.:RIMproInsider:.

In response to a cutomers request for a tool to input recyling statistics from a customer and output actual environmental impact numbers, I couldn’t find anything. So I spent some dollars to have this created.

Some of you in the shredding game are starting to create reports for clients outlining the number of tress they have saved, here is one that goes a little further.

In my simple application, which requires excel to operate, you enter the number of units shredded — from boxes to consoles to totes — and click a button and a certificate pops out that includes 6 environmental impacts in specific areas.

New ISO standards that relate to enviromental results are now requesting such reports from their vendors. Now you have something to give them.

You need Excel on your PC. You must enable Macros. After that…. simpe and easy. You will love it.

Click the link to see the screenshots and pricing for this great little application

In the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette there is an article on FACTA’s affect on the shredding industry. Service providers Shop n Shred and Confidential Shredding Services , manufacturers Martin Yale Industries and Industrial Paper Shredders both got mentioned in the article. Iron Mountain also got mentioned. The FACTA law is a story that is making it’s way into everyday business life.

Every single one of you should be contacting your local reporters with Press Releases and offering them your take on the story. You are missing a great oportunity if you are not marketing using this free medium for your business.

Do it today!

Iron Mountain announced July 29th the acquisition of the assets of the Ottawa, Ontario-based franchiser Proshred Security International and eight of its Canadian franchisees. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition strengthens Iron’s geographical coverage in 12 existing and five additional Canadian markets, including: Victoria BC, Kelowna BC, South Western Ontario, Peterborough, Ontario, and Saint John NB. Iron Mountain will gain 120 employees from Proshred and its franchisees.

Iron Mountain also announced second quarter results the same day
- Total Revenues are $445 Million, Up 24%
- Operating Income is $87 Million; Up 27%
- Net Income is $0.17 per Diluted Share

The shredding business is more competitive than ever. Here is some pay per click costs from this last weekend for “shredding paper” search. Remember that this click just gets them a web visitor, nothing more.

Secure Paper Shredding
Shredding across the country. Information Protection Solutions of America. Solutions for reasonable care. www.nationshred.com
(Advertiser’s Max Bid: $3.36)

Paper Shredding Equipment
PBSoffice.com offers high-quality check signers and printers, coin sorters, paper handling equipment, time clocks and more. We will work with you for the solution that fits your needs. pbsoffice.com
(Advertiser’s Max Bid: $3.33)

California Document Shredding
California document shredding provides on-site shredding to those requiring destruction of confidential records. Serves Glendale. All shredded paper is recycled. www.caldocushred.com
(Advertiser’s Max Bid: $3.01)

California Shredding Paper
Shredding paper is now faster and easier thanks to the founder of Kinko’s. We shred you documents securely and affordably at your location. California based serving the U.S. www.shredforce.com
(Advertiser’s Max Bid: $3.01)

Kodiak Paper Shredding (VA)
Mobile document destruction services providing unparalleled security, unquestionable value, and superior customer service. (Lynchburg, Virginia). www.kodiakshredding.com
(Advertiser’s Max Bid: $3.00)

Shred Nations Paper Shredding Service
Mobile and plant based shredding service where you need it. No other shredding network in North America has the ability to service you like Shred Nations. www.shrednations.com
(Advertiser’s Max Bid: $3.00)

So here is a dilemma I see intially. As these ads get served across the search network, there becomes a problem of credability. If I am in Fargo and see your listing, click on it, you better have a way serve me or you have just thrown $3+ down the toilet.
Notice the Shredforce ad, it says it is based in California but serves the US, but nowhere in the site could I find a way to get service in Fargo. Nations Shred at least gives me a phone number if I am anywhere other than their core service areas. Kodiak’s add is specific enough only if they are in the top three of paid listings. Otherwise, their add gets cut off and they appear to be local within the small box.

Here is my point I guess. You can spend a fortune on clicks every day and not actually convert a sale. In the tight margins we are running at in the destruction game, if you get them to your site, you better damn well get them to do something when they arrive. Don’t let them click and leave. Have you looked at your server logs? They are telling you something. I hope you are listening.

Chatted with Miro Seperic of Recycle America Alliance yesterday. Here are his current observations and thoughts on resale of baled paper.

“Sorted office waste/paper is hot right now. Subject to location fluctuations, the average industry prices are in the $120 - $130 per ton range. I think that the market will improve another $10-$15 a ton during the summer. The tissue business, where the bulk of the paper we bale is directed is very busy. Currently the mills producing these products have orders into October of this year. The other percentage of baled paper goes into the bleached pulp area to be made into recycled paper. That industry too is busy with an expected new mill coming on board in the next year or so. All very positive signs for the time being.

White ledger and CPO grades hold their own in the $185-$190 per ton range with no significant change in sight.”

If you want more information give Miro a call at 416.622.3800. Or send him an email by clicking this link.

Today DataGuard USA announced the official launch of their Shop’n'Shred service, a one-of-a kind retail drop-off shredding service targeting about 90 million households, and small and home-based businesses. Shop ‘n’ Shred is an online mapping service that guides customers to nearby collection sites, where they can be assured their private information is destroyed properly.

Using Shop ‘n’ Shred’s online mapping service, customers are navigated to the closest drop-off site where a retailer collects a fee, and then directs the customer to a secure shred bin in the store. The store representative never sees or touches the customer’s material. Triple-A NAID or certified equivalent shredding contractors provide certified destruction.

“The ideal retailers for Shop ‘n’ Shred are shipping stores, grocery stores, hardware stores, record storage facilities, folks who already perform background investigations in hiring employees,” said Steve Hastert. “We anticipate supporting about 4,500 such locations in North America.”

Here are the details. Retail locations are free. Shredder monthly fee is $10 per month. Retail location charges $0.35 per pound. Shredder charges $45 per tip. Typical setup is a 65 gallon wheeled tote and scale in a retail location.

Call Steve Hastert at 800-747-3365 or visit the website to see more.

For a number of destruction companies, handing out the FTC Booklet entitled “ID Theft - When Bad Things Happen To Your Good Name” has been a value added way to build the need. Recently the FTC quit providing these as a printed publication. The good news is you can download these for free from the FTC website and do a simple print yourself, or even better place them on a CD as a give-away.

For a full download in pdf format