Last summer, I started a new role as the first ever Director of Social Enterprise at the Wesley Mission Center in Mansfield, Texas. Over the last seven months I’ve helped this young (est. 2013) , community oriented, justice focused, faith-based non-profit scale its largest funding source and flagship social enterprise: a Thrift Store and Boutique.
Learning
For many years before the Wesley Mission Center became its own separately incorporated 501(c)3, it was the Community Outreach arm of First Methodist Mansfield. And, for a few decades this work included operating a Thrift Store that grew in size and hours of operations on multiple occasions.
As a newcomer, I began by observing the Thrift Store. I worked alongside every employee, and many volunteers. I asked lots of questions. And, I benefited greatly from the wisdom of many people invested in making Mansfield a better community for all people.
Measuring
After years of growth the Thrift Store had outgrown its space, and the Mission Center had purchased a retail plaza to house a larger store alongside space for programs, administrative offices, training and the work of helping people on their journey to self-sufficiency and wholeness.
Before finalizing the design of the new store, we needed to better understand the current success. This work included establishing KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), developing a performance dashboard, and implementing new procedures to capture the data necessary to measure the existing operations. It also included the store’s largest ever customer survey to better understand the customer experience.
Developing
I joined the organization right around the time that construction began on the two retail units that would be combined to become the new Thrift Store and Boutique. While the basic drawings and plans were in place, we made multiple strategic changes and additions along the way to maximize the space and improve the experiences of customers, donors, volunteers, and staff.
This stage featured the development of a comprehensive business plan created with a team of last semester MBA students and faculty at Texas Woman’s University. It also involved site visits to Thrift Stores throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area and conversations with leaders of Thrift Stores beyond the geographic area.
Launching
During the final weeks of preparation to open on March 1, 2018, more than 100 volunteers and every employee of the Mission Center contributed to getting the Thrift Store and Boutique ready to open. This work included painting walls, assembling new store fixtures (clothing racks, shelving for housewares, jewelry cases, etc.), relocating existing fixtures and supplies for the donation receiving and processing spaces and building custom tables and work spaces to supplement these items in the new, larger space. And, it all happened while the old store remained operational.
In addition to the support of so many caring people in and around the Mansfield ISD, the work of launch was informed by my participation in the Adese (Social Enterprise) Fellowship. This year-long experience will also provide coaching, resources and other tools to empower continuous improvement and inject new options to enable the best start possible. (Days before the store opened, The United Church of Christ featured it in an article on living into God’s economy.)
Now Open
The old location closed at 6:00 p.m. on February 28, 2018 for the final time. The new Mission Center Thrift Store and Boutique (703 E. Broad St., Mansfield TX 76063) opened at 9:00 a.m. on March 1, 2018, welcoming the crowd that had gathered to be among the first ever shoppers in the new store.
If you happen to be in the area, I encourage you to stop by to experience the Mission Center Thrift Store and Boutique (Weekdays: 9:00 a.m – 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) and learn more about the Mission Center.
I would welcome the opportunity to be your personal tour guide and share more of the story. And, I am thankful to share that we always have room for more people to join us as donors, shoppers, volunteers, or advocates seeking to make real God’s realm on earth as it already is in heaven.
Thank You!
Any attempt to list all of the many people involved in this project would be incomplete. I do, however, want to extend a special thanks to the following groups and individuals:
- Mission Center Board of Directors
- Mission Center Leadership Team
- Thrift Store staff and volunteers, including community groups who helped with demolition, construction, and setup
- Terry Twomey, project champion
- Gary Grossman (Grossman Design Build), general contractor
