19 year old growing Grand Slam Garage Sales...

I started Grand Slam Garage Sales after my mom had a garage sale and suggested that I help other people run garage sales. I had already started a few businesses as a young kid, so she knew I liked to make money and it was clear that I could help a lot of people out.

I've been working on Grand Slam Garage Sales for over 5 years now. In fact, when I started the company it wasn't even called Grand Slam Garage Sales, it was Matt and Ben's Garage Sale Relief and has gone through a few name changes since then (but is set now.)

Grand Slam Garage Sales is a company that runs garage sales for people from start to finish. That means that we advertise, set up, and manage the entire sale. We even bring all unsold items away to Goodwill to get the customer a tax donation receipt. We also offer a few other services; Pinch Hit Pressure Washing, Clean Sweep Item Removal, and our Major League Moving service. We may even start offering a garage sale supplies kit so that people who don't want to use us for a sale can at least get the garage sale supplies that they need to run a sale.

When I started GSGS, it was me and a friend, his mom's suburban (with her driving), red polos, flyers, and work ethic. That was about it. Then that changed to me and a different friend when I was a bit older. This time it was me, him, business cards, a website done by a friend, uniforms, flyers, his dad's van that he could drive, and work ethic.

After that, the business instinct that I was born with really came into play. I started to think...how can I keep records? Do we need an office? How do we market? How do I recruit workers? How do we gain credibility? How do I make workers happy? How do I make customers happy? What can I do to make the company more money?

I planned a lot and did a lot of strategizing, got in touch with web developers, lawyers, and random people in the business world. I contacted lots of random CEO's and surprisingly got a lot of responses with advice and I read a lot of articles on business and entrepreneurship.

I'm constantly learning and now we are a few months away from franchising nationwide and we've been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Dr. Phil, and have gotten a lot of other press as well.

Advice for others:

The biggest advice I could give is to maintain work ethic, have big goals, reach out, and never give up. Persistence is key.

Also make sure to plan. Planning and strategizing are very important in order for a business to succeed.

In conclusion, never give up and have huge goals. Why can't your business and you be the next big thing?

Comments

1practicalgal

Have you started franchising this concept? I could use the help in NorCal.

Report abuse

BentheCEO

Hey 1practicalgal Nope, not yet. We should be starting to franchise towards the end of the summer though. In the meantime, please go to our website www.GrandSlamGarageSales.com, type in your zip code, then fill out the short form that is there. That way, when we're in your area, we'll be sure to notify you right away. Thanks!