The STAR Store & Studio, STARability Foundation’s upscale resale shop, re-opened on Nov. 8, after being closed for approximately six weeks following Hurricane Ian.
Located in the Naples Design District, the STAR Store & Studio incurred about six inches of water intrusion, causing damage to resale inventory. Volunteers, including STARability staff and community partners, such as Sweet Art Finishes Inc. and Arthrex, spent more than 40 hours replacing drywall, restoring baseboards, repainting floors and walls, and resetting the store with inventory from offsite storage units.
Although the store sustained some damage, many furniture pieces both in the store and at offsite storage units were unharmed. To date, STARability has donated more than $2,000 worth of household items to individuals impacted by the storm.
“Our community has been devastated by the hurricane, and we know many have lost so much,” said Karen Govern, CEO of STARability Foundation. “In thinking about how we could help families rebuild, we realized we had a unique opportunity through our resale shop to provide items that would help those who had significant damage to their homes. We quickly got to work cataloging and assessing all items to ensure we could give them to those who needed it most. And now, we are asking for donations of upscale furniture and home decor so we can continue to have items available to support STARability and our community.”
The STAR Store & Studio used its Nov. 8 re-opening to launch 2022 holiday merchandise and new STAR apparel, such as baseball caps and long- and short-sleeve coastal style shirts. The store is currently open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seasonal hours of Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment will begin Nov. 28.
The store will be offering an in-person storewide 15% off sale on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, as well as a Cyber Monday sitewide sale Nov. 28 of 15% off online at starstoreandstudio.square.site.
Additionally, STARability will host a holiday party at the STAR Store & Studio on Dec. 1 from 3 to 7 p.m. Guests will enjoy refreshments, a raffle and in-store discounts including 25% off holiday décor. Fall and winter products for sale include handcrafted candles with ten holiday scents, hand-poured glass ornaments, STAR artist-illustrated greeting cards and note cards, handmade beaded bracelets and more.
STARability Foundation opened the STAR Store & Studio, Southwest Florida’s most affordable upscale resale shop, in 2019. In addition to benefiting STARability through the resale of upscale furniture and home décor, the store intentionally provides a nurturing and inclusive environment where participants in STARability’s Trailblazer Academy and Junior Trailblazer Academy receive vocational training on critical skills like maintenance and customer service. The store is also home to the STAR Studio, where the Trailblazers and employed STAR participants create beautiful hand-poured candles, greeting cards, ornaments, jewelry and more.
To learn more about STARability’s social enterprises program, visit STARability.org.
For nearly four decades, STARability Foundation has been shining a light on abilities, not disabilities. Formed by a small community of caring parents, STARability has become one of Southwest Florida’s leading nonprofits. Today, the organization is opening a world of possibilities for hundreds of individuals ages 14 and older by offering a variety of inclusive programs focused on vocational training, continuing education, teamwork, social engagement and community involvement. Their compassionate team supports people with disabilities by providing life-transforming opportunities that emphasize teamwork and a connection to the community while strengthening awareness and respect for individual abilities. To learn more about the services and program offerings available, please visit STARability.org.
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