“Goodwill Is Selling Power Tools? Inside the New Retool & Supply Store”

When you hear the word Goodwill, chances are you immediately think about clothes, furniture, household items and maybe finding that unexpected bargain somebody else overlooked.

But power tools?

That’s right. Goodwill is getting into the hardware business here in the Upstate with a new concept called Retool & Supply.

I recently sat down with Chunsta Miller of Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina to talk about this new store, how the idea came about and why it represents much more than simply another place to find a good deal.

What Is Retool & Supply?

Retool & Supply is a specialty hardware shopping concept from Goodwill located inside the Goodwill store in Pelzer, South Carolina.

Instead of racks filled primarily with clothing, Retool & Supply focuses on the things you might normally expect to find in your garage, workshop or tool shed.

We’re talking about hand tools, power tools, lawn and garden equipment, hardware and other items that could appeal to everyone from serious do-it-yourselfers to homeowners who simply need the right tool for the next project.

And just like shopping at a traditional Goodwill, part of the fun is the hunt.

You never know exactly what somebody has donated or what might be waiting on the shelf when you walk through the door.

For anyone who enjoys working around the house—or just enjoys finding a bargain—that could make Retool & Supply an interesting new destination.

There’s a Bigger Story Behind the Store

During my conversation with Chunsta, we also talked about something I think sometimes gets lost when we talk about Goodwill.

Most of us know Goodwill because of its stores.

You clean out the closet or garage, drop off the things you no longer need and somebody else gets the opportunity to put those items to good use.

But the retail operation is only part of the story.

The revenue generated through Goodwill stores helps support the organization’s larger mission, including career services, job training and programs designed to help people develop new skills and find employment.

That’s an important distinction.

When somebody donates an old drill that’s been collecting dust in the garage, there can be a chain reaction.

That drill gets another life instead of being thrown away. Somebody else may get the tool they need at an affordable price. And the money generated by the sale helps support Goodwill’s employment and workforce-development mission.

That’s a pretty interesting business model.

Goodwill Is Experimenting With Specialty Stores

Retool & Supply is also part of a broader effort by Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina to create more specialized shopping experiences.

The organization has developed specialty concepts for categories such as books and sporting goods, and now Retool & Supply takes that same idea into tools and hardware.

It makes sense when you think about it.

Walk through almost any garage in America and you’ll probably find something that hasn’t been touched in years.

An extra drill.

A circular saw from a project you finished five years ago.

A toolbox filled with duplicates.

Lawn and garden equipment that has been replaced by something newer.

Instead of those items gathering dust—or eventually ending up in the trash—Goodwill potentially gives them another life.

More Than a Thrift Store

One of my favorite parts of the conversation with Chunsta was getting beyond the retail side of Goodwill.

We talked about the career and training programs Goodwill offers and the role the organization plays in workforce development throughout the Upstate and Midlands.

That’s particularly important at a time when employers continue to talk about the need for skilled workers.

For someone who has lost a job, wants to change careers, needs additional training or simply doesn’t know where to begin, organizations like Goodwill can provide another avenue toward employment and self-sufficiency.

So there’s a lot more happening behind that familiar Goodwill logo than many people realize.

Listen to My Conversation With Chunsta Miller

If you’re a DIYer, a bargain hunter, someone with a garage that desperately needs cleaning out—or you’re simply curious about why Goodwill decided to open a hardware store—I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Chunsta Miller joins me to explain Retool & Supply, what shoppers can expect to find, where the merchandise comes from and how the new store fits into Goodwill’s larger mission across South Carolina.

And yes, we answer the question a lot of people are probably wondering:

Can you really go to Goodwill and buy power tools?

The answer is yes.

🎙️ LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW

Click the podcast player below to hear my complete conversation with Chunsta Miller about Goodwill’s new Retool & Supply store and the work Goodwill is doing throughout our community.

If you enjoy conversations about the people, businesses, organizations and issues shaping South Carolina and the country, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with a friend.

And if you’ve got a garage full of tools you haven’t touched in years, this might be a pretty good excuse to finally clean it out.

Posted By: Joey Hudson