When Pump Hair Salon decided not to renew its lease at Rookwood Commons, its parent company, Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa, had a decision to make: what to do with the furnishings, fixtures and materials from the 2,400-square-foot space.

They turned to Building Value, a social enterprise of Easterseals Redwoodthat specializes in deconstruction, salvaging materials for reuse while providing hands-on construction training for people facing economic disadvantages.

Founded in 2004, Building Value’s original vision was to reduce construction waste and create job training opportunities for people who need a second chance. Over the years, the nonprofit has grown from a small operation into a well-known community resource in Greater Cincinnati.

Today, the organization provides workforce development training through its deconstruction services, diverting 180 tons of construction debris from landfills each year. It sells salvaged building materials – doors, windows, fixtures, appliances and more – for reuse and repurposing at its retail store in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood.

Proceeds from those sales support the Building Value’s mission to provide paid training in construction skills for people facing economic disadvantages. Trainees, about 50 each year, learn everything from power tool safety to customer service while working on real job sites.

“That means when someone buys a door, a sink, or even a bucket of nails, they’re not just getting a great deal – they’re fueling workforce development,” said Sheryl Woodhouse, director at Building Value.

It’s a win-win-win

For Mitchell’s Salon, choosing Building Value was a natural decision. Vice President Mike Batchelor said he simply pulled out a business card he had saved from about 15 years ago, when the company used the service for a remodel of a much larger, 10,000-square-foot salon.

“They were the first people I thought of,” Batchelor said. “They did a wonderful job last time, in a reasonable period of time and at a reasonable cost. It was on budget, and we were able to recycle a lot of stuff in the salon, so that was very appealing to us.”

The whole tear-down process was “really easy.” During the deconstruction, the Building Value team carefully dismantled and salvaged reusable materials, including classic barber chairs, reclining salon chairs with built-in wash sinks and professional styling stations.

“The gentleman I worked with before had retired, so I met someone else at the location,” Batchelor continued. “I explained what we were looking to do and how we wanted the space to end up. Within a day or so, they came back with a quote, had everything ready and gave me a project plan.”

The Building Value team marked the items for salvage and kept track of what the salon wanted to hold onto, Batchelor said. The crew was “in and out in less than a week.”

“I would highly recommend them to any type of retail business that has demolition work they need done, whether they’re remodeling or moving,” he added.

Woodhouse, who joined Building Value in February 2024, called the collaboration a “win-win-win” for everyone involved: the nonprofit, the salon, the trainees, the customers who purchase the furnishings and the Greater Cincinnati community that benefits from less waste in the landfill.

“By working with us, they not only received exceptional service from our team – who completed the work ahead of schedule at a competitive rate – but realized significant tax benefits as well,” Woodhouse said.

Partners drive Building Value’s success

Woodhouse stressed that Building Value simply couldn’t operate without community partners. Local businesses like Werbrich Custom Outdoor Living, Auer Kitchens, Crapsey & Gilles Contractors and The Plant Trolley keep the shelves stocked with hardscaping materials, kitchen cabinets and even live plants.

Larger supporters play a big role too. The Farmer Family Foundation recently awarded Easterseals Redwood a $500,000 grant to help expand the training program so it can serve 100 people a year by 2027.

But it’s not just big gifts that matter. Building Value also counts on homeowners, small businesses and groups like the City of Cincinnati and The Port, which hire the nonprofit for cleanups and demolitions. Those jobs bring in high-quality finds straight from job sites – everything from historic mantels to modern lighting.

“All of these partners are absolutely essential,” Woodhouse said. “They let us do far more than we ever could on our own.”

Building Value often benefits from contractors, architects, realtors and developers recommending it to their clients when a remodel or demolition project is coming up. But retail manager Terry Brueneman said their services are available to anyone in need of demolition work.

In short: Every donation, every referral, every site cleanout matters.

“Our business and community partners are the backbone of Building Value’s impact,” Brueneman added.