About

Welcome to the 1-800-GOT-JUNK? blog. Over several years, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? staff, franchise partners, customers, friends, and family have shared stories about the junk in our lives – from heartwarming to horrific to hmmmm?…. Our blog is a place to begin sharing these tales.  Our aim is to provide our readers with a variety of captivating stories, informative facts about junk, and tips and suggestions for dealing with clutter.  We hope to engage you with stories and information that is relevant, inspirational, motivational and fun. And of course, we hope to hear from you! How has junk affected your life? Are you comfortable with clutter in your life, or does the minimalist style inspire you?

Yes, we all have a special spot in our hearts for junk. We love it, we hate it. We keep it. We lose it. We find it! We attach to it! A myriad of emotions encircle these cycles. Why? Because our junk really does define us. An unraveling closet or disheveled attic trunk tells a story about where we’ve been, who we are. It’s personal. This is the magic of junk removal 1-800-GOT-JUNK? teams experience on the trucks daily.

Our Public Relations team hears many of these amazing stories about people and their junk from all across North America and Australia. The time has come to share them. We hope that you’ll laugh, cry and find inspiration to deal with your own unique junk situation.

So come and join us! We invite you into our blog community to experience the magic and passion of living a life with or without junk!

Tania

As Director, PR team at 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, I have seen it all! I’ve collected “junk” stories of every stripe, from heart-warming to shocking to informative. On a daily basis I see new evidence that junk is a force in our lives. Just think:  reality shows are being created about compulsive hoarding; illegal dumping is rampant on the periphery of many major cities; landfills are filled to capacity. And new junk is just a short drive and a few bucks away at your local retail giant.
My years in the junk business have taught me that junk is much more than a possession. Our stuff usually has emotional value too, involving feelings of overwhelm, attachment, frustration, longing, and even fear! For others, it’s just junk that gets in the way. My passion is to share the relevant stories, experiences, and useful tidbits of information that will appeal to all people…because Everybody’s GOT JUNK!

Natalie

99 problems and a pitch ain’t one! As the Junktion’s Senior PR Manager, Natalie gets to satisfy her interest for fascinating stories and interesting people. No idea is too kooky for this PR team to consider – so if you got something, send it over!

Natalie has a natural gumption for Public Relations and an aptitude for interpersonal communication. Her formal training includes a BA from the University of Victoria and a Diploma in Public Relations from Kwantlen Polytechnic University.  Natalie spent some time working for the Provincial Government, Metro Vancouver and during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games she worked with the host broadcaster. Then she found junk!

What hooked Natalie to 1-800-GOT-JUNK??  Founder and CEO, Brian Scudamore, has a quote on the wall at the Junktion that reads, “It’s all about the people.” Natalie agrees, “Working with such a creative, positive team while engaging all 200 of our inspiring franchise owners is exactly what it’s all about.”

For more information on the fascinating world of Junk, feel free shoot Natalie an email at natalie.burgwin@1800gotjunk.com. She’ll answer right away…unless she’s buried under a Hoard or on the other line with Ellen.

 

Sam

Kermit the frog once said “it’s not easy being green.” Well, at 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, we’re hoping to prove him wrong! As a PR Manager at 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, I come armed with an Environment and Sustainability degree from The University of British Columbia and a passion for people, PR and journalism (ask me about being an Olympic News Service Reporter during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games!).

I was drawn to 1-800-GOT-JUNK? by its stellar reputation, its high standards of service, a family-like company culture, and sustainable practices. I strongly believe that building good relationships is one of the most important aspects of a successful organization, so I try to work on at least one connection a day. I look forward to spreading the word about sustainability and the many fascinating stories we come across on the job.

I once had multiple collections—rocks, stamps, movie/concert tickets, insects, you name it—so I’m interested in hearing how you define ‘junk’! Let me know at samantha.landa@1800gotjunk.com.

Andrew

As PR Manager for 1-800-GOT-JUNK? I’ve become very intimate with junk and the stories it tells. No, junk doesn’t speak to me (yet), but if you have a great 1-800-GOT-JUNK? story, you can!

I’ve been lucky to have worked on all sides of media – within media outlets, PR agencies and I’ve acted as communications manager for a single brand.

I studied at Ryerson University and my brand experience includes FIJI Water, Kiehl’s Since 1851, Timberland and Astrazeneca.

I love a good celebration and have managed special events at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Drake Hotel and am the co-founder of Canada’s longest running hip-hop happening, Big Primpin.

I’m proud to be a part of this outstanding team of junk heads!

Andrew.Sutherland@1800gotjunk.com a.k.a The Junk Whisperer