Today we’d like to introduce you to Kurt Shepherd.
Kurt, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started Junk Patrol Hauling and Waste Removal, LLC shortly after receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. I was enlisted for seven years which included the nuclear training pipeline and eventually was stationed on the U.S.S Florida out of Kings Bay Georgia. Once I was certain that I would not be re-enlisting again I started the search for a new career outside of the armed forces. I heard about a franchise opportunity for a junk removal company a couple of months before I was slated to discharge from the Navy and decided to look further into the industry. I found that not only was there a large need for junk removal in my home town and surrounding areas but that the entrance into the junk removal industry was substantially smaller than most other entrepreneurial enterprises. A few short months later, which was by and large a whirlwind of administrative requirements being met along with finding ways to finance the new venture, our company was freshly minted with the county of Gwinnett. Since then we have been providing Gwinnett County with the best value for full service junk removal needs.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road to small business ownership has been fairly smooth but also quite winding with a lot of forks in the road. Even a small business with a fairly simple model still has quite a few intricate details that must be set up so that the logistics of the business can be met while maintaining the core operations of the company itself. From making sure that I had the appropriate licensing certifications to be able to be a professional junk removal expert to ensuring that I have proper insurance in case there are any major incidences there have been and still are struggles that I face day to day. The other major struggle that we are still working to tame is the constant need for marketing versus the shoestring budget that we have allocated for spreading the word about who we are and what we do.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Junk Patrol Hauling and Waste Removal story. Tell us more about the business.
Junk Patrol Hauling and Waste Removal, LLC is a full service junk removal company that also offers 18 cubic yard custom dumpsters that can be rented for projects that require a little more time. From our uniforms to our prompt arrival times we have kept the virtues of the United States Navy that sets it apart from the rest of the world which in turn ensures that we are also a class above the rest. Part of our mission is to give back to the community since they have done so much for us. We are currently looking into sponsoring a project in 2018 with the Gwinnett branch of Habitat for Humanity. As we continue to grow we look forward to finding new and exciting ways to continue spreading the good will.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think the junk removal industry is an ever growing industry that is constantly searching for ways to re-purpose things in a more environmentally friendly way. As the economy keeps heating up so too will the need for basements, garages, sheds, and attics to be cleared out to make way for new and better things.
Contact Info:
- Address:1600 briergate dr.
- Website:www.junkpatrolusa.com
- Phone:(770) 904-9913
- Email:info@junkpatrolusa.com
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/JunkPatrolWasteRemoval/
- Yelp:https://www.yelp.com/biz/junk-patrol-duluth?osq=junk+patrol
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Ramona Kucera
April 11, 2019 at 7:28 pm
Hey Kurt! I met u once before. Are u still in business?