Recently we’ve had the opportunity to talk with Al Lijee, founder of the newly-launched US junk removal platform JunkGator. What’s JunkGator all about, where did Al get his ideas from, and what sorts of problems does JunkGator look to solve?
Read our interview below to learn more about his business and how it works.
Let’s start out with the basics: what is JunkGator and how does it work?
JunkGator is a US-based network connecting Americans in need of junk removal services with nearby junk haulers.
The business is based on a strong foundation, that being the successful launch of a similar website in the UK, Rubbish.com, which works the same way.
That’s the long and skinny of it, but our approach is a little different than many of the big national junk removal companies. We don’t operate a franchise model nor are any of the junk haulers employed by us; instead, think of JunkGator like an Uber or an Airbnb but with junk removal instead of ridesharing or accommodations.
All of the junk haulers listed on our platform run their business as usual in the best way they see fit, so long as they are committed to upholding excellent quality and reliability in order to remain listed on JunkGator.
What kinds of services do these junk haulers provide to customers, since they all operate their own businesses individually?
Good question. Generally, most of the junk haulers on JunkGator provide everyday trash and garbage removal, bulky item removal, things like that. They tend to have a lot in common in the services they provide, but some specialize in specific services like full office cleanouts or demolitions waste removal whereas some others might not provide these services.
The fact that most of the junk haulers are run by sole proprietors and are small businesses trying to compete in local markets means that, quite often, they’re far more flexible and willing to provide reliable, affordable, and high-quality services often on the same day.
Moreover, they tend to be far more knowledgeable of the communities where they cover and might be more willing to negotiate prices and services with their clients in order to remain competitive.
What sets your business model apart from the competition?
Greater choice for customers, greater competition in the market of junk removal in the United States. More specifically, I’ve found that in the US there are two main ways that people start junk hauling businesses: franchising and operating as a contractor for a corporate brand or going solo and starting their own business.
Since franchising can cost an arm and a leg (over $100,000), most solo entrepreneurs end up going their own way. Aside from a handful of major US-based corporations, how many junk hauling businesses come to mind? There are over 31,000 private businesses in the US in this industry, with many struggling to compete for leads with the big names.
Our business model is different from most of the other competitors in that we don’t own or manage a junk removal company ourselves – we simply provide them with a source of quality leads and greater visibility. Sort of like how Uber doesn’t own vehicles and Airbnb doesn’t own property, we don’t own or operate any junk hauling vehicles or manage any junk hauling teams.
What benefits do you provide to these junk hauling businesses?
I suppose to put it simply, our platform helps round out one common weakness that many small junk removal companies tend to have – little to no online presence.
People that want to get into junk hauling without a contracting or franchising with a bigger, more well-known junk removal company have to put in the marketing work themselves. A lot of these junk haulers leave flyers at community centers, barber shops, laundromats and so on, but these days if you aren’t on Google (even in your own local community) you basically don’t exist when people search for “junk removal near me.”
So to cut to the chase, we leverage our digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) to provide small junk hauling businesses with online visibility and quality leads from interested local customers while they can spend more time focusing on what they do best – junk hauling!
What sorts of problems in the market does JunkGator try to solve?
To use the analogy of Uber and Airbnb again, it mostly comes down to the ‘democratization’ of the junk removal market in the US. Whereas Uber and Airbnb have largely democratized ridesharing and accommodations, JunkGator helps small junk hauling companies get more business and more traction to compete with each other and with the big national companies.
It’s come at the right time, too. Junk removal is in massive demand right now and for the foreseeable future, so more competition is healthier for the market, better for prices, reliability, and quality of services.
What’s the direction you want to take JunkGator, if I may ask?
We want to become America’s preferred choice for same-day junk removal, house cleanouts, office cleanouts and more from local, reputable junk haulers in the United States. In order to achieve this, we are committed to ensuring that our listed partners are equally committed to providing excellent customer service, quality, and reliability.