“My grandma would say, ‘That’s free cash. Nobody is getting these cans,’” Reed stated. “So I’d go get them and switch them in to make some cash. That was my first enterprise thought and it’s actually when my ardour for recycling started.”
A long time later, the native businessman continues to do his half to be environmentally pleasant whereas watching his companies increase. Reed’s first official enterprise thought happened greater than 20 years in the past following his commencement from UWF with a enterprise advertising and marketing diploma. He had begun promoting pc elements on eBay and located the excessive price of bins was reducing into his income. That’s when his curiosity and enterprising nature kicked in.
“I assumed ‘it might be nice if somebody had a service for this and offered bins for cheaper and delivered them on to properties,’” stated Reed.
Within the absence of such a enterprise, Reed created considered one of his personal. He began Containers on Wheels, the place he shipped new cardboard bins to individuals who ordered them on-line or picked them up at his warehouse in Tampa. 4 years later when the enterprise was simply breaking even, he prayed for inspiration and steerage. The very subsequent day, Reed stated his prayers had been answered and he started to suppose exterior the field.
“I did a Google search about used bins and I couldn’t discover anybody that was promoting them,” Reed stated. “I assumed ‘I wouldn’t thoughts paying for used bins.’ That piqued my curiosity.”
Reed started contacting shifting firms to inquire about buying their used bins. He ultimately linked with a field producer and several other shops that had scrap bins that had been simply sitting there and gathering mud. He initially recruited 108 shops to purchase their used bins. Now he does enterprise with a pair thousand shops and has a contract with ACE {Hardware}.
Reed’s success multiplied when one other pastime of his was a enterprise thought.
“I began shopping for junk, high quality used and reconditioned automotive batteries and started the journey of determining learn how to repurpose them,” Reed stated.
Reed discovered a global AI expertise firm and collectively they developed a machine that might repurpose used batteries. After the expertise was perfected, the batteries had been higher than new. In 2016, Reed launched his battery enterprise, Battery Guyz, on Fairfield Drive in Pensacola which provides a inexperienced various to buying new batteries by promoting a wide range of reconditioned ones. The “z” in Battery Guyz stands for Technology Z. Reed’s enterprise is the primary battery franchise system to zoom to the Web to promote batteries to zip codes across the U.S. inside 1-2 days.
It’s not solely locals who know in regards to the wonderful work of Battery Guyz. Reed’s enterprise captured the eyes of the nation in 2021 when he appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” With the assistance of the Florida Small Enterprise Improvement Middle at UWF, he ready a complete funding pitch for the sharks. Regardless of not reaching a deal, Reed stated the recommendation he acquired from the SBDC at UWF was invaluable. They not solely helped him good his pitch, additionally they assisted within the improvement of a advertising and marketing plan and pricing assist which has benefitted all of his companies.
Reed stated he took the recommendation of the sharks who liked his enterprise thought however suggested him to work out some operational elements, develop its e-commerce presence and pursue franchising choices. “I took their recommendation and have seen my enterprise take off,” Reed stated.
Reed took his firm nationwide and partnered with Walmart and Amazon to promote his system that reconditions batteries. Earlier this month, his product turned the primary to be offered on newegg.com.
“It was laborious to consider, however you may purchase all used gadgets in auto elements shops however used automotive batteries,” Reed stated. “In order that turned my area of interest. By no means hand over on the journey of turning into not common. It’s timeless! Look within the market and create your individual lane.”
To be taught extra in regards to the Florida SBDC at UWF, go to sbdc.uwf.edu.