Get Your Life in Order on Labor Day Weekend

Published on August 31, 2010 in junk removal, labor day and organization tips. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

What is Labor Day all about anyways? Depending on who you are, you might think about this holiday with a distinct perspective.  If you’re in school, you probably see labor day as the end of your coveted summer vacation.  Many people see Labor Day as the unofficial end of the summer season; a time when the leaves are gearing up to change color and the air starts to lose some of its humidity.

Labor day actually began way back in 1882 as a way for the US government to appease trade and labor organizations.  Festivals were held in the streets and people celebrated, just like they do today.   Although labor day is a time of celebration, it also is the last weekend many people have to get ready for a long year ahead.  Besides kicking back and relaxing a bit, here are a few things you can do on labor day weekend to get your life in order for the year.

Donate Your Old Clothes: You might have stocked up on new bathing suits, shorts, and tank tops for the summer months, which doesn’t leave much extra space in your closet.  Grab a big black trash bag and take some time to sort through your clothes, picking out the items that you no longer need.  Be liberal in your selection: most of the articles of clothing that you ‘think you may wear at some point’ you will most likely never wear again.  There are a number of places you can donate old clothes, including the Salvation Army.

Get Rid of Useless Junk:  During the summer you probably were traveling quite a bit, which left you with little time to organize your home.  Labor Day Weekend is a great time to sort and get rid of all of that useless clutter around the house.  You know the stuff I’m talking about.   The toy bins of your now college-aged kids, building materials from the summer’s porch project, the speaker system with frayed wires hanging out the back…  Some items can be fairly large and hefty, making them difficult (and dangerous) to haul away on your own.  For these large pieces, be sure to give Junk King a call at 1-800-995-5865.

Get Your Appointments in Order:  When the summer finally winds down, the next several months can often be a dizzying array of events, doctor’s appointments, weekend trips, work meetings and more.  Although most of us have some sort of calendar or appointment book to keep all of this in order, we usually still aren’t fully prepared for what is to come.  It would be worth it to have a look at your calendar and make sure you have everything on the horizon scheduled – in the end the process of doing this will probably reveal a few items you left off your list.

What’s in a Junk Removal Blog?

Published on August 27, 2010 in Junk Removal Franchise, hauling blog, junk franchise, junk removal blog and junk removal news. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Many people out there might ask themselves: “What in the world is a Junk Removal Blog?  What could possibly be so interesting in the business of junk removal that would require a blog all about it?”  Although those questions are often asked, there is actually quite a bit of interesting news in the junk hauling sector nowadays, particularly for the Junk King organization.

Junk King is rapidly expanding across the US, with new franchises in various locations like Tampa, Colorado Springs, Arizona and Massachusetts.  Many of our franchisees have unique and interesting stories: from why they first got into the junk removal business to some of the strangest items they’ve ever picked up.  Each of our franchisees also has their own local blog, Twitter account, and Facebook page where they can post updates and news about their territory.

I’d like to highlight a few recent posts from Junk King franchises across the country:

From the Junk King North San Diego Blog, an interview with franchise owner Bob Hoath:

Question: Is there one specific hauling job that stands out in your mind?

Bob:   Yes, we recently did a job for a gentleman in Escondido.  He had items in his garage ranging from small furniture to electronics such as computers and stereo equipment.  He even had a large pile of shrubs and tree trimmings he needed to get rid of.  He was so pleased that we were able to take everything at a good price and in a timely manner that he called back to just to thank us again.

Question: What’s one of the most interesting type of junk you’ve hauled so far?

Bob: We once came across a customer who was a big hunter. He had us hauling away all kinds of weird items that relate to hunting.  Needless to say, we came across a real fowl smelling freezer that he wanted us to dispose of.

Follow Junk King North San Diego on Twitter @sandiegojunk or on become a fan on their Facebook Page.

From the Junk King Memphis Blog, an interview with franchise owner Kyle Neeley:

Question: What’s one of the most interesting items you’ve hauled so far?

Kyle: A 1950’s optometrist tool stand, which weighed an excess of 300lbs.

Question: What’s the biggest single item you’ve hauled so far?

Kyle: A 20-foot wooden sign making table.

Question: What’s the easiest part of your job?

Kyle: To me it’s dealing with the people, my wife and I both are very comfortable meeting new people and adapting to their needs.

Follow Junk King Memphis on Twitter @memphisjunk or on become a fan on their Facebook Page.

