Good Spirits are quarterly interviews with business leaders. During Good Spirits, we bring you a distilled look at business owners who are working to make a better future by giving back to their community through their work or philanthropy. These leaders inspire and empower us to make a positive difference in our own backyards.
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Transcript
Carolyn Keller: Hi, this is Carolyn! Welcome to our 7th episode of Good Spirits, where we spotlight businesses making a positive impact in their communities. This time, we're thrilled to share insights from Dana Jones, the owner of Junkluggers of Pittsburgh, the first franchise business model we have interviewed on Good Spirits.
Dana Jones: Thanks for having me!
The Journey to Junkluggers
Dana and his family moved from Texas to Pittsburgh three years ago. They decided to transition from their well-established careers to entrepreneurship. Fueled by a passion for community and environment, they found their calling with The Junkluggers.
Dana: When we moved up here we decided that we wanted to own our own business that met several goals that we felt were important. I'm also a Presbyterian pastor and had done a lot of mission outreach work in Texas, working a lot with the homeless and refugee communities.
"We wanted to own a business that met several goals that we just felt were important."
One of the things that we were passionate about was giving back in the local communities. I had a friend that knew the owner of The Junkluggers, and he told me that if I thought about owning my own business, that we should reach out. At the time, I kind of laughed at it because I didn't know anything about the junk removal businesses, but the more I learned about the company, the more intrigued and the more excited I became about their mission to do meaningful things in the community.
Their mission was clear: contribute positively to the local community while addressing environmental concerns.
What Junkluggers Is All About
The Junkluggers isn't just about removing unwanted items—it's about doing it responsibly. The business focuses on:
Landfill Diversion: Breaking from traditional junk removal methods to focus on repurposing and recycling.
Community Contributions: Partnering with nonprofits to ensure items find new homes.
Employment Opportunities: Providing careers for those without college degrees.
Dana: The entire mission of the company is landfill diversion. So were a bit of an industry disruptor. Historically, junk removal companies go pick up items from homes and businesses and although many time items are in perfectly good shape, they just goes to a transfer station or landfill. The Junkluggers was born out of a hope that those items could be repurposed to help people in the community that might need those items. So the whole idea was, a lot of people are getting rid of things they don't need, and a lot of people need things that other people are getting rid of. So let's try to build a bridge between the two.
The notion of landfill diversion captured Dana's attention. Instead of discarded items heading straight to landfills, The Junkluggers aims to repurpose them for community benefit.
"We loved the idea of the way Junkluggers focuses on the environment. The entire mission of the company is landfill diversion."
How It Works
Each job is managed with a strategic approach:
Collection: Items are gathered from homes or businesses.
Sorting: Determine if items are trash, recyclable, or donatable.
Distribution: Deliver items to nonprofits and aid organizations.
Through this system, they strive to improve landfill diversion rates on every job. Additionally, The Junkluggers is constantly working to improve recycling efforts, dismantling electronics and exploring new ways to minimize waste.
Dana candidly attributes the neglect of landfill diversion to cost efficiency. Sorting and redistributing requires more time and resources, yet The Junkluggers remains committed to their mission, regardless of expense.
"We stay true to our mission and do the harder work."
Landfill diversion is the mission of the entire organization. The Junkluggers has nearly 100 franchises nationwide and is growing rapidly because people are excited. The homeowners and businesses we talk to every day tell us "We picked you because this stuff's perfectly good. We don't want it to get trash. We want to make sure that it gets passed on to someone that can use it."
Remix Market: A Thrift Store with a Twist
In search of better landfill diversion methods, The Junkluggers of Pittsburgh started the Remix Market. This semi-thrift store helps ensure more items avoid landfills while funds from sales support nonprofits.
Dana: Remix Market is a part of our model. A lot of times the donation centers either don't want particular things we have, or they don't have room for them. So, we take it back to sell at Remix Market and a portion of the proceeds benefit nonprofits. It just keeps that loop going and. And again, helps us to achieve moving that needle even further on landfill diversion.
Building a Network of Relationships
Flexibility within the franchise model allows The Junkluggers of Pittsburgh to address local needs effectively. They implement creative solutions for landfill diversion, contributing significantly to community welfare. Upon launching in Pittsburgh, Junkluggers formulated strong ties with local nonprofits like: The Blessing Board, Brothers Brother Foundation, and Global Links. Each partnership allows The Junkluggers to redistribute items to those in need, providing essential goods to both local and global communities.
Forging relationships with community partners hinges on mutual respect and understanding their missions. The Junkluggers ensures they only provide nonprofits with truly useful items, reinforcing trust and collaboration.
The business serves both residential and commercial needs. From homeowners downsizing to large-scale office clear-outs, The Junkluggers serves a diverse customer base. They partner with realtors, property managers, and other professionals to address unique needs.
Meaningful Work: Beyond the Junk
The impact The Junkluggers makes extends beyond business transactions. Dana likens his work to his pastoral care experiences, getting involved in pivotal life moments such as helping a young couple furnish their new home or assisting families dealing with bereavement.
"I tell my team all the time just treat every single customer like it's your family, like you're a part of the situation they're going through. Be respectful of their space. Be respectful of their things. And just remember, that may just be a mirror to you"
The Junkluggers also brings value by offering employment opportunities to those facing barriers. When working at The Junkluggers, employees received comprehensive training and career paths and a supportive environment to instill a sense of purpose.
The true measure of The Junkluggers' impact is seen through their community partners. While they track donation receipts and job volumes, the full impact resonates in the trust and appreciation from those they serve.
The Junkluggers also hosts hard-to-recycle events and collaborates with local businesses to facilitate recycling drives. They leverage their resources for broader community benefit, such as aiding in massive collection drives for nonprofits. For Dana, running a business that actively improves the community aligns with personal and professional values:
"Every corporation ought to be part of making the community they're doing business in a better place to live."
Dana's advice for those looking to make a social impact with their business?
Identify Core Values: Understand what matters to you.
Align with Passion: Choose business ventures that resonate with your values.
Dana: Think about what God has put on your heart, in terms of making the world a better place or your community a better place and then go from there. Whatever you're passionate about, you'll thrive more in a situation where you're excited about the mission of the organization.
Never in a million years would have thought that I would own a company that's called The Junkluggers. I honestly didn't even know what junk removal meant when my friend suggested I should reach out to the company. But then the more I learned, the more excited I became. Find a way to make your business jive with your passion and then it's pretty fun!
For anyone interested in learning more about Junkluggers of Pittsburgh or visiting the Remix Market, please reach out to Dana Jones at dana.jones@junkluggers.com or visit our website at Pittsburgh Junk Removal & Hauling Services | The Junkluggers™
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