Following up on what CASUDI wrote yesterday about the “Take It or Leave It” section in her local recycling facility, that’s a pretty darn good business idea, too.
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| Hey, if people will bid on stuff for silent auctions, maybe they would buy it from a recycling business. |
Imagine all those garage sale leftovers, estate items that are still good but not antiques, decorations people are tired off but not worn out, and building supplies that just weren’t needed. Where are they all going? The trash.
So that’s a small town business idea: accept all those items that don’t have a home any more, sort and display them, and re-sell the good stuff.
Community bonus: I’m betting you’ll have more than enough items to also give some away to those in need, maybe working with local ministers.
In a small town, you could possibly even make part of it an “honor system” retail, like the “Take it or leave it” section CASUDI mentioned.
Will you retire rich? Probably not. Could you make a decent side income? Quite possibly.
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Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
The Southeastern Indiana Recycling District (SEIRD) offers what we feel is the “ultimate” in recycling.
We operate staff six reuse centers in six Indiana counties. Residents of our seven-county district can drop off gently used items in good condition (no undergarments, bedding or upholstered items) during our regular business hours. While there, people can pick up four items, five books, and unlimited amounts of clothing for free. Restrictions apply, such as no reselling of items permitted and only one 20-minute shopping visit per person, per week.
Why is this the “ultimate” in recycling? Because people aren’t buying items off of store shelves that will have to be replaced. Finding new owners for merchandise saves energy, money, natural resources and cuts down on pollution.
SEIRD services Franklin, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, Scott and Switzerland Counties in Indiana. (To avoid competition with Goodwill, United Way, and Habitat for Humanity, SEIRD does not have a reuse center in Jefferson Co.)
To learn more about SEIRD’s Recycling and Reuse Centers, Household Hazardous and Pharmaceudical Waste disposal opportunities, and education opportunities, log on to http://www.seird.org.
We’re Your Partner in Protecting the Earth!
Kendal, it’s great to hear that some rural places are already using this idea successfully! Thanks!