Recycle…or face the penalty?

Published on August 24, 2010 in Recycle Furniture and Recycling. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Cleveland, Ohio is implementing a unique approach to ensure their citizens recycle on a regular basis.  Recycling bins in Cleveland will be outfitted with high-tech RFID Chips that let the city monitor if a bin is taken to the curbside on a regular basis.  If city officials see that the bin isn’t getting used regularly, they will allows trash collectors to check curbside garbage bins for properly sorted materials.  Incorrect sorting (finding materials that should have been recycled) will result in a $100 fine.

This new recycling system will be implemented for all Cleveland residents (480,000 people) within the next several years.  The system was previously tested with a pilot program of 15,000 households, starting in 2007.  Although the measure is already receiving some criticism due to concerns of privacy invasion, Cleveland’s administration is steadfast in its new program.

There was plenty of incentive to cover the program’s projected bill of $9 million.  From TriplePundit.com:  “For every ton of trash taken to the landfill, the city pays $30; on average, the city nets about $26 for each ton of recycled materials. “

Although punitive measures seem extreme – an increase in recycling ends up being better for everyone. The city, economy, citizens and environment all benefit from a boost in everyday recycling.   As more junk is recycled and reused, less junk ends up our country’s landfills.   In addition, more recycling means less of a need for the production of raw materials like paper.

Although ‘recycle monitors’ haven’t yet spread to cities across the country, it could end up that way as cities look for ways to save money and increase environmental awareness.   Let’s be realistic – people who don’t regularly recycle aren’t necessarily anti-environment,  but simply might not have the time or knowledge to get it done.  The sudden influx of eco-friendly marketing in the media could also be overwhelming to some people who are just trying to get by.

The best way to recycle is to take it one step at time: learn what types of materials can be recycled on an everyday basis.  There are several guides online that can help with the details of recycling.  Some larger items (furniture, appliances, construction waste) are harder to classify as recyclable (especially when broken up). These items also can’t simply be placed in the recycling bin and placed on the curb; they need to be hauled to the correct recycling facility.

For these large items, a reliable and eco-friendly Junk Removal company like Junk King can be useful by saving a homeowner a lot of time and trouble.  Junk King provides a professional and affordable hauling service that recycles up to 60% of all hauled materials.

The Future of Junk

Published on August 12, 2010 in Space Junk, junk hauling and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Over the past decade the Junk and Trash Hauling industry has evolved drastically. Junk removal services are becoming more efficient and eco-friendly.  It’s interesting to picture what the industry will look like in another ten, twenty or even hundred years. What does the future of Junk Removal hold?  Here are a few bold predictions:

  1. Space Junk Hauling: This one isn’t as far-fetched as it seems.  Space Junk has been dominating the science news headlines, as the debris from spacecraft and satellites is hurled at incredible speeds around Earth’s orbit.  Space Junk is very dangerous for any shuttles going into orbit or beyond, as even a small fragment of junk can puncture a craft’s hull.  There has been some talk of using powerful lasers to take care of this junk – however, what if a earthbound junk removal company was to make a foray into the great unknown? The private space sector is gaining steam, so it wouldn’t be completely crazy to imagine a junk removal company also providing a service in Earth’s orbit.  The same principles would apply – efficient, eco-friendly and cost effective junk removal services.
  2. Junk Removal Button: Remember that ‘easy’ button in the TV commercials?  Imagine if there was a junk removal button in your home or apartment, that you could press.  Within minutes, a professional team would be at your doorstep, ready to haul off any old furniture, broken down appliances, concrete, yard waste or whatever else.  It would be as easy as pressing a button, literally.
  3. Junk Expiration Date: One huge problem today is that people don’t really know when their junk should be thrown out.  People get attached to items, forget about pieces of furniture in dusty corners, or simply get lazy and never haul out their junk.  What if furniture and other pieces of equipment came with an expiration date?  It would be like a food item expiration date- letting you know when it was time to get rid of the item. In this case, the mechanism would alert the owner when the item was officially junk; broken, ugly, old or unused.

Although Junk King isn’t providing any of these futuristic services just yet, they are constantly improving their junk removal services for their customers.  Junk King is the leader in affordable, efficient and eco-friendly junk removal and would be glad to give you a free on site estimate.  Simply call 1-800-995 JUNK or book an appointment online.

