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Great Deals on like-new and used computers and electronics! |
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Recycling computers turns into big
business
with boost from Internet
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Old computers don't have to die - they can be recycled. At least that's what Dave Long and Greg Kerr have proved in less than three years with their businesses - Midwest Computer Brokers and Midwest Electronic Recovery - now operating out of a 9,000-square-foot warehouse in Southwest Cedar Rapids (Iowa.) "I saw the writing on the wall at Goss (Graphic Systems Inc.) and wanted more for myself," says Long, 40. It's not often that you get to work at a job you really like," adds Kerr, 41. "I think this was the best decision we could make." Both men became computer savvy while working at Goss and considered starting an Internet business. But, an online advertisement for 20 used computers in Chicago triggered another idea. Maybe they could buy computers, fix them up, and sell them for a profit. Each man chipped in $1,400 |
"It's not often that you get to work at a job you really like. I think this was the best decision we could make."
Greg Kerr |
As often happens,
one business leads to another. Since some computers and parts were
useless, the men had already worked with recycling companies that melted
metal and ground plastic for use in other products.
Midwest Electronic Recovery was born. Last fall, the men worked with Bluestem, the Cedar Rapids and Linn County agency that oversees landfill operation, to set up a pilot computer recycling program to keep old computer parts out of landfills. In three months, Midwest Electronic Recovery handled 45,000 pounds of old computer equipment in Linn County. Scott County officials were so intrigued, they contacted the firm for advice. And, in February, Long and Kerr attended a national conference in Tampa titled "Remanufacturing of Electronic Equipment for Reuse and Recycling." |
|
| and the "garage"
business began. Long became president and Kerr, vice president, only
because they needed titles even though they were equal partners.
Long concentrated on selling and Kerr took care of the computer cleanup
and refurbishment.
They sold a few computers to co-workers, but knew that had limited potential. By turning to the Internet again, Midwest Computer Brokers began to grow. The men soon worked 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily on their new venture before heading off to second-shift Goss jobs. Their idea to sell "value" computers, often just two or three years behind current technology because they came off leases, was working. |
Then, in December 1998, their layoffs from Goss - Long after 12 years and
Kerr after 11 - forced a decision.
"We said , 'Well, let's make this go,'" Long says. "And we've never looked back." Without borrowing even one dime from a bank, Kerr and Long have expanded Midwest Computer Brokers to the point it has moved twice, most recently to 943 33rd Ave. SW. They now purchase monitors, printers and central processing units by the semi-trailer truck load. And, while they prefer to make large multi-unit sales, individuals can buy their refurbished computers at such Internet auction sites as eBay, Haggle and Yahoo. |
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As originally published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, March 12, 2000
UPDATE! October 29, 2001 Midwest Computer Brokers has expanded yet again! On October 29th, 2001, we moved into our new sales facility in Walford, Iowa. Map available HERE. Our new location with 40,000 square feet of space is three times the size of our previous location, something our current staff of 24 employees really appreciates! We've added a storefront to our business, in addition to Iowa's largest electronic recycling center, auction sales, and website. Feel free to drop in and see the fastest growing computer reseller in the Midwest! Email: sales@mcbia.com |
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