(Courtesy of Sabavi Home) Hank Reinhart walks to work. It isn’t quite as impressive as it sounds though. He isn’t hiking over the GW Bridge or all the way down Route 17. He takes a pleasant stroll from his home in Teaneck just across the beautiful pedestrian bridge that connects FDU’s Teaneck and Hackensack campuses. Once across it’s a mere few steps before he arrives at the office in which he molded his latest venture — Sabavi® Home.
Reinhart has been a Teaneck resident and member of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun for the last 20-plus years and has been in corporate retail from the outset of his career. His impressive resume includes stops at Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s but culminates with his long tenure at Bed Bath & Beyond.
In 2020, Bed Bath & Beyond hired a new CEO to reverse the downtrend of the business and Reinhart was let go as part of a massive headcount reduction. As a proud father of five, early retirement was not an option. Opportunities at Reinhart’s level in corporate retail were scarce. So, what was his next move?
Reinhart has always implored his children and any young people seeking advice, to follow their passion and now it was his time to walk the walk. He embarked on launching a brand-new company. With years of exposure to every side of the business, from buying to marketing to customer service, operations, and even IT systems, he was always confident in his abilities and this endeavor.
Still, like any new venture, it hasn’t been easy. Sabavi® Home took some time to get started. Between getting vendors on board with selling to a new online-only business, implementing systems to seamlessly communicate with vendors, and learning how immense the role of social media is in present day marketing, the buildup has been a rollercoaster ride. This is not unlike any venture worthwhile in life. In Reinhart’s words, “It has many challenges, but each challenge is just another step towards success.”
Reinhart leveraged his robust background in the industry to gain the trust and respect of some of the world’s most impressive and innovative vendors. Today, Sabavi® Home has a beautiful state- of-the-art website that offers a curated selection of some of the finest quality home items from all over the world.
As an experienced and informed buyer, Reinhart wants to share his expertise by having Sabavi® Home help its customers make intentional and thoughtful purchasing decisions. This is what sets Sabavi® Home apart from a place like Amazon.com, for example. Amazon will flood the consumer with hundreds of options, even if they are searching for something they thought was specific. At Sabavi® Home, Reinhart has already assessed the makeup of the product for you, and the mere fact that it is listed on the website is a testament to its standard.
Every item on the site is sold at the lowest price allowed by the manufacturer. Sabavi® Home takes price out of the equation so that a customer’s purchase decision is based on other important considerations such as quality, assortment, trust and customer service.
The business is growing and Reinhart understands the need to constantly evolve. For example, in response to receiving orders from interior designers and decorators, Sabavi® Home implemented a dedicated discount program tailored specifically for them. The site is a great source for gifts and Reinhart plans to offer wedding registries and create an online community in which customers can share fun items, recipes and household tips with others.
Sabavi® Home is named for a true patriarch and role model from our community, “Saba Avi” of blessed memory. He had a deep appreciation of family and family values and the importance of spending quality time together. Sabavi® Home offers items that help make a house feel like a home, a place where family and friends can come together for any reason. To this end, Reinhart is equally proud of Sabavi® Home’s small-town values and its global assortment.
To those people who also want to venture out on their own and start a business from scratch, Reinhart has some words of advice and encouragement:
“Embrace the learning curve … be prepared to make mistakes and view them as valuable lessons for growth. Stay focused on your vision and remember why you started in the first place. Be comfortable to admit when you don’t know the answer and seek out those who can help. I always try to think like a customer but act like an owner.
“With all of this said, it is just as important to make sure you take care of yourself. Starting a business is a monumental challenge that can be all-consuming. Engage in activities to recharge your battery and do your best to maintain as much of a work-life balance as you can.
“After all, we should all be working to live and not the other way around.”
