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If you have not yet heard the news, Goodwill of Greater Washington is opening its 22nd nonprofit Dulles store in Sterling, VA. We are extremely grateful for the community’s continuous support so that we can continue transforming lives and communities through the power of education and employment.
With many logistical moving pieces and the excitement surrounding our organization’s expansion, those who are not 100% involved with the day-to-day responsibilities may not be familiar with everything needed to open a storefront.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Maria Iraheta, the General Manager of our Dulles location, to learn about what it truly takes to open a Goodwill store and donation center.
Though she is eager to get things up and running, Maria reminds us that behind the excitement of a new store, there are a lot of steps to bring this vision to life.
Emaunie: Maria…April 13th is the day. How are you feeling? Are you excited?
Maria: I am extremely excited! Everything happened so fast! You know, once Catherine Meloy said that the opening of our Dulles location has been approved, and I would be the General Manager, I thought it would take a few years…at least two years to open; however, it seems as if this was only a couple of months.
Emaunie: Wow, only a couple of months? I am sure that it was hectic. During this process and with the short timeline, were there any challenges you faced?
Maria: Fortunately, not as many as you may think. There are specific things you know you need to open a store but with the entire GGW team supporting you, there is no room for challenges to come. The organization does a fantastic job of preparing and planning and if I ever have any questions, I can lean on other General Managers in the organization to guide and assist me.
Now, sometimes, things may not go as planned or may get delayed, but my team and I have learned to pivot, move forward, and focus on the things we can in the meantime.
I will say that the only challenge I THOUGHT we would have was staffing issues due to the location of our store. However, we had a lot of applications, our recruitment team was very hands-on, and I am happy to say we are now fully staffed.
Emaunie: So, from your experience, now that the time has come to open the store, what items do you believe were essential to ensure your store was set and ready to open?
Maria: Although this is my second time opening a Goodwill store, I was unaware of EVERYTHING it takes to open a storefront. Such as the posters, signage around the store, and other marketing materials. Hangers (we ran out of hangers before) clothing racks, I mean, the list can go on and on. However, I think what people do not consider are the small details such as pens, staples, and other office supplies.
If I had to give any advice on opening a new store, I would say to think about everything your customers need and your staff. From experience, I know that many companies’ sole focus is ensuring the customer is catered to, but I would also like to ensure my staff has everything they need to perform their job to the best of their ability so that they can cater to the customer.
Emaunie: Maria, if I am not mistaken, you have been with Goodwill of Greater Washington for a few years now, correct? Could you tell me a little bit about your journey within Goodwill?
Maria: Yes. I started at the Herndon location as a part-time employee when they opened in 2010. So, this is my second grand opening with the company.
When Herndon opened, it was me and two other young ladies, and our responsibility at the time was to hang apparel in the production area. During my time at Herndon, I was working two other jobs in addition to Goodwill; then the opportunity came, and my manager asked if I wanted to become a Team Lead. I initially declined the position because I had just come to America two years before joining Goodwill and I could not speak English very well. When I took my concerns to my recruiter, they said no worries, we will practice with you to help you learn English better. Although it was reassuring that I was investing my time with a nonprofit that genuinely cares about its employee's growth, I still rejected the offer. However, not too long after, I was offered an Assistant Production Manager position at Herndon, and I accepted the offer.
When I first stepped into my new role, I was faced with many challenges, but I am really passionate about what I do, and that is the key to having a successful store and a team that truly feels like family.
Emaunie: You mentioned that this was your second time opening a new store with Goodwill of Greater Washington. Not too many people can say that. How does that feel to know you have been a part of history twice now?
Maria: You know, when Herndon opened, I was a part-time team member, so I was not as involved. I did not attend the grand opening event because I was not scheduled to work. This time around it is extremely different. I am 100% invested and hands in everything. I am expecting this grand opening to be one for the books! I am super excited!
Emaunie: I agree! I believe this grand opening will be one for the books as well. With that can you share how you prepare your team for such a huge event and keep the same momentum once the excitement has died down?
Maria: You know, I talk to my team all the time. They can see the passion I have for this organization daily. I am constantly encouraging them and ensuring they have everything they need to succeed. I also share with them that it does not matter what position you are in or what your title is, all that matters is that we are a team, and we can grow from there.
Emaunie: Maria, that is amazing! Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me and provide more insight into what it takes to open a Goodwill store. We are all excited about this new beginning and wish your store nothing but success! I will see you on the 13th!
Again, thank you, Maria, for sharing your story with us.
It was a pleasure meeting with you, and on behalf of your entire GGW family would like to say Congratulations!
