Is REUSE a student organization or business? 

We are not a recognized student organization at Georgetown, but rather are a student-run business.

Is REUSE a nonprofit organization? What is your legal status? 

We are a nonprofit corporation seeking to become a tax exempt nonprofit organization. We are working on filing our 501(c)(3) application with the IRS. We have all documents a nonprofit corporation has including articles of incorporation, bylaws, meeting minutes, required licenses, and insurance.

Where does the money go? 

The money from sales first goes to financing our business’ operation expenses, which includes but is not limited to licensing costs, insurance, virtual office rent, our website, and storage equipment. For instance, our Second Hand Business License cost $650. Once we have covered these fees, additional profits (currently 10%) will be distributed to a DMV non-profit partner at the end of each semester.  We also host fundraising sales in partnership with Georgetown organizations like Rangila and SAPE where 50% of proceeds are donated to a non-profit. 

What, when, and where does REUSE sell?

We sell clothes, dorm items, and school supplies, with clothing being sold primarily during each semester, and dorm items and school supplies being sold at move-in. We are a Farmers Market vendor and sell every Wednesday in Red Square from 11-3 during the Farmer’s Market Season. We also partner with specific organizations to host sales at their events. 

How often does REUSE switch the clothes on the rack?

We currently don’t have a set time for when we switch clothes on the rack, but they will be on the rack at least for three sales in a row. 

Does REUSE do returns?

All items are final sale; however, if you purchase an electronic item that is not functional, we will offer a refund. 

How does REUSE price its clothing? 

Our pricing system takes into account the condition and the original price of the item and combines them using a system of percentages and price caps to ensure that the price is reasonable.

Does REUSE buy clothes from people? 

No, we do not buy clothes from individuals. If community members are interested in selling their own clothes through Georgetown Bartering and Selling or other means, we encourage them to do so. For the items that individuals don’t have the time to sell or repurpose themselves, REUSE donation sites ensure that those items don’t end up being wasted or thrown away. We also support all other groups on campus pursuing projects that will decrease waste or increase accessibility on campus even if they seem to have similar operations to REUSE.

Where can I donate items?

We have permanent donation bins in the lobby of Southwest Quad. Individuals can also donate by coordinating with our instagram or a member of REUSE directly. 

What does REUSE do with clothes that don’t sell? 

We are currently building out a framework that will guide how we properly repurpose any clothes that do not sell. Right now, we donate our excess items to specific non-profits (example: We donate our excess denim to Madewell that is used for insulation). Our excess item distribution framework (still in development) will guarantee that the clothes we do not sell do not simply end up in a dumpster after being donated to another organization.

How is the team structured? 

Georgetown REUSE is organized into 4 Branches (Executive, Operations, Finance, and Marketing) and 4 Teams (Inventory, Development, Ecommerce, and Marketing). The Branches are led by the CEO, COO, CFO, and CMO and the Teams are led by the Head of Inventory, Head of Development, and CMO/COO.