The Covid-19 pandemic hit close to home for me. When the world was on the cusp of a full-blown pandemic, I found myself isolated at home with nothing to do. It was at that point that I decided to divert my attention to the one thing the world needs: garbage. I started an online business selling trash on Craigslist, and with the help of my wife, our 3-year-old daughter, and some close friends, we were able to pull it off.
I was initially inspired to start an online business selling trash after reading about a similar effort during the pandemic in Germany. In that country, some groups of citizens banded together to make a living during the pandemic by solving waste management issues.
As in Germany, the trash-selling business in Poland was a collaborative effort. Large groups of people bought and sold second hand items on Craigslist, turning the ‘trash-picking’ activity into a profitable venture. In fact, Poland is reportedly Africa’s greatest supplier of recycled goods. However, unlike Poland, the German and Polish businesses operated independently of one another, which caused conflicts as the business owners tried to protect their interests. This, in turn, hindered the effort to solve the country’s waste management issues. Thankfully, things are very different in America. Here, businesses of all kinds, large and small, banded together to help their communities cope with the pandemic. The only “rule” was that the companies had to be owned and operated by people who live in the communities they serve. This was important because these companies will have a much greater impact in their communities than big box retailers, who often move their operations overseas, contributing to more waste and environmental damage. This is why I believe it’s important to get behind businesses owned and operated by marginalized communities because they have a special connection to the land and the people that live on it. Moreover, it is the duty of any good Christian to assist those in need during these times. Hence, why I started an online business selling trash during the pandemic. In the spirit of Christian charity, I will help those in need by sharing my strategies for making money online during these challenging times.
Find Your Sides
To start your own business selling trash, you will need a solid plan. One of my favorite authors, James O’Connor, and several other marketing experts say this about plans: “Many plans fail. Many plans succeed. Which plan you will succeed with depends on you. You have to find your sides, your special talents and abilities, and use them to fight for what you want.”
Like any business, your plans for a profitable trash business will have to be concrete and measurable. For the purposes of this article, I will describe my plan in detail, including the metrics I have established to measure its effectiveness.
Create a Profitable Vision
The first step is to create a profitable vision for your business. What do you see for yourself in year five; what does success look like? Consider what makes you different from other entrepreneurs and business owners who want to make money from selling trash. What do you offer that is unique?
It is a good idea to sit with a team of people and brainstorm on what makes your trash business special. What sets you apart from the competition? What makes your product or service unique?
You should aim to make at least three distinct advantages for your business. The more you can come up with, the better. This way, you can appeal to as many customers as possible and maximize your revenue.
It is also important to consider how you intend to sell your product. If you sell your product online, then your website is your marketing tool and your shop front. Consider what makes your site special and create a pitch to bring in the customers.
Determine The Competitors
Before you start making any money, you will need to consider who your customers are and who your competitors are. Who is buying your product and how are they buying it? This is especially important if you are selling online, as you will need to consider how to reach your audience.
You should study the industries and the individuals who purchase your product. Who are your main competitors and what are they selling? What is your product compared to theirs? Where do they come from and where will they be in the future? These are all important questions that will help you determine the best course of action, which, in turn, will determine how much you will need to charge. Moreover, you should consider who your competition is. Are you selling to the general public or to businesses? What are your pricing strategies? How do you intend to gain and keep customers?
The Business Model
After you have considered your customers and determined your competition, it’s time to figure out how you intend to sell your product. Many different models exist for running a successful business, so you will need to pick one that makes sense for your business. Consider what you know, what you have gathered from your research, and what you feel confident will make your product stand out. Develop a business model that fits your product and the way you want to operate.
I started my business as a sole trader, operating out of my home. For the first six months of my business, I operated on a purely self-funded basis. This is when I determined the viability of my business and worked out the pricing for my products. As I started to build up my inventory, I determined that operating as a sole trader was not sustainable, so I registered my business with the state and started paying business taxes. At this point, I also opened a business bank account and deposited a portion of my earnings into it. This is when I truly believed I could make money from my website. As we become a more digital world, more and more business owners are opting to go that extra mile to ensure sustainability by opening a business account.
To start your business selling trash, you need to consider whether you will sell in stores or online. If you are selling in stores, then you will need a brick-and-mortar location. If you are selling online, then you will need a website and a shopify account. Consider what is most convenient for you and your customers. If you are selling in stores, then you will need to drive there and pick up the merchandise yourself. If you are selling online, you can have the product delivered to your customer’s doors.
The Marketing Plan
Marketing is an important aspect of any business, whether you are selling in stores or online. As a business owner, you are responsible for generating awareness and interest in your product. To start your marketing efforts, you will want to establish a budget and consider the most effective ways to reach your audience.
If you are selling in stores, then you will need to attract potential customers to your store. How are you going to do this? You can start by simply posting signs in your community, getting involved in your local church, and becoming a familiar face in your neighbors’ yards.
Once you have established yourself as an authority in your community, it’s time to start marketing your product. Consider using social media to promote your business and engage with your audience. Moreover, you can take advantage of traditional marketing techniques, like newspaper ads and radio spots, to get the word out about your business.
If you are selling online, then you can use various marketing techniques, from SEO to PPC, to get the attention of potential customers. Determine the best way for your customers to find you and set up automated email follow-ups to engage with them and keep them coming back for more.
Online Marketing
If you are selling online, then the internet is your oyster when it comes to marketing. There are several different techniques you can use to market your product, depending on the platform and how much you want to spend. Consider all your options before you make a decision.
To attract customers, you can create content, whether it is an audio podcast, a video tutorial, or an educational blog post. Consider creating something that will make your product easy to relate to and will help your audience understand what your business is all about. Moreover, as an entrepreneur, you are ultimately in control of your own destiny. You get to decide what you want your business to stand for and how you want it to operate. It is never easy choosing to put your own needs last, but in this case, you must do so to ensure the sustainability of your business.