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Going Green

Details: Published on Tuesday, 01 November 2011 14:32; Written by Paul Gordon

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You just never know where that cool product at Re- came from

The green movement isn't passing Nancy Martin by. In fact, she's ahead of the curve in this race to sustainability.

Now if only others would discover her quaint little store tucked at the back end of Metro Centre in Peoria.

Re- is the name of the store Martin started five years ago under the name of Second Chances in Washington. She moved to Metro Centre to be part of an exciting community of merchants for which being local is important.

"I'm glad I made the move because as the green movement continues to grow I feel people will be able to discover us here and what we have to offer. Once they see these things, they are amazed. It's fun to see their reactions," Martin said.

Anything from household items to jewelry, purses and bags and coffee mugs can be found at the store, as well as many other items.

Martin is quick to point out what her store sells, either at retail or on consignment, are all new items, not used items. It's just that the items are made from recycled and reclaimed products.

"People think the merchandise is used and that can be a turn-off. The stuff from which the merchandise is made was previously used for something else, but when you consider the unique things you can do with it, the possibilities are endless," she said.

Hence her store's motto: re-claim, re-purpose, re-think.

Martin said she learned in childhood how to make do with what she had, taught by her Depression-era parents that one doesn't always need new things. She said she became creative in re-using things and added she has always been one to recycle.

But it wasn't until she spotted purses made from old license plates at a place in Pittsburgh, PA - that included a purse made from an Illinois plate - that she began thinking about doing more re-purposing herself. "Then I started thinking that it would be neat to have all kinds of those things for sale under one roof," she said in explaining her decision to open her store.

"Then the green movement started taking off. Before that green was just a color. Now people are starting to think about sustainability more and to see the value of recycling and re-purposing old things," Martin said.

"I do like to think I'm ahead of the game here, but I'm still waiting for others to catch up. Business isn't terrible, but it could always be better, you know?"

When she first started the store, Martin relied on finding things herself to sell, things other people were making and trying to find a vendor to sell them. She has since started going to gift shows to find items and talk with the makers of the items before deciding whether to put them at Re-. Her first gift show was in New York City three years ago and it included a "sustainability fair" that highlighted people who re-purposed things.

It was at such shows she found somebody in Seattle who finds used chopsticks, sanitizes them and creates bowls and flower pots and many other items from them. She found people who will take old vinyl albums and make bowls and coasters and such from them.

Bicycle chains can be re-purposed into picture frames, candle holders and other household goods and give a unique look to your decor.

The things people will use to make purses and bags may astound you, particularly when you see how strong a whole bunch of gum wrapper chains stitched together can be. Ditto with old soda can pop tops.

You may not want to know, at least not without seeing it first, what some of the scratch paper pads Martin sells is made from. Trust us, it doesn't stink.

"Hey, anything can be recycled," Martin said.