ASUCD LONG-RANGE PLAN
Aggie Reuse Store
I. PURPOSE AND HISTORY
The ASUCD Senate strives to improve ways to improve services on campus and promote
environmental sustainability. After an ASUCD Senator spoke to a professor in the Design department
about ways to create a thrift store on campus, the professor connected the ASUCD Senator to a
graduate student project.
Thus, the Aggie Reuse Store was created from results of a research project of a group of graduate
students called “ReCenter,” which focused on issues around waste, consumption, and promoting
product reuse. Aggie Reuse Store strives to provide inexpensive items such as school and office
supplies and materials that students can use for projects.
In the 2010-2011 academic year, Senate Bill #75 (MOOSAVI), established the Aggie Reuse Store. It
was imperative to have their involvement in this Aggie Reuse Store. The store will also promote
campus sustainability through its promotion of reuse and resale of goods. Aggie Reuse Store will strive
to be a financially self-sustaining unit.
II. PERSONNEL
Unit Director: • Manage the day-to-day operations of the unit and establish yearly goals that align
with the 2020 Vision for ASUCD
• Hire and manage all staff including recruiting, training, evaluating, motivating, delegating, and
monitoring their activities. Will also schedule ongoing staff meetings.
• Work with Creative Media to market the Unit and increase visibility
• Work with ASUCD Business Manager and ASUCD Controller to ensure that operational practices
comply with ASUCD/UC Davis policies and procedures.
• Act as liaison between ASUCD and Unit. Meet with adopted Senator for the Unit quarterly.
• Act as the point person to resolve issues within the Unit. Bring larger issues to the attention of the
ASUCD President and ASUCD Business Manager.
• Review and evaluate unit budget.
• Develop and track metrics within Unit to drive decisions and present with quarterly reports.
Store Manager: Supervises all internal operations of Aggie Reuse Store which includes managing
inventory and pricing inventory (materials retrieval and distribution in accordance with inventory
protocol, weekly reports of inventory); working with merchandising intern; holding biweekly meeting
with interns and volunteers to keep collaborators informed of news and events; attending weekly
meetings with management team to formulate goals for the week; staff (staff recruitment, training,
scheduling and retention); being responsible for the number of volunteer hours (tracking hours);
sending out weekly newsletters and volunteer sign-ups (Doodle polls); making sure store is running
everyday and filling necessary shifts; maintain on-call list; increasing volunteer satisfaction and
appreciation; coming up with creative volunteer incentives; insuring health and safety of employees,
customers, and store; development and implementation of in-store publicity; financial management;
and managing the everyday functions of Aggie Reuse Store. Must attend weekly meeting with
management team, report work completed weekly, work in store when needed and attend at least 2
outreach events per month.
Marketing Team Lead: Supervises all external operations which includes communicating and building
relationships with campus and community supporters and attending weekly meetings with
management team to formulate goals for the week; responsible for coordinating outreach events and
working with Store Manager to staff these events; responsible for overseeing maintenance of social
media (Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, websites, etc.); creating donation strategies and
fundraising, communicating with partners to coordinate donation drop offs and reaching out to new
partners (specifically Student Housing and lost and founds on campus); researching and applying to
outside funding sources; collaborating with partners to develop events and programming; evaluating
store sales and customer needs each academic quarter; and assisting with everyday functions of Aggie
Reuse Store. Must attend weekly meeting with management team, report work completed weekly,
work in store when needed and attend at least 2 outreach events per month.
Summer Store Manager: Oversees all external and internal operations of Aggie Reuse Store, which
includes communicating and building relationships with campus and community supporters and
holding weekly meetings with management team to formulate goals for the week; holding biweekly
meetings to keep collaborators informed of news and events; creating donation strategies and
fundraising, including applying to outside funding sources; collaborating with partners to develop
events and programming; evaluating store sales and customer needs each summer session; and
assisting with everyday functions of Aggie Reuse Store; managing inventory (materials retrieval and
distribution in accordance with inventory protocol, weekly reports of inventory); staff (staff
recruitment, training, and scheduling); health and safety of employees, customers, and store;
development and implementation of in-store publicity; financial management; and managing the
everyday functions of Aggie Reuse Store during the summer.
Visual Merchandising Volunteer: Establishes a consistent store appearance; designs creative store
displays and arranges products and upcycled crafts in the store to engage customers and boost sales
activity.
Sales Volunteer: Staff the store during operating hours, handles points of sale, provides customer
service, help sort, inspect, clean and price donations, maintain store orderliness and cleanliness, and
assist with events and programming as needed.
Upcycling Volunteer: Work directly with director on upcycling ideas and projects for sale or display in
store.
Marketing & Outreach Volunteer: Responsible for community outreach of the Aggie Reuse Store,
including making fliers for the store and advertising in papers. Engage with the community through
tabling events. Reach out to third parties to develop mutually beneficial partnerships and maintain
connections.
Social Media Volunteer: Establish an online presence for the Aggie Reuse Store through its website,
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and others; keeping online content updated. Working directly with
Creative Media.
