Goodwill operates new shop

A new Goodwill resale store in Northwest Harris County may be causing motorists to detour off Beltway 8 to shop.

"Business has been steady since we opened, and the location is key because we are a sight to see for people driving on Beltway 8," said Torrey Paul, the store manager of the recently opened Goodwill Select Store at 9215 West Road. "We're at a busy intersection, and we get a lot of passers-by stopping in on their way to work."

Open since December, the new store at the corner of West Road and Beltway 8 carries designer-label clothing items and merchandise for men, women and children at a discount. In addition to clothing, the new store also sells jewelry, books, toys, furniture and household appliances.

Approximately 9,000 square feet of the store is dedicated to retail space, while the remaining 8,500 square feet is where staff collect, process and price donations. New merchandise from donations is added to the store daily, Paul said.

"Clothing makes up about 50 percent of our sales and jewelry is also a big seller," Paul said. "We have a retired couple that comes in every single day at about 9:25, and they find something to purchase every day."

Paul, who lives in Northwest Houston, had been working at the Goodwill Select Store at 10998 Fuqua in South Houston when he was asked to work as manager of the new West Road store. His daily commute time was cut from more than an hour to less than 10 minutes.

"When this opportunity came along, I jumped on it," said Paul, who has been working for Goodwill for almost two years. "I cut my fuel cost in half and it's been great."

Opening more Select Stores has been part of Goodwill's plan as an organization. Last year, Goodwill established a record for its organization by opening nine Select Stores in the Greater Houston area, including a second location in the Katy area and a new store at Texas 6 and Missouri City.

The West Road store was selected because it is in a rapidly growing area with easy access to U.S. 290, Interstate 45 and the Beltway, said Steve Lufburrow, Goodwill president and CEO.

Revenue from the Select Stores supports Goodwill's mission of "changing lives through the power of work," according to the organization's statistics. Out of every dollar spent at Goodwill stores, 92 cents goes toward the organization's programs and services and helps keep administrative costs low. Last year, more than 10,000 people received employment training and assistance from Goodwill, according to the agency's data.

The Select Stores opening in various communities are also helping to change people's image of Goodwill as being more than just a place to drop off unwanted items, Lufburrow said.

"We've changed our company brand over the past five to seven years, and communities like us coming in and opening stores in their neighborhoods," he said. "People can donate their goods and then they can also shop. When you donate or buy an item, you're helping somebody have an opportunity to change their life and get off welfare and become a tax-paying citizen."

The West Road store is open from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from noon–6 p.m. Sundays. The store number is 281-894-9699.