Trash = Treasure? This Business Proves It | Upflip Video
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From a marketing firm to managing mountains of garbage, Fred Tomlin and Sherrod Hunter discovered an overlooked opportunity in the waste management industry. What started as a simple observation about valet trash services in a luxury apartment complex has grown into an innovative waste management brand serving more than 20,000 doorsteps nationwide.
The journey wasn’t straightforward. Their initial valet trash service struggled to gain traction, but adding junk removal services catapulted their business to new heights. Today, they’re reshaping the industry with their Junk Shot app – the only junk removal service that lets customers snap a photo of their waste for an instant quote.
Their franchise network now includes 22 locations, with the longest-running franchisee reaching $1M in annual revenue after four years. Fred, an Army veteran turned corporate escapee, and Sherrod, whose entrepreneurial path began at age nine cleaning a lemonade stand’s parking lot, have built a franchise system designed to help others pursue independence from the corporate world.
In this episode, discover how these former marketing professionals spotted opportunity in an overlooked industry, how they leveraged technology to improve the garbage removal experience, and why their franchise partners are thriving in both valet trash and junk removal services.
Resources:
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Start
00:31 - Guys from the Yellow Pages
01:04 - Taking the leap of faith… finally!
02:05 - Scary first days
03:17 - First biz model? Total FLOP
04:03 - Want different? Do different.
04:48 - Meet CAREY
05:23 - Mutual mystification
06:29 - Quitting? Not in this story
07:21 - Right in the belly of the beast
08:06 - Franchisee profit projection
09:06 - Trash duty… in a Cadillac?!
11:45 - Cold pitch like a pro
12:56 - What it takes to make serious money
13:27 - Fan blitz
14:51 - “Bigger trucks, better pricing”
16:03 - Job revenue breakdown
16:38 - Get out there and start TODAY
17:01 - Let’s talk numbers
17:53 - The winning edge
19:40 - Check out the Junk Shot App!
20:25 - Additional services offered
21:13 - What efficient really looks like
21:33 - All it takes is one B2B client
22:02 - $500 marketing budget? Let’s go!
23:13 - Turning complaints into loyalty
23:44 - Best and worst months
24:12 - A 9–5 “friendly” hustle?
25:01 - Costly mistake
26:09 - A double win-win
26:54 - Other people’s junk = $$$$
27:30 - The perfect duo
29:24 - Welcome to “the” classroom
29:41 - Trash-parency
30:38 - Secret sauce to 60% margins
31:13 - Close rates & average tickets
31:58 - The customer is NOT always right
32:33 - Pivoting for the better
33:43 - Build on solid foundations
34:13 - Recurring revenue
35:46 - From feedback to opportunity
36:43 - Biggest contract ever landed
37:15 - The only patented junk app in the USA
38:20 - Think your start. Think your finish.
39:32 - Outro
#trash #waste #garbage