Assistant to the Director: Assist the director in administrative work, including but not limited to:
logging volunteer hours, logging sales figures, reaching out to third parties, taking meeting minutes
and creating agendas, and other tasks as assigned by director.
Organization Chart:
Future Plans:
1. Create infrastructure for volunteer program and reinforce structure to promote volunteer
retention. Achieve at least 70% volunteer retention between each quarter
2. Continue to interview qualified applicants before accepting into positions.
3. Enforce training and onboarding process for new personnel.
4. Hold at least two volunteer socials per quarter in addition to a volunteer appreciation banquet at
the end of the quarter.
III. OPERATIONS
Hours & Policy
Aggie Reuse Store is located in the TB24 Building and its hours of operation are 10 am to 4 pm,
Monday through Friday. Aggie Reuse Store is closed during all University holidays and breaks. Aggie
Reuse Store accepts cash at point of sale. No returns or exchanges are allowed and items are sold “as
is.”
Donations
Donations are not accepted on-site in the store; all donations are received and inspected off-site. The
Aggie Reuse Store staff strictly enforces this policy in order to prevent hazardous and unwanted items
from being abandoned at the store. Any person is allowed to donate items to the Aggie Reuse Store;
however, only registered students and student organizations are allowed to sell hand-made products
on consignment. Individual material donors will receive a certain amount of store credit based on the
value of their donation. All donations received are thoroughly inspected to ensure it meets University
policy and health and safety standards. Only items on the acceptable donations list will be accepted,
which includes but not limited to, school and office supplies, books and print media, clothing and
accessories, art and craft materials, small electronics, and houseware appliances. In accordance with
the Environmental and Health & Safety regulations, accepted items may be subject to cleaning prior to
entering the store.
Inventory
Aggie Reuse Store maintains two inventories – one for items in storage and another for items in the
store. Items sold are tracked on the store inventory list and it is evaluated at the end of each quarter
in order to develop sales and marketing strategies for following quarters.
Future Plans:
1. Track donations via weighing and log figures. Send monthly figures to Environmental Stewardship
and Sustainability.
2. Enforce donation policy, especially with inter-campus third parties such as the Student
Community Center, ARC, and Memorial Union Guest Services.
3. Rotate inventory bi-weekly and based on seasonal needs.
4. Starting Winter Quarter 2016, clear out storage unit bi-weekly to donate/discard items that are of
no use to Unit and provide space for newer inventory.
5. Develop and maintain consignment policy for donations from the campus and local community in
order to increase diversity of merchandise.
IV. FINANCE
For the 2015-2016 academic year, Aggie Reuse Store has a subsidized amount of $4,500. Aggie Reuse
Store operations costs are low because its only expense is the personnel. During the quarter which it
opened, Aggie Reuse Store successfully made a profit.
1.
a.
b.
Personnel: Aggie Reuse Store employs two (2) student employees totaling $ annually.
ASUCD Unit Director
Store Manager
Future Plans
1.
Meet sales quota of $4500.
2.
Increase paid staff wages based on unit productivity.
3.
Get a credit card transaction device to expand beyond cash-only transactions in store.
4.
Develop grant writing operation to secure funding opportunities for new programs and build
relationships with campus departments and local nonprofits.
V. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
The very function of Aggie Reuse Store as a thrift boutique is inherently sustainable. Aggie Reuse
Store is furnished with reused furniture, which promotes campus sustainability. Additionally, Aggie
Reuse Store strives to support and build partnerships with the ultimate goal of contributing towards a
campus waste reduction and zero-waste. Additionally, Aggie Reuse Store weighs all donations in order
to determine the amount of material and items diverted from landfills.
Future Plans:
1. Periodically consult with EPPC to discuss continued and expanded sustainability efforts.
2. Send monthly waste diversion figures to Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability.
VI. EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Aggie Surplus: There is a mutual understanding between the Aggie Reuse Store and Bargain Barn to
not have overlapping products; in return, Bargain Barn refers its customers to Aggie Reuse Store if
they do not sell items customers want and vice versa. Additionally, the storage unit for Aggie Reuse
Store is under Aggie Surplus.
Student Housing: Currently, Aggie Reuse Store is working on ways to promote creative uses of
material in the dorms through educational programs in the dorms.
Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability: An administrative office under the Assistant
Vice Chancellor, Sid England, helps coordinate RecycleMania and advertises Aggie Reuse Store.
Craft Center: Currently, Aggie Reuse Store may teach workshops on creative repurposing using
donated materials.
UC Davis Stores: Aggie Reuse Store receives unsold course materials in bulk from the UC Davis
Bookstore to source its textbook reserve for sales.
Yolo County Short Term Emergency Aid Committee (STEAC): Aggie Reuse participated in STEAC’s
winter coat drive by donating around 13 coats, jackets, and sweatshirts to a STEAC employee
coordinating the effort.
City of Davis Move-Out Program: Aggie Reuse participated in Davis’ AMOWRP (Apartment Move Out
Waste Reduction Program), coordinated by Jennifer Gilbert.
Newman Catholic Center: Aggie Reuse participated in Newman’s winter coat drive by donating around
13 jackets, coats, and sweatshirts to a volunteer coordinating the effort.