Bay Area Junk Recycling

Published on August 11, 2010 in Bay Area Junk Removal, Junk King San Carlos, Recycle Furniture and Recycling. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

The San Francisco Bay Area is truly a beautiful part of the country.  Every year, millions of tourists visit the San Francisco Bay Area to check out historic sites like the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown and Golden Gate Park.  Not only does the Bay Area have man-made attractions but also a plethora of natural wonders. Curvy roads run up and down the coast, cutting through quaint beach towns and providing incredible views of the Pacific. To the North of San Francisco lies Marin County, which is home to Mount Tamalpais, a variety of old growth Redwood Forests and a pristine coastline.  To the South lies the Peninsula, which boasts even more natural wilderness contained in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

One thing that Bay Area residents are particularly known for is their resepect for the environment around them.  This tendency makes sense, considering the natural grandeur that surrounds most Bay Area communities.  Recycling is big in the Bay Area.  The standard citizen makes a point to recycle their waste on a regular basis.  In addition to respecting the environment, many Bay Area laws further a green agenda, pushing landlords, businesses, and people to sort their trash by composting and recycling.

Although Bay Area resident have a hold on recycling their everyday waste, such as food, cardboard and cans, they still can find trouble with recycling larger items.  Walking around a standard San Francisco street you might see couches, desks, and other old furniture items on the curb. Especially during the summer moving months, many large items are discarded while people are in transition from one home to another.

People don’t mean wrong by leaving these large items on the sidewalk.  Their line of thinking is: “although I don’t want this piece of furniture anymore, someone else could possibly still use it.” However, these large items often don’t end up in the right places.  If they aren’t picked up for use by another resident, they can be broken up over time and scattered across the city.   These plastic, wooden and metal furniture parts can end up in the city’s parks, soil, and natural environments.

A Bay Area resident that really wants to make sure their heavy furniture items end up in the right place should call on a Bay Area Junk Removal professional.  A junk hauling company can efficiently pick up heavy items and make sure they end up in the correct recycling facilities.  These are bonded professionals who care about providing a good service to customers while also respecting the environment around them by recycling junk.

Junk King is the leader in Bay Area Junk Removal and Hauling, providing efficient and eco-friendly services since 2005. If you live in the Bay Area, keep an eye out for the signature royal red Junk King trucks: you’ll see the great service they provide to local residents.  If you’re intersested in scheduling a free on site junk removal estimate, call 1-800-995 JUNK or book online.

5 Pieces of Old Furniture Likely to be Found in Your Home

Published on August 7, 2010 in Furniture Pick Up, Old Furniture, Old Furniture Pick Up and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .


For those of us who own a house or apartment, furniture is a very big part of our lives.  The type of furniture in your house decides the atmosphere that you spend most of your life in.   This means furniture is what you look at, what you sit and sleep in, and what you use on an everyday basis.  It’s pretty clear – furniture plays a big part in our lives whether we like to admit or not.

This is why it’s so difficult to get rid of old furniture.  You’ve spent all those years spending everyday with a piece of furniture, when the time comes to get rid of the item it can often be quite difficult.  You might make excuses for years, but eventually the time comes when that old piece of furniture needs to get hauled out to bring in the new.  Here is a list of five pieces of old furniture that are probably sitting around your house right now that you need to get rid of:

  1. Arm Chair: We all know how great a good ole’ armchair can be.  It could be lazy boy recliner in front of the TV, or a padded rocking chair by the fireplace.  This is where a person can sit down, read a good book, look out the window, or tell a story.  This is the chair that feels ‘just right’ because you’ve been sitting in it for so long.  Some of the best memories of our lives have been told from that old chair.  However, if anyone from the outside looks at your old chair they can see it with open eyes: it has rips along the side, stains on the surface, and splinters on the wood.  It’s time to get rid of that old chair.
  2. Bed: We spend one third of our lives sleeping, often in a bed that we’ve had for nearly a decade.  That old bed can provide the perfect respite after a long day’s work. However, because of many years’ use, the bed is starting to break down.  It isn’t providing the back support it used to, and it creaks in the middle of the night and often wakes you up.  It’s time to get a new, better bed that will suit all your needs.
  3. Family Couch: The old family couch is the centerpiece of every home.  This is where your family gathers to watch TV, chat, read the newspaper, or play games.  There are a lot of great memories on that family couch. However, the couch has been through new children, puppies and wear and tear, making it look like something out of ‘Mad Max.’  It’s time to find a new centerpiece to your home.
  4. Piano: Pianos last for quite a while.  You might have gotten the baby grand when you moved into the home, and it’s been there for fifteen to twenty years.  Your whole family has gone through a set of lessons on it, and you can tell from the sound.  Although you can retune a piano to have it fixed up, eventually worn wood and mechanics can permanently affect the sound quality.  Perhaps it’s time to pick out a new baby grand, or even a great sound electronic piano.
  5. Pool / Ping Pong Table: These classic basement games can be found in homes across the county.  Pool and Ping Pong tables have provided countless hours of fun for your family in friends, from day long tournaments to one on one grudge matches.  However, old equipment can really start to affect the quality of the game. Those bumps in your pool table and chips in your table tennis table can cause more than a few plays to go awry, as you’ve likely noticed.  New tables have drastically gone down in price lately, so it’s the perfect time to pick one up.

