College Hunks Hauling Junk
College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving is a North American junk removal and moving company with headquarters in Tampa, Florida.[1] The company provides junk removal, local and long distance full service moving and office relocation services including in home donation pickup services for non-profit partner organizations. The company became operational in 2005 and began franchising in 2007.[2]
Private | |
Industry | Junk Removal, moving services |
Founded | 2004, in Washington, D.C. |
Founder | Nick Friedman, Omar Soliman |
Headquarters | , United States |
Number of locations | 124 Franchises (2019) |
Areas served | United States and Canada |
Key people | Nick Friedman President Omar Soliman CEO |
Website | www |
The company's services are available to both commercial and residential clients, with over 65% of the "junk" collected being donated to charities such as Goodwill Industries, recycled, reused or incinerated as fuel through the Covanta Energy Corporation.[3] As of October 2019, College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving had three company-owned locations and 124 franchised locations in the United States and Canada.[4]
History
College Hunks Hauling Junk began operations in 2004 after co-founder Omar Soliman won $10,000 in the annual Leigh Rothschild Business Plan Contest.[5] Upon graduating from the University of Miami, Soliman and partner Nick Friedman moved to Washington D.C. and expanded the company into a full-scale operation. In its first two years, the company hauled away more than 4,000 tons of junk, and as of 2010 was hauling away an average of 10,000 tons each year.[6]
In 2008, the company moved its headquarters to Tampa, Florida and began franchising. The organization expanded and appeared on the Inc magazine's 500 Fastest Growing Companies list in 2009.[7] The company was ranked #30 on Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 50 New Franchise Rankings in 2009.[8]
In mass media
In September 2008, Friedman and Soliman tried but failed to secure funding from investors for a new business concept called College Foxes Packing Boxes, a full-service packing and professional organizing company.[9] The company attempted to gain an investment of 250k for 25% for the "foxes", on the ABC investment television show Shark Tank.[10] The investors requested equity in the Hunks, and their offer on the Hunks was $1,000,000 for 10%. The show's investors ultimately rejected the offer, except for Robert Herjavec who offered 250K for 50% of the Foxes and 10% of the Hunks which was later rejected.
Soliman and Friedman were contestants in the third-season premiere of Bravo TVs Millionaire Matchmaker hosted by Patti Stanger.[11] Friedman and his girlfriend appeared on HGTV's House Hunters, in an episode aired on July 7, 2013.
See also
References
- "Nick Friedman - Co-Founder of College Hunks Hauling Junk". ideamensch.com.
- Sarah E. Needleman (2011-09-15). "'Hunks' Turn Summer Gig Into Real Business". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- "Great Places to Work: 18 Places Deserving Honorable Mention - Work & Education". washingtonian.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
- "Locations". collegehunkshaulingjunk.com. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- "Entrepreneurs take home $34,000 in UM Business Plan Competition". bus.miami.edu. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
- "Local 'College Hunks Hauling Junk' celebrates Earth Day". setanchor.com. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- "6 Companies That Got a Lift From Oprah". Inc.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
- "2009 New Franchise Rankings". Entrepreneur.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
- Plumb, Tierney (2009-08-07). "College Hunks Hauling Junk founders jump in 'Shark Tank'". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
- Tierney Plumb (2009-08-07). "College Hunks Hauling Junk founders jump in 'Shark Tank'". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- "The Millionaire Matchmaker Season 3, Episode 1, Omar and Nick". Bravo TV Official Site. Retrieved 2011-09-21.