Fashion and Design Society (FADS): Aggie Reuse will explore opportunities for overlap within
activities.
UC Davis Department of Design: The Department of Design consistently donates art items and
materials to Aggie Reuse.
Economics and Business Student Association (EBSA): Aggie Reuse loaned EBSA materials to use in
preparation for their spring quarter formal event in return for publicity on their promotional materials
advertising the event.
Student Fashion Association (SFA): SFA collaborated with Aggie Reuse in a DIY t-shirt making event
with the SFA members. SFA also donates clothing items to the Unit.
Future Plans:
1. Work with Student Housing to publicize the service area desk donation bins and make
announcements in the freshmen newsletter.
2. Establish relationships with third parties of various purposes in the Sacramento and Bay Area
regions.
3. Collaborate with thrift stores in the Yolo County, local businesses, and campus departments.
VII. INTERNAL RELATIONS
Campus Center for the Environment: Aggie Reuse coordinated plans to purchase a shared electric
vehicle with CCE, Project Compost, and WEF. CCE consistently provides Aggie Reuse with donations
and other support.
Refrigerator Services: Aggie Reuse will look to forge partnership opportunities with Refrigerator
Services.
Environmental Policy and Planning Commission: Environmental Policy and Planning Commission has
given a grant to the Aggie Reuse Store for its mission statement to promote environmental
sustainability in creative ways.
Housing Advising for Undergraduate Students (HAUS): Aggie Reuse participated in a prize bag
giveaway with HAUS intended to promote both units.
Whole Earth Festival: Aggie Reuse will work with WEF to hold a booth at their yearly event.
KDVS: KDVS has allowed Aggie Reuse a free spot for the duration of one month beginning in late
October 2015.
External Affairs Commission (EAC): Aggie Reuse participated in events like Fall Into Davis.
Project Compost: Project Compost has allowed Aggie Reuse to borrow their electric vehicle for use of
transporting inventory to and from storage unit.
The California Aggie: The Aggie featured Aggie Reuse in an article entitled “The Future of Aggie Reuse
Store,” portraying where the unit has come and the goals the management team has crafted for the
unit going forward.
CNCC: Aggie Reuse will look to work with CNCC for possible partnership opportunities, such as
repurposing excess paper and materials.
Future Plans:
1. Work with the CoHo and Aggie Public Arts Committee (APAC) to have upcycled art from
volunteers featured in the CoHo.
2. Work with other ASUCD Units for donation items, promotional collaborations, events, and more.
Partner with various third parties to promote community involvement of environmental awareness and
creative reuse and the unit itself.
3. Participate in Housing Day 2016.
4. Work with other organizations within campus to collaborate on events, activities, etc.
5. Work with Creative Media more closely to market the unit and increase visibility.
6. Hold some type of campus-wide event to promote unit and generate revenue.
VIII. ONE-YEAR GOALS
A major problem Aggie Reuse Store faces ending its first year is the turnover of management.
Currently the ASUCD co-director and the assistant co-director are set to graduate at the end of spring
quarter 2012 and fall quarter 2012 respectively. Additionally, the Graduate Co-Director and Project
Manager, who are graduate students and the conception of Aggie Reuse Store coming out of their
project, are also graduating at the end of spring quarter 2012. Due to this very high turnover, it is
vital to hire a new stipend employee near the beginning of spring quarter 2012. It is proposed to
create the Donations Manager position to work under the ASUCD Co-Director position, which shall
slowly absorb the Graduate Co-Director duties into its position. It is imperative that this position learn
the daily operations of Aggie Reuse Store, in order to maintain current functionality of the Unit. The
Donations Manager would run the Unit during the summer of 2012 in order to generate more income.
Aggie Reuse Store plans on expanding donations received by expanding its donation drives to areas of
which donations often occur, such as Student Housing. Aggie Reuse Store is currently working on
establishing a permanent location for donations at the area service desks in each of the residence hall
areas. Additionally, Aggie Reuse Store acknowledges apartment complexes in the city of Davis have
individual donation areas during the end of August and beginning of September during the move-in
and –out periods. During this period, the staff shall investigate procedures of handling apartment
complexes donation areas. Furthermore, Aggie Reuse Store shall foster relationships with campus
departments in order to acquire more donations.
In the coming years, Aggie Reuse Store may need to relocate if there is a renovation of the Memorial
Union East Wing. At the beginning of this year, this was a possibility, but plans were put on hold. This
is a major concern for Aggie Reuse Store; however, Aggie Reuse Store shall strive to be a zero
subsidy unit status for the coming years.
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Still experiencing problems with management turnover; would like to improve this in coming
years (former store manager who was hired for 2015-2016 academic year resigned week 1 fall
quarter)
Improving volunteer retention rate (at least 70% retention between quarters in an academic
year)
Break even with sales quota
Engage with the community more in various aspects to promote creative reuse and
environmental awareness
Engage with inter-campus organizations more
Become more well-known on campus as a whole
Engage with ASUCD more; keep senate informed of events, activities, and unit progress