The Kirkwood Highway Goodwill store reopened to shoppers last week after six weeks of renovations aimed at making the store more appealing to shoppers.
The new ceiling, lighting, floors and renovations to dressing rooms and bathrooms create a "bright look that is easy to maintain,” said Goodwill President Ted Van Name during a ribbon cutting ceremony July 31 at the state's busiest Goodwill store.
Marketing Director Christina Daniels said the renovations were designed to please existing customers, and attract new ones.
“We wanted to try to enhance the shopping experience, to change the image of Goodwill,” she said. “We have always had the quality products, but now we have the look too.”
Store Manager Jenny Mason said her 20-person staff liked the new image.
“It’s a big improvement,” she said. “The customers liked us before, but they’re very impressed with us now.”
The renovations come at a time when Goodwill stores, like so many other retailers, we’re struggling with the economy. She said sales were down over the last six months, although donations were actually up 10 percent over last year.
“Usually when the economy takes a nosedive, Goodwill does well, but this year it was different,” she said. “Now hopefully we’ll have those new customers coming in.”
The Kirkwood Highway store brought in $1 million in revenue last year for its job training program – which served 4,600 people in 2007 with computer and communications technology training. Goodwill also has partnerships with Shop-Rite to train cashiers and with Delaware Technical & Community College’s nursing assistants program.
Upgrades are also planned for other New Castle County stores, according to Goodwill officials.
How to donate
Goodwill accepts the following household items in good condition at all of its retail stores: clothing, furniture, appliances, furnishings, computers, CDs/DVDs, sporting goods and exercise equipment and electronics. No appointment is necessary.
Goodwill also accepts cars, boats and other vehicles, which are auctioned off every other Wednesday. Goodwill offers free towing to those donating vehicles.
For more information about donations, visit http://www.goodwillde.org/Donate.asp.
