ECHO of Brandon Inc

I am creating a scalable thrift concept.

In the United States, thrifting is a 28 billion dollar business.  These stores are run primarily by nonprofit organizations.  They are passionate about their missions, much more than actually selling pre loved merchandise.  Bottom line:  they don't realize what they have.  This disconnect has spawned another multi billion business:  reselling.  See:  Ebay, Depop, Mercari, Goodfair...just to name a few.

I want to create a model that cuts out the middleman and returns 100% of the proceeds back to the nonprofit.  I want to train nonprofits everywhere how to curate donations so that they have the freedom to expand through unrestricted revenue.  The thrift operators  already posses the gold mines, they simply need to be trained on how to spot the veins and where to dig. 

I know this business.  I am a former reseller myself.  ECHO runs a thriving thrift store.  Our volunteers pull shirts that sell for $650, vintage dresses that sell for $85, and books that bring in $150.  Items, that are priced in most other stores for $2-$4 dollars.  Regrettably, it is the nonprofits that lose, when the resellers score. 

This concept needs to be funded, expanded, and replicated.  

I get to lead ECHO.  In the last six years, we have tripled our programs, staff, donor base, and revenue.  Currently, we have two outreach centers.  We will open one more.  I want all three to be completely self sustaining through thrifting by 2030.  In addition to our centers, we will open a nonprofit motel, that will pay for itself, while sheltering homeless families.  

I am an entrepreneur.  I am internally driven.  I am a visionary.  I seem to see opportunities where others don't.  I want to help other nonprofits identify their overlooked resources and leverage them for much needed support.

I am passionate about unrestricted revenue.  I want nonprofit leaders to have the freedom to think big, take risks, and fail sometimes.  I want to inspire large system changes through social enterprise.

My ultimate goal in life is to create systems that alleviate suffering.  

The nonprofit sector is a business.  A crucial, indispensable one.  A business that appeals to our higher ideals and values.  I want to help dedicated nonprofit leaders fund their work, without the need to host one more golf scramble!  

At ECHO, we fight hunger.  In my zip code, 1 out of every 5 children identify as food insecure.  As I sit typing, I am surrounded by Title 1 schools with food backpack programs, community gardens, and 3 large drive through pantries...and still hunger persists.  Our organization played that game for over 26 years.  We provided emergency food through a fully stocked food pantry, but you will never end hunger that way.  Satiate it?  Yes.  But, end it?  No.

I don't want to feed my neighbors.  I want my neighbors to have the capacity to feed themselves.  Opportunity is everywhere.  I want my neighbors to have the resources to shop for themselves.  To make their own choices.  

Currently, we offer one on one job coaching.  In the last 6 months, we have celebrated as 65 of our neighbors have moved into gainful employment.  Four months ago, we doubled the square footage of our thrift store.  It is now poised to be a training ground for curating, reselling, and entrepreneurship.   

Hunger is our issue.  But, there are hundreds of others.  We want to train nonprofits to create unrestricted revenue; thereby multiplying their impact, wherever their passions lie.

The thrift business is booming.  Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, even Walmart are now selling "preloved" clothing.

Where do these multi million dollar corporations source their "pre loved" items?  From organizations like ours who don't realize what they are giving away.  Nonprofits are buried so deep in the weeds that they are simply thankful that a salvage truck will pull up and haul away their bags of unused donations for pennies on the pound.  

But, the cost to the nonprofits is astronomical.  ECHO Thrift recently sold an original Nirvana shirt for $650.00.  A stained, ripped tee that could have easily been discarded into the salvage bag or even worse, the trash.

Who are the primary sorters of these nonprofits?  Retirees.  Individuals who do not see the value in a ripped pair of vintage Levi's ($550) or a Nine Inch Nails tee ($350) or a first edition of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir ($150).

What if there was a system that could train these precious volunteers to know what to look for? 

At ECHO, we are figuring it out.  We are developing it.  And with funding, we can refine it, build it, and reproduce it.

On a daily basis, ECHO is providing one on one job coaching, GED prep in Spanish and English, ESL classes, financial literacy sessions, financial assistance, navigation of resources and emergency food and clothing.  

But, in terms of creating a model of a scalable, curated, zero waste thrift, we are developing processes and procedures.  We are working on reproducible training modules for our volunteers.  We have hired an employee to solely focus on reselling higher priced items.  We are upcycling discarded clothing into totes and cross body bags. Our church and girl scout troops are picking up shirts and to craft reusable shopping bags; thereby eliminating plastic in our store.

Since day one, we have been profitable.  We are a curated thrift, working toward zero waste, in order to abundantly provide for the struggling in our community.