My wife was looking for Andy Gump in the mountains and had no idea where to find him. In her single days, she worked as the manager of the Spy Shop on Sunset Boulevard for 6 years. Yes a Hollywood girl, she has some strange stories to tell about celebrities and their spy equipment. I tell her she should write a blog, but she is much too discreet for that.
"Looking for Andy Gump" sounded like a Hollywood script that did not make it to Sundance. Hey budding film Directors! I just gave you a massive big idea for a new docudrama! When you sweep the awards and have your name read from the pulpit at the Kodiak Theater, just remember to mention the Whale as your inspiration to all the reporters. Sorry, back to Andy.
On a recent trip to California, I found him. There he was, at the top of 1st street in Simi Valley just past the freeway. Andy was collecting poop! It was true, Andy Gump is a port-a-potty company. If you Google Andy Gump, you will also find he was a real person, check out his home page.
- Your word is your bond.
- Helping people is our goal, not selling a service.
- Respect every person's contribution. No position is more or less important than another; every job is important to the success of the company.
- Be grateful for your blessings and share with others.
- Andy and Barry would never ask you to do something they have not done or would not be willing to do.
- Use debt sparingly and pay your bills promptly.
- With God's blessing, you have to be ready, willing, able and lucky.
Very heavy stuff if you consider the business. A home page is an external reflection of an internal reality I am told. After reading Andy’s story, I would say that is true. Andy found himself in California after the war and thought he would bring Oregon Christmas trees south for the holidays. Andy rented part of an open lot in Pacoima, California from a septic system contractor, who befriended And. He taught him the septic trade and eventually sold the septic business to Andy for $300. A business was born! Andy never hired a "salesperson" - he relied on his good name and providing a clean restroom to grow the business.
#1 Using your name can be a good thing, if it is memorable.
If you have a name like Andy Gump, back up the truck. I think even before Forest made his mad dash, Gump is a very catchy name.
#2 People remember stories and forget processes.
How many times have you been to a great old restaurant that is still in business and the kitchy menus have the story of the founder, printed with pride for all to see? I love that stuff. After you read Andy’s story and then his core values right on the home page, how can you not rent a can from a guy like that?! The raw honest, unpolished voice really cuts through the slick marketing with the overly happy Getty images of perfect people. Be honest, now that you know his story and standards, you are a little more interested to see what an Andy Gump crapper looks like on the inside right? I understand now why my wife is desperately seeking Andy, they are cleaner. Well “clean” and port-a-potty is a very relative term; the bar is really really low. If you have an industry that you expect to have poor service and poor products, that is the one that is ripe for a premium player. Not a big surprise that Andy has a VIP line that caters to the film studios, golf tournaments, parties and black tie events with 500+ people.
#3 Look at your web site
Is your website a true reflection of who you really are? Figure out what you stand for and then just tell people in a human voice. Andy does not take himself too serious and neither should you. When you really think about it, most of what we write on websites is crap! No pun here, it’s true. We don’t talk to our friends the way we talk to the world.
#4 If you believe in what you are doing, you can even make money collecting poop!
Go see Andy, then connect back with me, I am sure we can create a fresh way to tell your story.
My StumbleUpon Page
