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The recent quartet of hurricanes that struck Florida soaked billions of dollars worth of merchandise in a gumbo of water, insulation and broken ceiling tiles.
What did business owners do with all those damaged goods? Many called Howard Stoner, a Sudbury, Mass., salvor who helps companies make the best of disaster.
One client was Beall's. The Bradenton chain turned over $6-million worth of damaged clothing to Stoner after the first three hurricanes, including some from its store at Seminole Mall.
Even dry clothes can pick up a moldy smell after 24 to 48 hours in a wet environment, Beall's president Conrad Szymanski said. "Basically, they (Stoner & Co.) have been attached at our hips. When we give them the word on a store, the semi trucks are backing up either that afternoon or the next morning."
There's more to the job than just carting off clothes, Stoner said. Stoner & Co. helps its clients determine which goods are damaged, cleans them at one of its dozen U.S. warehouses, appraises their value and finds a buyer, he said.
Clients in Florida include electronics retailers, lumber yards, manufacturers and grocery chains, all of which Stoner declined to name.
Beall's asked only that its reconditioned clothes be sold outside Florida. Szymanski said Stoner paid roughly 12 cents on the retail dollar for the goods.
Whether Beall's gets the money is a store-by-store question. At locations where total damage exceeds the chain's six-figure insurance deductible per store, Lexington Insurance Co. will keep Stoner's money and pay Beall's a settlement. At stores where the deductible is not met - Seminole Mall may be a close call - Beall's will pocket the funds.
"I'm proud of the work we do," Stoner said, "but I'm very sensitive to the fact that we earn our living from other people's misfortune."