Global Reconsume Project

First Free Store on the Planet

2010-05-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

How does the "First Free Store" relate to the Global Reconsume Project (GRP)?

The GRP is dedicated to opening "First Free Stores" in all cities. Giving the citizens of each of those communities access to this resource for the very first time in our history. The GRP represents the first time many communities will of ever experienced "common ground" within their respective areas.

The "first free store" are the signature stores for the GRP. The free stores act as a meeting place within each community for the interaction with the reconsumable resource.

The GRP in not affiliated with any "not for profits" or "charities". We are not affiliated or funded from any government agents, cultural groups, environmental associations or special interest groups.

We are a stand alone, free enterprise, paying our own way from the reconsume markets.

Are you a social-eco entrepreneur? A self directed individual? Can you imagine "free stores" in all our communities? They pay for themselves, creating an income for the operators, create positive social interaction and immediate positive effect the environment.

Be apart of the local actions that effect the global community.

FREE Enterprize is alive

2010-03-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

The Global Reconsume Project is Free Enterprise in motion. As the project gets started in each area a "core group" comes together to administer its from start to the opening of our signature outlet "first free stores". The only free store / reconsume center was opened in Port Alberni, B.C. 2008.

We promote "free enterprise" as the only modal for true environmental change. The Global Reconsume Project is a for profit business venture with triple bottom line success impact. We positively impact the local community, the environment and the economy.

The Global Reconsume Project is administered by 247 Links Corporation, a Federally Incorporated Canadian Company. We are not affiliated with any government agents, religious organizations, cultural groups, environmental organizations, not for profit organisations or charities.

We are a stand alone free enterprise, paying our own way by creating revenue from within the reconsume market itself.

SUPPORT Free Enterprise by taking part in the Global Reconsume Project.

Who we are?

2010-03-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Core groups of individuals are starting to form in your area now. Each group comes together through the Internet, is assigned tasks from the other core members who are preparing to launch the reconsume center / first free store in your area.

This is a completely new re-concept, we are the only ones who have ever, ever done this. We are looking for other like minded individuals to join us.

If you would like to add your skills to opening, operating or working in this venture we are forming the core group now by inviting you to enter into a contractual relationship with profit sharing to persons with skill sets we need.

As a member of the core team you will be apart of opening, operating, administering all aspects of the venture.

Details of the venture, contact information, historical stories are on this blog.

If you would like to take part in this one of kind venture please contact us for the next steps.

It will always fall to the common person to effect real change.....the Russ

Support the Global Reconsume Project

2010-03-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

You can support the project in the following ways;

Sign up as a core member. Take part from the inside of this one of a kind venture. If you think you would like to add your skills to the project please contact us.

You can support us with a cash donations. Monetary support can be made directly to the Global Reconsume Project by contacting Russ Armstrong at russarm@gmail.com / 250 735-2420. All cash support amounts will be posted at http://www.reconsume.com/ . Receipts will be issued if requested. Personal and Corporate financial will be given on request. All funds for support are spent directly on the operations of the Global Reconsume Project and are administered by 247 Links Corporation, a federally incorporated company. These operational costs will be posted at http://www.reconsume.com/

You can support the project by telling others about us. Post us on your face book page, add us to your my space page. Tell others about becoming a core member.

av times paper ad april 21,2009

2010-03-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

Reconsuming their way to success
Quintin Winks AV Times

Russ Armstrong and Sheryl Lloyd’s business is an exercise in opposites, a kind of entrepreneurial counter culture.

The pair’s shop, the Free Store, has become a wildly successful business where the merchandise is all free. Of course that’s where the business problems start, but not for the reasons someone might expect. Rather than plunge the partners into poverty, it’s made them more successful than ever. In fact, it’s overwhelming them.

The problem is that the shop began as a kind of redistribution business in the home of Armstrong and his partner Lloyd. Community members would deliver things they no longer wanted; a dated wardrobe, a temperamental toaster, an outgrown tricycle. These articles were sorted to give away or to be sold for a nominal fee to help pay the bills for the burgeoning business. It was a simple plan that very quickly became a victim of its own success: as word of mouth spread, more deliveries began arriving and the diversity of materials increased. The partners turned nothing away, preferring instead to reuse and recycle everything so that almost nothing finds its way into the landfill.

“We think we might be the only true carbon credit you can get,” said Armstrong, who once owned and operated the Mount Arrowsmith ski hill. “Anything thrown in the landfill leaves a carbon footprint. But if it’s diverted here, it becomes carbon neutral. We give it away, back into the community, which is a carbon credit.”

Before long Armstrong and Lloyd needed to find more space, serious space, for the mattresses, furniture, appliances and clothing that kept on arriving. In under a year they’ve gone from their 1,000 sq. ft. home to filling 34,500 sq. ft. of space, mostly in the shop at Bute Street and 4th Avenue. Meanwhile Armstrong and Lloyd have begun calling the Free Store the Reconsume Centre, a stronger reflection of their commitment to the environment. Even what’s broken or in unusable condition is stripped of its metals, which are sold to recyclers, and all other materials that can be sold or reused.

While the partners are pushing themselves and their volunteers to keep up with the steady stream of donations flowing in, and the work involved with sorting, stripping, cleaning and mending, they’re only at the tip of the iceberg. Now they’re getting phone calls for commercial materials.

“A guy called me yesterday from Nanaimo, asking me if we can pick up 350 bathtubs and toilets he took out of a hotel renovation,” said Lloyd. “But we don’t have time and we don’t have a vehicle. So now he’s going to drop them off.”

Anyone needing a toilet or tub can help themselves to the bathroom facilities, but Lloyd would rather see someone in the Alberni Valley come forward with a solid proposal for recycling the porcelain. Which again highlights the challenges the partners are facing. They both said they’re exhausted trying to keep the flow of goods moving in one end and back out the other. As a result they have no time to create partnerships with other businesses that could use the materials donated to the Reconsume Centre. And that has them at wit’s end, said Armstrong.

The business makes enough money to pay the rent and even a couple of employees, but the Reconsume Centre needs more staff, more money, more equipment, more material, even a vehicle for pick-up and delivery of goods, said Lloyd. It also has a tremendous amount of material that could be recycled and used in any number of applications, so both Lloyd and Armstrong are hoping the Alberni Valley will step forward and speak to them about what all is possible.
For more information, call Russ Armstrong at 250-735-2420. QWinks@avtimes.net

Are you a Volunteer??

2010-03-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in volunteering we have the most excellent volunteer program you have ever seen. We call it our volunteer and fill up program. You get to help your fellow community members and your self at the same time by taking home what ever you would like from the reconsume center / first free store.

You can take anything you like, furniture, appliances, clothing, electronics the list goes on. Its our way of saying thank you so much for the effort.