Secondhand Sessions
Secondhand Sessions
Podcast Description
Welcome to Secondhand Sessions, a podcast dedicated to the non-profit thrift store community. Your host, BJ Breish, brings years of thrifting experience but admits to being a complete podcasting novice, making this a learning experience for everyone. This passion project aims to deliver genuine, unscripted conversations with leaders in the thrift industry, exploring their stories, insights, and visions for the future. The podcast's mission is to inspire, connect, and share resources to help thrift stores thrive in today's challenging retail landscape.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on key themes relevant to the thrift store sector, including store management transitions, team culture, employee engagement, and the unique challenges facing thrift operations. Episodes like Building Culture in Thrift and Empowering Survivors through Thrift delve into topics such as collaboration, leadership strategies, and mission-driven work, providing listeners with actionable insights and inspiration.
Welcome to Secondhand Sessions, a podcast dedicated to the non-profit thrift store community. Your host, BJ Breish, brings years of thrifting experience but admits to being a complete podcasting novice, making this a learning experience for everyone. This passion project aims to deliver genuine, unscripted conversations with leaders in the thrift industry, exploring their stories, insights, and visions for the future. The podcast’s mission is to inspire, connect, and share resources to help thrift stores thrive in today’s challenging retail landscape.
This special live podcast session, recorded in front of an audience of 200 Large ReStore operators, features Dwayne Spencer, CEO & President of Memphis Habitat for Humanity.
Join us for his powerful call to action for executive leaders to fundamentally rethink the role of their retail operations.
Dwayne and the host BJ Breish unveil how the Habitat ReStore is evolving from a mere revenue generator into a vital community asset and a multiplier of the organization's mission and heart.
Executive leaders, listen closely: The future of your thrift operation isn't just about sales—it's about community engagement, operational trust, and mission alignment.
Key Insights
- The ReStore is a Mission Multiplier, Not Just a Cash Register: Dwayne passionately argued that the ReStore's primary function is connecting the community to Habitat's mission every single day. Leaders must shift their mindset to see the dual bottom line—mission impact and profitability—as equally essential.
- Trust is the Foundation of Success: Dwayne detailed his personal journey and stressed the absolute necessity of building deep trust between leadership and operational teams. This trust starts with honesty, vulnerability, and openness, enabling the entire organization to collaborate effectively and thrive.
- Innovation and Engagement are Non-Negotiable: To address financial challenges and ensure sustainability, innovative strategies are needed. Furthermore, executives must actively work to engage board members in ReStore operations, turning them into passionate advocates who enhance support and resources.
- Collaboration is Key to Resilience: The overarching message was one of collaboration and togetherness. The long-term success of the ReStore—and the broader mission—relies on all parts of the organization, from the board room to the sales floor, working as one cohesive unit.
This session illuminated that the evolution of thrift stores like the ReStore is a blueprint for non-profit innovation: they are becoming essential strategic assets that deepen community ties while generating crucial revenue.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.