Remoov and Reperch
Luis Perez’s wife was in grad school at Stanford when he noticed students scrambling at the end of each school year to clear out their apartments and deal with everything they had accumulated. They wanted it to disappear . . . quickly, but responsibly! Calling a hauling service to take it to the landfill was bad for the planet. So Luis rented a storage space in South San Francisco and started helping students resell or donate stuff. Recology was the last resort.
He realized that people are always moving, downsizing, settling family estates . . . and they need help. So Remoov was born eight years ago as a decluttering service for students, but now, along with Reperch (consignment outlet), it is fueling the circular economy.
Soran Mofti, general manager, showed me around Reperch in San Francisco. He loves being part of “a scrappy start-up with a social mission” addressing many of the “pain points” that afflict people who are moving or downsizing: no time, no idea where to donate, guilt about adding to the waste stream. A call to Remoov takes care of that pain. Working with partners, like Community Thrift, Habitat for Humanity and Urban Ore, Remoov will find a way to donate things not suitable for consignment. They also work through online markets like Ebay and Craigslist.
A steady stream of clients pours in through word of mouth and advertising on social media. Partnering with professional organizers and real estate agencies yields many more customers. The process is streamlined by software developed in house. An AI program analyzes and quantifies items from photos that potential clients submit to Remoov, categorizing them and generating quotes for removal and resale. Clients get 50% of every sale. Remoov teams include a photographer to document everything.
If you’re looking to shop secondhand you can browse online, make an offer and receive a reply remotely, or you can stop by Reperch and shop in person. At Reperch every item has a scannable barcode on it; customers use their cell phones to find detailed information and prices, submit offers and complete sales. A staff member is on site to help with the app and answer questions.
Reperch’s in person shopping experience (San Francisco location).
Reperch takes furniture of all types if it’s well made and in good condition. Soran noted that younger customers love vintage furniture not only for its quality but for its history. I saw a couple of amazing credenzas, hand-made tables, and a unique carved coffee table. Some items come with a story. Soran mentioned a seven foot statue of Super Woman that found a happy buyer. He showed me an enormous shuffle-board table from the guesthouse of a tech entrepreneur on the Peninsula. Two stainless steel tables with wheel-cranks to adjust their height came from a catering company that went out of business. Rows of Pelotons, bicycles, ornate mirrors . . . go online and see for yourself!
While San Francisco is the mother ship, Remoov operations are underway in Sacramento, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Stay tuned for a nation-wide roll-out.
Luiz Perez and Soran Mofti from Remoov and Reperch were interviewed by Heath Massey
Upcoming Events
April 26 : Windsor Repair Fair + Clothing Swap
Join us for our second annual Windsor Repair Fair. If you have an item in need of repair you can register it at the link below. We will be back at the Huerta Gymnasium fixing things, swapping clothes and even collecting some ewaste! We can always use general volunteers in addition to Repair Coaches! If you’d like to get involved email volunteer@reusealliance.org or sign up here !
May 3 : West County Fixit Fair + Clothing Swap
We are partnering with the Russian River Rotary to host a West County Fixit Fair in Forestville on May 3rd from 10am-2pm. This outdoor event will have music, food, a resource fair and a clothing swap hosted by Zero Waste Action - Sonoma County. If you have an item in need of repair you can register it at the link below. Note there will be welding services at this event. As always we need general volunteers in addition to Repair Coaches! If you’d like to get involved email volunteer@reusealliance.org or sign up here !
May 17 : Sonoma Repair Fair + Clothing Swap
We will be hosting our first Repair Fair in Sonoma at the Sonoma Community Center on May 17th. Find more details and to register your item for repair at the link below. You can drop off your clean donations for the clothing swap at Refill Madness from 5/12-5/15 and then come “shop the swap” on Saturday the 17th. And as always if you’d like to volunteer for the Repair Fair sign up here.
Opportunities
April 22 : Happy Earth Day!
April 19-27 : SFClimateweek has a few circularity events about fashion, mending, packaging, buildings, and bay area
April 26 : We’ll be tabling at Safari West’s Earth Day Party for the Planet event
May 2 : Deadline to apply for T.R.A.S.H. Student Summer Art Residency in Santa Rosa
May 4 : We’ll be at Cool Petaluma’s 2025 Future Fest + Expo
May 19 : Nextcycle Washington’s 2025 Pitch Showcase
May 31 : Deadline to submit a reuse symbol design to Rebrand Reuse
North Bay Zero Waste Symposium
The 2025 North Bay Zero Waste Symposium will be held at the Somo Village Event Space on Thursday, May 1st, 8 am - 5 pm, with a happy hour to follow. Come learn about zero waste implementation, reuse, repair, and sharing, farming and stewardship, and much more.
Save your seat by registering on eventbrite.
Reuse in the News
Los Angeles is into adaptive reuse turning old building into permanent housing and temporary olympic facilities.
EPA announces next round of SWIFR and REO grants will still be funded.
The public comment period is open on San Francisco Environment’s Climate Action Plan. We’re happy to see a Circular Economy Chapter. Tell them you want more reuse.
Reuse to Amuse
I would definitely vacation in a repurposed Bart car house. #memories
What if you did one act of reuse everyday instead?
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