We started a recycling business that caters to the community and are looking for advertising advice?

Question

My partner and I are looking how to go about getting exposure and being able to get noticed in the community. We are trying to Recycle used appliances and other items that people would otherwise throw away as far as we know it has not been tried as a legitimate business. It is generally a picking up trash from the curb. We would rather see the public call us for free pick up. The public has been somewhat receptive to us although not real warm on the idea considering most people that are doing this are looked at as garbage picking bums. I along with my partner want to try to change this image and become a profitable part of the economy and in time be able to hire help we need exposure any advice would be helpfull Don from You Call We Haul Midland Michigan

Answer 1

Why not offer the reason or a reason for the service. Such as "we save you time and money by picking it up for you. " "Don't waste time trying to wheel and deal with the local trash service to pick up those large items, we can help. " (here it costs at least $20 for large item pickup...per item!) "let us help in our part with keeping a clean and healthy environment" (people are big on keeping the planet clean, get some statistics on how long it takes to decompose for items you pick up on a regular basis).


If you go to your local chamber of commerce (if you have one) they can usually do direct mailing flyers. If you have a drop off recycle center in town, maybe print some flyers and post them on their boxes. A big time for the newspaper ads would be during tax season and warmer weather days when you see garage sales etc. Call the local cable company and see how much they would charge for a commercial and what would be required (i.e. if you do it would it be cheaper or how much if they helped or did it). Radio is one of the worst ways to do it because it only appeals one of their senses. Free boards at supermarkets are a good way as well. Be sure to use the yellow pages (problem is the ad can only be changed once a year). Try to get hooked up onto internet yellowpages as well. Maybe create a website (cheap and brief) and find a way to have it be googled. Billboards in the area might be another cost effective way of getting your name out there... sometimes, depending on the area, it'll only cost about 100 a month to have one. Try to sponsor a local area function such as a baseball team or a football team. Anyway you can assist with any public function is always a good publicity scheme. Call the local news station and ask if they'd like to do a story on recycling and how you're helping, some more good publicity. Another form of good publicity can be donating the things fixed to goodwill or something.

Answer 2

First i would get magnet with you company name, number and the fact that you pick up non working appliances. Also you could take out an add in the local paper and any trade papers. There is lots of money to be made in the recycling business its a Miltie billion dollar industry. I buy junk cars and either repair them and resale them if they can not be repaired i part them out sell the engine, glass, tiers, and then strip the copper wire. What can not be parted out is sold to the recycling center

Answer 3

I don't know how large of an area you are working, but you could possibly advertise in the stores that sell new appliances, so when people buy a new appliance, they know who to call to get rid of the old one. Make sure you are in the yellow pages too, and if possible, put an ad on television. Try advertising at hardware stores and the like also. Good luck with your business.

Answer 4

An ad in the news paper always works. Here we have what we call a 'merchandizer'. Everyone reads it. If you have one up there, it would probably pay to do that. Or you could make flyers and stick them in people's doors or car windows, ect. Or both! :]