Subject category:
Entrepreneurship
Published by:
Cranfield School of Management
Length: 9 pages
Data source: Field research
Abstract
This is the second of a three-case series. The case study deals with the creation in 2004 and the growth to date of AnyJunk, an innovative UK commercial and domestic junk removal service. The 34 year old founder, Jason Mohr, recently labelled by the Sunday Times as a '21st Century Steptoe', was unusual in that he was already a qualified solicitor and MBA graduate, with three years investment banking experience, but with the desire, like his father, to develop his own business. Using his final banking bonus, Jason was able to investigate thoroughly the opportunities in the waste market in the UK and North America, writing finally AnyJunk's first business plan modelled on one of Canada's fastest growing companies, 1800GotJunk (Part 1). From the beginning, Jason had identified potential business investors in AnyJunk and by winning local London council awards, gaining good PR coverage and by focusing on providing re-cycling data for commercial customers (estate agents, building contractors) and with good IT support, grew AnyJunk's sales rapidly. His revised business plan, covering the first twelve months of operations, gained their investment support (Part 2). With this support and participation, expansion across England became possible and within five years the now profitable company sales exceeded GBP4 million, with 69 employees and 10 operating centres (Part 3). The case allows students to be able to analyse the circumstances and growth of the company to date, challenges them to decide whether they should give up a rewarding job in investment banking to start AnyJunk (Part 1), whether they would invest in Any Junk (Part 2) and determine an appropriate growth strategy in the UK and Europe now open to the business in 2010 (Part 3). A detailed teaching note is available with analysis and suggestions for questions to stimulate classroom discussion.
About
Abstract
This is the second of a three-case series. The case study deals with the creation in 2004 and the growth to date of AnyJunk, an innovative UK commercial and domestic junk removal service. The 34 year old founder, Jason Mohr, recently labelled by the Sunday Times as a '21st Century Steptoe', was unusual in that he was already a qualified solicitor and MBA graduate, with three years investment banking experience, but with the desire, like his father, to develop his own business. Using his final banking bonus, Jason was able to investigate thoroughly the opportunities in the waste market in the UK and North America, writing finally AnyJunk's first business plan modelled on one of Canada's fastest growing companies, 1800GotJunk (Part 1). From the beginning, Jason had identified potential business investors in AnyJunk and by winning local London council awards, gaining good PR coverage and by focusing on providing re-cycling data for commercial customers (estate agents, building contractors) and with good IT support, grew AnyJunk's sales rapidly. His revised business plan, covering the first twelve months of operations, gained their investment support (Part 2). With this support and participation, expansion across England became possible and within five years the now profitable company sales exceeded GBP4 million, with 69 employees and 10 operating centres (Part 3). The case allows students to be able to analyse the circumstances and growth of the company to date, challenges them to decide whether they should give up a rewarding job in investment banking to start AnyJunk (Part 1), whether they would invest in Any Junk (Part 2) and determine an appropriate growth strategy in the UK and Europe now open to the business in 2010 (Part 3). A detailed teaching note is available with analysis and suggestions for questions to stimulate classroom discussion.