1-800-GOT-JUNK?

All you want to know about 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

1-800-GOT-JUNK?
Type Private Company
Founded In 1989 in Vancouver, British Columbia
Headquarters Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Key people Brian Scudamore, CEO
Launi Skinner, President & COO
Industry Junk Removal
Products Junk Removal Services
Revenue ▲ $125.7 Million CDN (2007)
Employees 2600+
Website www.1800gotjunk.com

1-800-GOT-JUNK? is a full-service junk removal company with over 300 franchises in Canada, the United States and Australia.

Contents

Company History

1-800-GOT-JUNK? was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1989 by founder and current CEO Brian Scudamore[1] after seeing a junk hauling truck in front of him at a McDonald's Drive-thru.[2]

Scudamore purchased a used pickup truck for $700 and came up with the name The Rubbish Boys and the slogan "We'll stash your trash in a flash." [3]

As the business grew, Scudamore began to hire other students to handle the workload. In an attempt to boost sales, his crew would "junk patrol" alleys looking for junk that the city wouldn't take away. [4]

In 1993, a year and a half short of graduation, Scudamore quit university to concentrate on his business full time, formally incorporating the company as The Rubbish Boys Disposal Service Inc.[5]

Scudamore changed the company name in 1998 to 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and began franchising in 1999, opening locations in Toronto, Ontario and Portland, Oregon.

The company has since grown to more than 300 locations throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.

In the spring of 2005, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? expanded into Australia with the opening of a corporately owned franchise in Sydney.[6]

As of October 2008, there are 2 new franchises in New South Wales and 2 more in Queensland, Australia.[7]

In June 2008, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? named Launi Skinner, former president of Starbucks U.S., president and chief operating officer.

Skinner will be heading up the operations of the business and will be focusing on international expansion in the near future.[8]

Franchising

A 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchise costs a minimum of $90,000.

This investment includes initial territory fees, down payment for two branded trucks and operating capital for the first year in business.[9]

VetFran

1-800-GOT-JUNK? is a participating company in the VetFran program, which offers assistance for military veterans who want to start their own business.[10]

GSA

In 2006, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? became the first junk removal company[11] to be awarded a contract with the United States General Services Administration (GSA) [12].

A variety of branches of the federal government[13] use the removal and recycling services offered under that contract.

State and local governments are also eligible to purchase under the terms of the GSA contract to facilitate recovery from major disasters such as hurricanes and extreme weather[14]


Environmental Initiatives

Recycling

1-800-GOT-JUNK? claims that it recycles as much as possible by using existing recycling centres and donating to charities and non-profit organizations.[15]

Some franchises are able to recycle as much as 95%.[16]

Bio Diesel

Beginning in 2007, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? was named the official "Bio Diesel Test Fleet for Isuzu Commercial Truck of America."[17]

There are 9 trucks participating throughout the United States. Starting at a B5 level (5% Bio Diesel/95% Diesel), the pilot test will move the trucks incrementally up to a B100 level (100% Bio Diesel).

Currently the test fleet is undergoing inspections and is expected to move to a B20 level in November 2008.[18]

Technology

Online Booking

In 2003, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? launched its online booking system. With this system a customer can book online, choose a time slot and access the pricing guide. That information is dispatched through their intranet to the haulers who pick up the information via Web-enabled cell phones.[19]

Digital Dispatch eFleet

Early in 2007, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? trucks were equipped with the Digital Dispatch eFleetTM system.

The eFleetTM system enables fleets to be managed through the remote monitoring of vehicle movements; two-way text messaging between fleet managers and drivers; integrated GPS navigation that automatically guides drivers to their dispatched jobs; and in-vehicle credit card payment processing with receipt printing.[20]

Media

In 2003, Scudamore was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.[21]

Most recently, he has appeared on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch.[22]

Starbucks Cup

In February 2006, Scudamore was quoted on Starbucks cups across North America.

The quote read:

"It's difficult for people to get rid of junk. They get attached to things and let them define who they are. If there's one thing I've learned in this business, it's that you are what you can't let go of."[23]

Advertising

The staff of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? sometimes advertise on telephone poles, mailboxes, doors or in other publicly visible places for the purposes of free advertising.[24] Their large trucks have also parked as advertising in prominent locations without property-owner permission. Signs are placed on major boulevards in violation of City By-Laws. [25]

References

Coordinates: 34°12′32.87″N 119°01′54.74″W / 34.2091306, -119.0318722

  1. ^ Allen, Scott. "Entrepreneur Success Story: Brian Scudamore of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?". Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  2. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2005-06-13-got-junk_x.htm
  3. ^ http://www.mutualofamerica.com/articles/Fortune/October03/fortune.asp Cash From Trash
  4. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/01/business/smallbusiness/01junk.html?pagewanted=print
  5. ^ http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/mfbs-gprea.nsf/en/lu00060e.html
  6. ^ http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/mfbs-gprea.nsf/en/lu00060e.html
  7. ^ http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19837318-5000920,00.html
  8. ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/retailreport/2008017479_retailreportdige26starbucks.html
  9. ^ http://www.businessmart.com/franchise/1-800-got-junk/
  10. ^ http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2008/january/187680.html
  11. ^ http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,8121.shtml
  12. ^ http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home.do?tabId=0
  13. ^ http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?programId=10016&channelId=-13463&ooid=8126&contentId=8128&pageTypeId=8199&contentType=GSA_BASIC&programPage=%252Fep%252Fprogram%252FgsaBasic.jsp&P=FCOC
  14. ^ http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=22410&faq=yes&noc=T
  15. ^ http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2001/November/45262-2.html
  16. ^ http://www.independent.com/news/2008/feb/07/1-800-got-junk/
  17. ^ http://www.fuelpub.com/web/online/Industry-News/1-800-GOT-JUNK-And-Isuzu-Truck-Launch-Biodiesel-Test-Program/1$156 (retrieved December 27, 2007)
  18. ^ http://wastenews.texterity.com/wastenews/20070723/?pg=14
  19. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4184/is_20031107/ai_n10046314
  20. ^ http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Digital-Dispatch-Systems-Inc-TSX-DD-814555.html
  21. ^ http://www.forbes.com/salesandmarketing/2005/09/06/marketing-advertising-entrepreneurs-cx_bn_0906marketing.html
  22. ^ http://www.cnbc.com/id/26760775/
  23. ^ http://www.franchisewire.com/article.php?id=508&ILG_franchisewire_usersession=a4564c312e15312d779d6940bafd52e9
  24. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/1-800-got-junk-llc
  25. ^ http://archive.seacoastonline.com/news/01112007/nhnews-ph-p-rogue.signs.html
v • d • e
Topics related to waste management
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