Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit

Name

Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit

Legal name

Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit

Website

https://aswdetroit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Salvage & Reclaimed Building Materials

NAICS

Reupholstery and Furniture Repair (81142), All Other Miscellaneous Wood Product Manufacturing (321999)

SIC

Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers (5211), Retail-Furniture Stores (5712)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Salvage & Reclaimed Building Elements Retail (Doors, Windows, Mantels) (CRAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Furniture & Built-In Wood Repair (Shelving, Mantels, Built-ins) (HSAGABAK)

Keywords

• Reclaimed building materials
• Architectural salvage retail
• Deconstruction services
• Custom woodworking projects
• Affordable housing materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Salvaged Materials Sales: Sale of reclaimed building materials including lumber, doors, windows, cabinetry, lighting, appliances, marble, antiques, and more. Items are sold at the Downtown Detroit retail warehouse for customer pickup.
2. Custom Woodworking Projects: Custom woodworking services for bespoke furniture and home décor items made from reclaimed materials.
3. ASW Branded Merchandise (Goods): Sale of ASW-branded merchandise including clothing, gifts, and home goods such as cutting boards.
4. Gift Cards: Square-based gift card sales for individual gifts and group purchases.
5. Community Uplift Program Donations: Charitable donations to support the no-cost building materials program for low-income Detroit families. A $600 donation sponsors one family. Recurring donation options from $5 to $100 per month.
6. Financial Contributions: General financial contributions to fund special projects, Home Repair Workshop Programs, and warehouse improvements. Donors may claim charitable tax deductions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ASWD is a nonprofit that deconstructed buildings in Southeast Michigan to salvage architectural materials — reclaimed lumber, doors, windows, cabinetry, lighting, marble, antiques, and hardware — and resells them through a Downtown Detroit retail warehouse. The organization complements retail sales with custom woodworking services, branded merchandise, and a no-cost Community Uplift Program that distributes salvaged materials to low-income Detroit families for home repairs.

Product overview

The Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit (ASWD) is a nonprofit salvage and resale organization operating as a retail warehouse combined with community programs. The core offerings include Shop Salvage (retail sale of salvaged architectural materials), Shop Goods (branded merchandise), Custom Projects (custom woodworking services), and Gift Cards. ASWD provides community programs including the Uplift Program (no-cost materials for low-income residents) and accepts material donations. The organization also offers deconstruction and soft skimming services to salvage materials from buildings being demolished.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Uplift Program: A no-cost building materials program launched in fall 2024 providing essential items like lumber, lighting, appliances, doors, windows and more to low-income Detroit residents to help create safer, healthier homes.

Products and services

• Shop Salvage (Retail Salvaged Materials) Retail store offering salvaged architectural materials — reclaimed wood, antiques, lights, cabinetry, marble, windows, doors, appliances, flooring, hardware, and more. Items are priced individually ($5 to $321+) and picked up in-person at the Downtown Detroit warehouse. Available to homeowners, contractors, and historic preservation projects.
• Shop Goods (ASW Branded Merchandise) ASW Detroit branded merchandise including clothing, gifts, and home goods such as cutting boards, sold through the ASWD website for general consumers and gift purchasers.
• Custom Projects (Custom Woodworking Services) Custom woodworking services and portfolio for bespoke furniture, home decor, and custom woodworking projects made from reclaimed materials. Available to homeowners and design clients seeking one-of-a-kind reclaimed-wood pieces.
• Gift Cards Square-based gift cards available for individuals and groups to spend at the ASWD warehouse on salvaged materials, branded goods, or custom woodworking services.
• Community Uplift Program No-cost building materials program providing lumber, lighting, appliances, doors, windows, and other essential items to qualifying low-income Detroit residents to help create safer, healthier homes. Funded through charitable donations ($600 per family sponsorship).
• Deconstruction Services Planned and systematic disassembly of buildings in Southeast Michigan that allows component parts to be removed without damage for reuse. Up to 85% of materials can be salvaged for reuse or recycling. Performed by trained ASWD deconstruction crews.
• Soft Skimming Removal of easily extractable materials such as doors, hardware, cabinets, flooring, and light fixtures when full deconstruction is not possible. Performed on buildings in Southeast Michigan.
• Donation Program (Material Donations Accepted) Accepts donated, used, and new/surplus building materials from individuals, contractors, distributors, manufacturers, and corporations for distribution through the warehouse. Donor materials feed the retail salvage inventory and Community Uplift Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 85% of materials diverted from landfills through systematic deconstruction process
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, advisor and founder.

• Focus HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded collaboration with Focus Hope for community development and workforce training initiatives in Detroit.
• Wayne State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormalized educational partnership with Wayne State University to enrich economic prospects of Detroit's youth and neighborhoods through training and educational programs.
• University of Detroit Mercy, School of ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership with University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture to formalize training and educational programs, with architecture students participating in community projects.
• Lawrence A. Molnar (EDA University Center)advisorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowth supporter providing guidance as ASWD grows. Director, EDA University Center For Economic Diversification, Business and Industrial Assistance Division.
• Alexander Pollock (City of Detroit)advisorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowth supporter and advisor. Principal City Planner, City of Detroit.
• Richard Geyer (Michigan Urban Strategies)advisorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowth supporter providing guidance and support as ASWD grows. Michigan Urban Strategies, LLC.
• Jan and Bunny HomanfounderStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding members of ASWD who have provided ongoing support and guidance.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Forklift: Nonprofit reuse center in the DC region that sells salvaged and surplus building materials to fund community development. Directly comparable retail warehouse model with similar customer segments.
• The Loading Dock: Nonprofit reuse retailer selling donated building materials to support community development. Comparable nonprofit model with retail-of-salvaged-materials as the core revenue driver.
• Second Use: Seattle-area architectural salvage retailer selling reclaimed building materials, vintage fixtures, and custom woodworking products. Comparable retail assortment and customer base, with a stronger commercial orientation.
• The ReBuilding Center: Nonprofit reuse retailer in the Midwest selling salvaged and donated building materials, home goods, and furniture. Comparable nonprofit retail warehouse model and material recovery mission.
• Big Reuse: New York-based nonprofit that salvages building materials and resells them through retail operations, with a parallel mission of job training and affordable housing support. Closely aligned model and community impact narrative.
• Urban Ore: Bay Area reuse enterprise operating retail stores for salvaged and reclaimed building materials, fixtures, and home goods. Comparable scale and product mix in architectural salvage retail.
• ReStore (Habitat for Humanity): Habitat for Humanity's ReStore network is the closest direct peer: nonprofit retail outlets selling donated and salvaged furniture, appliances, and building materials to fund affordable housing. Highly comparable mission, operating model, and customer overlap.
• Building REsources: San Francisco nonprofit architectural salvage retailer selling reclaimed building materials and providing job training. Directly comparable mission and operating model to ASWD.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity ReStores (parent organization): Parent of the ReStore network and a broad incumbent in the affordable housing and reuse space. Comparable mission around affordable housing materials; far larger scale and multi-site footprint.

Others

• Youth Build Detroit: Existing ASWD partner; a workforce development nonprofit exposing young construction apprentices to deconstruction. Comparable community development mission and a current ecosystem collaborator rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ArchitecturalSalvageWarehouseOfDetroit
• Instagraminstagram.com/aswdetroit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/architectural-salvage-warehouse-of-detroit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit