Kim BrattainFounder/ CEO, Kim Brattain Media · Award-winning Corporate and Documentary Film Producer

Jay Sloan ReStore Honoree | Kim Brattain Media

19 May 2015 · 3 min

Watch on YouTube

2:49

The video is a tribute to Jay Sloan, featuring five on‑camera speakers who share personal anecdotes and reflections on his role at the Asheville ReStore. Speakers describe Jay as outgoing, visionary, and professionally dressed, noting his ability to see what he wants and act on it. They highlight his commitment to treating both staff and customers with respect, ensuring merchandise is clean and well‑displayed, and streamlining checkout. A central story recounts how Jay supported a volunteer with significant developmental challenges, securing housing, medical and dental care, and yearly warm clothing. Multiple speakers credit Jay with profoundly influencing their lives, offering guidance, and serving as a moral compass they continue to hear in daily decisions. Overall, the piece paints Jay as a compassionate leader whose practical care and ethical standards have left a lasting impact on the ReStore community.

Chapters

Hey, how you doing? Good to see you too. If I could describe Jay in a few words, I think outgoing, he's friendly, he knows what he wants, and he's got good vision.
I will always remember that first The day that he walked into the office, and I wondered, who is this guy? He's interviewing for a job for a little ReStore that we have here, and he's got on a banker suit. We don't dress like that here in Asheville.
You don't have to reinvent the wheel. You just have to take care of people. Merchandise, displaying it so people can see it and know how much it costs, and don't make people stand in line when they're wanting to give you their money. People don't want to buy dirty stuff. They'll buy clean stuff and pay more for it.
All the dishes and glassware and all the linens and fabrics that come up here are washed and dried and folded and measured before they come up here for 22 years ago when we started our ReStore, and the first day we opened, a gentleman about 45, 47 years old, had some developmental challenges that were pretty significant, came by the store. That was his first day at the store. He has not missed one day volunteering. Jay stood by this young man. Jay found him better housing, proper medical attention, proper dental attention, and he makes sure each year that he gets warm clothes to wear.
If it wasn't for Jay, I wouldn't know where I would be right now. I'm very thankful for, you know, being able to know this man because he showed me a lot.
The best advice I can give to you is just treat your staff And treat your customers the way you want to be treated. They don't get rich working here, and they don't get paid to volunteer here, but there's something that makes them come back.
And about everything I do, I still hear Jay on my shoulder, you know, how would Jay deal with that? And thank you, and I'm gonna keep doing my best I can, thanks to you.