Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast

#187 Junk Removal as a Scalable Business?

15 snips

Apr 17, 2025

Walter Hyman, founder of Junk Drop and soon-to-launch Localytics, shares insights from his journey in building a junk removal empire during the pandemic. He discusses strategies for local PR and Google My Business to boost visibility, the challenges of hiring and managing operations across states, and how philanthropy can enhance community ties. Walter also reveals how Localytics will turn customer reviews into actionable market insights, making this a must-listen for anyone looking to scale a service-based business with purpose.

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ADVICE

Use Peer Groups for Growth

Join peer groups to solve business problems through shared experiences and advice.
These groups provide resources, conversations, and support that accelerate growth and problem-solving.

ANECDOTE

Humble Junk Removal Beginnings

Walter started by driving around his hometown in a beat-up pickup truck picking up junk during the pandemic.
He combined junk removal with donating reusable items to people in need, which helped grow his business early on.

ADVICE

Pitch Stories with Humility

Pitch your story to local news with humility and authenticity.
Emphasize your hard work and community impact over business status to gain goodwill and coverage.

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Looking to grow your junk removal business or expand your service-based company? In this episode uncover actionable business strategies, marketing hacks, and scaling secrets that fuel sustainable growth in the service industry. From humble beginnings during the pandemic to building a mission-driven brand, Walter shares his blueprint for success and the powerful role of community impact.

Learn how Walter harnessed local PR, Google My Business, and social media to accelerate Junk Drop's visibility—and how he overcame the challenges of hiring, scaling across multiple locations, and running operations out-of-state. Plus, discover how his newest venture, Local Lytic, is turning customer reviews into competitive intelligence for local businesses.

This episode is packed with practical advice for junk removal businesses, service entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to scale with purpose.

🚨 In This Episode, We Cover: 🔹 How Junk Drop grew from zero using press and PR
🔹 Overcoming hiring and out-of-state operational hurdles
🔹 The power of peer groups for business problem-solving
🔹 Using Google My Business to generate leads
🔹 Social media strategies that actually convert
🔹 Local Lytic: Analyzing reviews to gain market insight
🔹 Building a business with a philanthropic mission

💼 Shoutout to our Owned and Operated Pro program. We’ve built Owned and Operated Pro for operators who are serious about growth. It's the behind-the-scenes pass to real acquisition strategies, deep dives into operations, and the exact tools we're using to scale service businesses.

🔗 Unlock exclusive content, private AMAs, and tactical playbooks here

💼 Special Thanks to Service Scalers
We’ve partnered with Service Scalers to dominate Google My Business (GMB) and Local Service Ads (LSAs)—bringing in thousands of leads and driving real business growth.
🔗 Check them out here

🎙️ Episode Host:
🗣️ Jack Carr – Follow on X: @TheHVACJack

🎙️ Episode Guest:
🗣️ Walter Hindman

📢 Enjoyed the episode?
✅ Like, Comment & Subscribe for more content on service business growth, marketing, and smart scaling strategies.

#JunkRemoval #ServiceBusiness #SmallBusinessGrowth #BusinessScaling #PRMarketing #GoogleMyBusiness #LocalSEO #LocalLytic #Entrepreneurship #SocialImpact #LocalBusinessStrategy #BusinessPodcast

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

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