Junk Bee Gone LLC - Full Service Junk Removal, Document Shredding and Dumpster Rental East Tennessee

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: JUNK BEE GONE
Byline BY ANGELA PATTERSON, pattersona@knews.com

Mike Such started Junk Bee Gone in April of 2005 after deciding to leave the corporate world.
The business specializes in junk removal from homes, offices and storage spaces. Mike and
his wife, Tracy, relocated to east Tennessee 14 years ago, and chose to open the business
because they knew east Tennessee was where they wanted to stay. The Such's have two
daughters, Courtney, 13, and Abigale,11.

Such said his family helped him choose the name for the business, and his daughters chose
the mascot: a "friendly-looking" bee. There are other junk-removal businesses around the
country that have the same name and a bee logo, but they are in no way affiliated with Such's
business.

How did you come across the idea for this business?

"I'd been in the food-manufacturing business for years, working as a national sales manager,"
Such said. " I always wanted to have my own company. Restaurants come and go; I wanted to
own something unique. So I started researching and found that there are places that do junk
removal all over the country. I'd been in sales my whole life. I was a finance major in college,
and doing (this type of business) seemed like a fun thing to do."

What services do you offer?

"This business is a very professional one," Such said. "We have uniformed two-man teams
that are licensed and insured. We give free, up-front estimates. The removal fee is based
upon the amount of items to be moved. If the customer agrees to the removal fee we give, the
team will move the items right then."

What are you noticing as items people frequently get rid of?

"We pick up a lot of appliances, televisions and construction debris. In today's environment,
it's usually cheaper to replace than to fix. I'm amazed at the amount of big-screen televisions
we pick up in a week. We've also taken apart and picked up sheds, chain-link fences and
basketball goals."

What do you do with the items once they've been picked up?

"We've been working with some local charities and churches," Such said. "We want to give
(what's in good condition) to people who need it. ... But 70 percent of what we pick up goes
straight to the landfill because it's stuff no one would want. We don't buy any of the items we
pick up."

What kinds of feedback have you been getting from customers?

"I'm surprised at the amount of repeat customers we've already had," Such said. "People have
called us two and three times to come back and get more stuff. I've had one company call
three times, and now the owner's called for us to come to his house and pick up things. The
feedback we've been getting has been positive. People have said that we're quick and
professional."

What's been most difficult about opening a small business?

"There are days when you start to sweat because the phone doesn't ring as much," Such said.
"And finding the right advertising can be difficult. But the small-business community in this
town has been great. I've asked a lot of small-business owners questions on how to do this
and that, and I haven't once received a bad piece of advice. They welcomed me with open
arms."

Junk Bee Gone does not pick up chemicals, paint thinners or medical waste. The business is
open 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Call for an appointment at
the number below.

Check out our commercial by clicking the CW!

When there's stuff that you want gone,
Give a BUZZ to Junk Bee Gone!
(865) 675-5865