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An all-night charrette in October generated plans, including this artist's rendering, to transform a Salvation Army Family Store.
Posted 1-28-09
GREENSBORO, NC — When Salvation Army leaders contacted UNCG looking for suggestions about how to spruce up their thrift store on West Lee Street, they got more than they bargained for.
“What began as request for a few ideas to help us make our Family Store more functional and friendly has grown into an amazing, high-energy community service project,” said Salvation Army Maj. Paul B. Egan. “This hard work will help us take our store to a higher level.”
After countless hours of work, including shopper surveys and an all-night brainstorming session, students and faculty from the interior architecture and the consumer, apparel and retail studies departments presented their ideas for a store makeover Jan. 28.
In addition to serving the community, the students were able to hone the skills they’re learning in the classroom. “It was a wonderful opportunity to get hands-on experience right here in school,” said Debbie Nestvogel, an interior architecture student who helped lead the project.
The recommendations include bilingual signs, brighter lighting, streamlined merchandise presentation and eye-catching window displays. The Salvation Army will consider these proposals for the 40,000-square-foot Family Store at 307 W. Lee Street and for a second store it plans to open in the city.
The Family Store sells donated clothes, furniture and household items to raise money – about $150,000 a year – for Greensboro’s Boys and Girls Clubs and Center of Hope, an emergency shelter that helps individuals and families become self sufficient. The Salvation Army operates more than 1,400 Family Stores nationwide.
Because the project brought together students from two departments, the volunteers learned valuable lessons about being part of an interdisciplinary team, said Dr. Gwen O’Neal, head of the Department of Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies.
Tommy Lambeth, head of the Department of Interior Architecture, praised the students and faculty for showing that good design can enrich lives in any setting. “Design is not just for rich people,” he said. “This is a really good example of design in action that does something for the common good.”