In this episode, Alex and Annie are joined by Alex Shapiro, CEO and Co-Founder of CanMonkey - the very first Trash-To-Curb Service that handles the waste and recycling can duties of your vacation rental properties.

CanMonkey started 4 years ago with a business model that’s similar to Uber and DoorDash - employing gig economy drivers to ensure a seamless service across 13 different states. What differentiates them from Uber’s business model is that they’ve achieved profitability as a bootstrapped startup, instead of relying on funding and burning through cash.

Before Alex made the decision to go all-in, he chose to first see CanMonkey drive results in their local market. Luckily, this market was Scottsdale, AZ - one of the most thriving markets in the rental property space. His A-HA moment was during a meeting with a client who was converting his long-term rental into a short-term rental and had expressed his frustration with his current waste management setup. This conversation unlocked a deal that effectively doubled their business overnight - and Alex knew it was time to fully bet on CanMonkey.

The way CanMonkey develops their service has been a key factor in their rapid growth. Alex has always approached product development with feedback and flexibility in mind, letting their clients be the ones who inspire their product strategy and ultimately choose how they’re best served.

Another key factor has been their sublime approach to marketing. During the conversation with Alex, it’s apparent that his wheels are always turning when it comes to new ways to market their business. His approach to finding relevant and fun ways to create social media content stems from conversations he has with clients, and the tidbits that come through during those interactions. He’s also not afraid of “poking the bear” and creating campaigns that might receive negative feedback, which can often be a phenomenal strategy to gain brand awareness through a tiny sprinkle of controversy.

Tune in to the full episode to learn what it takes to successfully scale a service-based business!

HIGHLIGHTS:
01:30 - CanMonkey’s Go-To-Market Strategy
03:16 - The A-HA Moment that Led Alex to Going All-In
05:49 - CanMonkey’s Main Use Case
11:49 - Their Approach to Growth & Product Development
15:45 - Building Brand Awareness Through Clever Marketing
21:34 - Alex’s Roots in the Fortune 500
27:14 - The Advantages of Being Bootstrapped
31:26 - The Future of CanMonkey

This episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.

Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services.

Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie’s List.

Connect with Alex:
Website - https://www.canmonkey.com/
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/k-alexander-shapiro-74b47259/

Connect with Alex and Annie:
Alex Husner - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-o-husner-%F0%9F%8C%8E-1844306/
Annie Holcombe - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-holcombe-vrgal/
AlexAndAnniePodcast.com