Make sure you don’t hurt yourself trying to haul these heavy old pieces of furniture out of your house. Junk King can efficiently and affordably pick that old junk up for you. Call 1-800-995 JUNK or book online to schedule a free on site estimate.

Junk Removal Flowchart

Published on August 4, 2010 in Residential Junk Removal and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

For those of you who aren’t quite sure if you need junk removal services, here is a flowchart that can help you decide.  Simply follow the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers to find your way!

Junk King Lends a Helping Hand

Published on July 30, 2010 in Flooding, Junk King San Antonio and Laredo. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Alex Ortiz on the road to Laredo with a truck full of food and supplies

The owners of Junk King San Antonio, Mike and Carol Hasselbalch, were watching early morning TV in their home, when the local news came on.  The news station was covering the recent flooding events on the border of Mexico in the towns of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, about 200 miles from San Antonio.  The scene on the television screen was grim: the flooding caused by hurricane Alex was displacing families, destroying hospitals, spreading illness and making basic necessities hard to come by.

The TV station mentioned that the aid group People Helping People was organizing a drive to the border town to bring rations to those in need. Mike and Carol immediately knew that they needed to offer their services to the cause.  They called up the TV station and asked how they could help, offering the aid of one of their Junk trucks to haul resources.

One of Junk King’s drivers, Alex Ortiz, donated his time to haul the rations down to Laredo.  Within a week, Alex was on the road.  His truck was filled with food and basic necessities like water, rice, beans, canned goods, bleach, toiler paper and diapers.

After he dropped those rations off, the Junk King San Antonio team decided one trip wasn’t enough.  The towns along the Rio Grande were still facing incredible hardships because of the flooding and still lacked basic necessities. Apparently the conditions were so bad that people were killing each other for food.  Mike Hasselbalch decided to make another trip himself, this time hauling the goods to the Salvation Army in Laredo, who then shipped the goods over the border to Nuevo Laredo.

Mike Hasselbalch described why he felt need to help out: “There’s a lot of hardship in Mexico – it’s hard for us to understand how bad it is.  I went through two hurricanes.  It would have been impossible for us without the help of people who literally drove their trailers hundreds of miles from places like Tennessee, Florida, and Baltimore. They just came out of the woodwork to help us. And here you have this situation in Mexico where the government isn’t even helping.  These people just need the bare necessities and we wanted to help bring some of it to them.”

Junk King San Antonio, and all of the Junk King franchises around the country, have always made an effort to help out the communities around them.  Sometimes, like in the case of the town of Laredo, a community in need is a bit ‘off the regular route.’  This distance didn’t deter Alex and Mike from making the trip.  Like them, many of Junk King’s other hard working professionals are also glad to lend a helping hand.

Loading supplies into a Junk King truck

Ian Hasselbalch presented with a certificate of appreciation from the Mayor of Laredo

Summer Junk Removal

Published on July 27, 2010 in Residential Junk Removal and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

We’ve hit that time of year – right smack dab in the middle of our summer, as July gives way to August.   For many people, this time of year means a change of pace. Whether it is going away on vacation, having the kids at summer camp, or simply relaxing a bit in the summer breeze, a change of pace can be healthy for any individual.

