Correction: This article has been updated to correct Joy Westkaemper’s title. In an earlier version a photo caption identified her as the owner of Scrap RVA Creative Reuse Center. She is the coordinator. We regret the error.
Walking into Scrap RVA Creative Reuse Center overwhelms the senses with all things art. Colorful displays, finished pieces, creative materials like glue and paper generate a creative energy that puts shoppers in maker-mode.
Scrap’s mission does more than serve as a place for materials.
“Scrap as an organization has always had a strong focus on education and teachers,” says Joy Westkaemper, the Creative Reuse Center coordinator. “Our main store in Portland, Oregon, was started by teachers and educators. So that’s always been a big part of what we do.”
Scrap doesn’t just say it either, they practice it, “We just started our 10% off for teachers year around,” Westkaemper said.
Teachers may be a focus, but Scrap will appeal to every customer. “We like to connect with every person who comes through the door.” Westkaemper shares, “We don’t like to hover, but we are very available for chatting, problemsolving, or sharing ideas,” she said. ”It’s a combination of staff helping customers, but also customers helping each other. It’s a very collaborative environment.”
The store is stocked solely with donated materials. “It’s coming directly from the hands of artisan makers back into the hands of artisan makers,” Westkaemper said.
The store is a low-cost alternative for supplies that otherwise can cost makers a substantial amount. “We usually do 50% of retail as our starting point and then go down from there,” according to Westkaemper.
The store’s small team of employees and volunteers test, restore, and sort items before placing them on the sales floor. “We have a lot of people on staff who have different specialties.… [W]hen we’re doing research on items, we have people on staff and volunteers that fill in those knowledge gaps and provide insight on pricing.”
Westkaemper says the community plays a big role too, “We try to be a hub for a lot of different things. We do workshops and events, and partnerships with different organizations in the city.”
Scrap recently had an art market with Artes RVA, an up-and-coming market group that features Latina artists and makers. “We’re always looking for more opportunities to connect with the community.”
Scrap is approaching its 10-year anniversary in January. “That’s around the time of year we do our annual fundraiser,” Westkaemper said. “We don’t have a date on the books yet, but we’re going to be putting on a fundraiser in celebration of 10 years.”
Whether you’re looking for unconventional materials, project ideas, that one piece you just can’t find elsewhere, or some makers to talk to, Scrap is your budget-friendly stop for creativity and connection.
