filter over reclaimed building items to create a successful for-profit enterprise over the long term.
They specialise in non-structural materials and have become skilled in understanding how to find and stock the products that sell. In Owner Dirk Wassink’s words, they know how to ‘grab the goodies’ from deconstruction.
Their inventory system is their ‘secret sauce’. Second Use have a clear picture of the types of salvage items that sell, keeping the turnover in the store up. This means they do not take junk focusing on easily reusable items.
This determined approach to stock control has led them to develop a sophisticated stock control that would make any large retailer proud. All Items valued over $10.00 are issued with an inventory number and stickered with a label giving a description like vital measurements. Items are also photographed.
Once they are itemised, Products go into the shop. But the stock system is doesn’t stop working on marketing the items. The data is fed to Second Uses online store which allows customers to be able to search items by category and vital characteristics like size. Once an item is selected. The inventory system tells customers where in the store to find it.
The example Dirk gave us was a door. He fed the dimensions for a door into their website search and the system told him where to look for the door he wanted.
Second Use have built up strong relationships with a range of salvage and deconstructions meaning that they have a good flow of materials that they want, and in the condition that they need them.
It needs to be remembered that Second Use have built up this capability over a long time but nonetheless, bringing technology to reclaimed materials is another way to enable the market to access reusable materials.
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