Summer is also great time of year for getting rid of the unwanted clutter around your house.  Although people often refer to ’spring cleaning’ – summer cleaning is actually a more realistic goal.  During the rest of the year things can get a bit hectic.  During the summer things slow down a bit, which makes it the perfect opportunity to gather all that junk and toss it.  Here are a few good reasons for you to take advantage of the summer months to get rid of your clutter:

  1. Vacation Therapy: There’s nothing worse than going on a long, relaxing vacation and coming back to a home full of clutter.  After logging those hours of relaxation on the beach, your stress levels have certainly fallen.  It would be quite a waste if that stress came back instantly when you walk into your door and realize how much STUFF you have.  Bypass this calamity by getting rid of all unnecessary junk before you getaway on your tropical vacation.
  2. Warm weather cleaning: Warm weather provides a great atmosphere for cleaning out the clutter.  Open your windows and let the dust that’s settled on unused items float away, instead of clogging your lungs.  A warm summer breeze will also make you feel less claustrophobic when digging around those old boxes.
  3. Time is on our side: Things are slower during the summer.  During the rest of the year, the hectic pace of life can simply prevent anyone from having the time to decide what’s junk and what isn’t, let alone trying to haul the stuff out of the house.  Summer is the perfect time to clean out your house at a pace that is efficient, but not over the top.  In addition, those long summer days will ensure you won’t be caught in the pitch black trying to haul off an old lawnmower.
  4. Kids are out of the house: The kids may be away during large chunks of the days at summer camp, or even gone for weeks at a time at overnight camp.  This is the perfect opportunity to get rid of the junk in your home.  Children can often get in the way of junk removal simply by taking up your time with a variety of tasks (doctor’s appointments, sports, friends coming over, nagging, etc.).  Take advantage of an empty nest by emptying out that clutter.
  5. Junk Hauling is in full throttle: Many businesses seem to go with the slower pace of the summer and take it easy.  This is not true with the junk hauling industry.  Junk haulers are in full throttle during the summer months -  making a high volume of stops at residences and businesses to take care of all that accumulated clutter.  Junk King is particularly vigilant during the summer and can efficiently and affordably handle any junk removal jobs that come their way.  If you’ve decided to make one of your summer days a house cleanout day, call 1-800-995 JUNK to let the real professionals whisk away your clutter.

History of the Franchise

Published on July 23, 2010 in Junk Removal Franchise and junk franchise. 0 Comments Tags: , , .


Why are franchise businesses so popular in America and across the globe?  What is it about those familiar storefronts and services that keep customers coming back?  For years, customers have flocked to franchise businesses and have made them a powerhouse across a variety of industries, from restaurant chains to household services.  To analyze why the franchising model has come so far, I’d like to take a brief look at the history of the franchise.

Some attribute the formal start of the franchise to Albert Singer, who was the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine popularized during the World War I era.  However, the concept of franchising began long before Singer, in the mid 1800s when several German brewers licensed the rights to market their ales to specific taverns across the country.  This was a turning point towards the modern franchise business model: utilizing the centralized resources of an organization to market and expand independent satellite organizations.

In the U.S., Singer Sewing Machine Company began a movement towards the modern form of franchising with its unique business model.  Singer realized that spreading his technology across the United States, a huge landmass, would require a unique business perspective.  Trying to create one massive company across the U.S. wouldn’t work as far as distribution, chain of command and marketing.  However, creating individual ‘satellite’ franchises would allow each company to draw on the power of a centralized organization, but also act independently in their specific geographic region.

This model proved successful and spread to other industries, including street car manufacturers, oil refineries, auto companies and restaurants.  By the mid-twentieth century, several well known franchises had emerged, including McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts. Post World War II franchises continued to expand, and eventually came to be regulated by the International Franchise Association.

In today’s modern economy, many businesses have re-evaluated their organizations to ‘run lean.’  This means cutting unnecessary expenses and concentrating on a core business model. Running lean not only is a creed that has spread across businesses, but also a motto for individuals.  People are very aware of their possessions: what items are ‘necessary’ and what items are simply junk.

For this reason, one of the most cutting-edge franchise sectors is in Junk Removal.  Junk Removal Franchises are able to efficiently haul away the unnecessary clutter in people’s lives, so they can truly ‘run lean.’   In addition, some Junk Removal Franchises have latched onto today’s green movement – realizing the importance of conserving our planet’s valuable resources.

Junk King is a leader in the Junk Removal franchise sector – taking the best attributes of today’s successful organizations and applying them to a streamlined business model.  Junk King provides franchisees the potential to become involved in their community by helping them get rid of their waste and clutter, while also providing them a blueprint to start a successful business. Junk King is rapidly expanding across the US with it’s new perspective on business, just as the first franchises did years before. For more information on becoming a Junk King franchisee visit our franchise webpage.