Bungobox: Move. Unpack. Now give 'em back.

BungoBox announces franchise to cover the state of Connecticut

Orlando, Fla. (April 29, 2012) - BungoBox, a plastic moving box rental company, has awarded a new franchise in Connecticut, bringing the total number of BungoBox franchises in Canada and the U.S. to 14.

BungoBox, founded in May 2009, rents reusable plastic boxes to save consumers time and money over traditional moving methods. The edgy and innovative company, with a slogan of “We Make Moving Less Sucky,” takes the hassle out of rounding of moving materials by delivering its stackable moving boxes to a customers’ doorstep. (A large box of about 2.5 cubic feet rents for $1.75 a week.) Once they’ve been unpacked, BungoBox picks them up at the new residence.

The new franchise was awarded to Peter Mendlinger, a business and commercial property broker and licensed real estate broker. His BungoBox coverage area includes the entire state of Connecticut, where approximately 3.5 million people reside. He plans on beginning operations in mid-July; the business will be located in Middletown, Conn.

“I am most excited about being ahead of any other local, regional or national firm offering the same or even similar value in the rental box space here in Connecticut,” Mendlinger, who resides in Colchester, says. “In the Connecticut market BungoBox is truly differentiated as there really is not anyone else offering anything similar. BungoBox represents a ‘ground floor’ opportunity in a market that BungoBox itself is defining.”

Since late 2010 when BungoBox launched the franchise option, co-founders Tom and Bob Cannon have opened 13 locations across the US and Canada. The Cannons say part of the plan includes expanding operations by opening 150 franchise locations in the next five years as part of a steady and strategic growth strategy

“Aligning with BungoBox this early in the franchise and territory roll-out process allows me to align with the brand leader and at the beginning of the growth curve,” Mendlinger says. “BungoBox is poised to be disruptive and force a shift to the entrenched corrugated cardboard paradigm.”

About BungoBox:
BungoBox is an innovative company that is transforming the traditional moving process. Committed to helping consumers save time and money with an eco-friendly alternative to cardboard boxes, BungoBox has 14 locations (13 franchise locations and one corporate location). For more information, visit www.bungobox.com.

To download product photos, please visit www.bungobox.com/about/press.

BungoBox announces new franchise in South Florida

Orlando, Fla. (April 27, 2012) - BungoBox, a plastic moving box rental company, has awarded a new BungoBox franchise in South Florida, bringing the total number of BungoBox franchises in Canada and the U.S. to 13.

BungoBox, founded in May 2009, rents reusable plastic boxes to save consumers time and money over traditional moving methods. The edgy and innovative company, with a slogan of “We Make Moving Less Sucky,” takes the hassle out of rounding of moving materials by delivering its stackable moving boxes to a customers’ doorstep. (A large box of about 2.5 cubic feet rents for $1.75 a week.) Once they’ve been unpacked, BungoBox picks them up at the new residence.

The new franchisee was awarded to husband-and-wife team Greg and Jennifer Steinig, who also own a BungoBox franchise in Tampa, which services Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Hernando counties, an area made up of more than 2 million residents.

“This past year has been very successful,” says Greg Steinig. In fact, we've been profitable since opening our doors. Knowing the viability of this business and seeing the reception we've received, we thought it prudent to purchase the territory adjacent to ours.”

The new territory includes Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Collier and Monroe counties

“In the beginning most of our work was residential,” says Greg Steinig. “This also gave us the ability to make sales calls on commercial accounts while growing through the residential model.” Greg and Jennifer says they’ve done well in the commercial market, too. Clients include Lennar Homes, Parson Brinkerhoff and Kirk-Pinkerton.

About BungoBox:
BungoBox is an innovative company that is transforming the traditional moving process. Committed to helping consumers save time and money with an eco-friendly alternative to cardboard boxes, BungoBox has 13 locations (12 franchise locations and one corporate location). For more information, visit www.bungobox.com.

To download product photos, please visit www.bungobox.com/about/press.

News, Notes and Commentary

Published in ForwardFlorida magazine

Metro Orlando businessmen Tom and Bob Cannon, cousins and cofounders of BungoBox, were featured on Bloomberg TV last month during an episode of The Mentor. BungoBox is a Casselberry-based company that rents plastic, reusable bins as an alternative to cardboard. The show, available in more than 310 million homes worldwide, gives budding entrepreneurs the chance to gain expert guidance from top CEOs. During the episode, CEO Mark Lore, who sold Diapers.com for $570 million, gave Tom and Bob Cannon advice on how to scale their innovative business. While noting that BungoBox is a "4-hundred-million-dollar-a-year buisness in boxes," Lore reminds them that "investors are going to own a larger percentage of the company that you guys will."

Be Good To Earth!

Published on http://www.xl106.7.com April 20, 2012

If you want to celebrate Earth Day this year, the best way to do it is to treat the Earth more kindly! We were sent this list of ways for Central Floridians to go green and be Earth-friendly! These are local companies that are green and their products are safe for the environment. Now, I haven't used these products, so I can't attest to their effectiveness, etc. These are listener-recommended. There's also this list from MSN and Parenting Magazine that has 14 easy ways to make little changes that will make a BIG difference for the environment!

BungoBox: A Casselberry-based company rents reusable, plastic moving bins as an alternative to cardboard boxes. Only about half of all cardboard gets recycled, and you can actually save money http://www.bungobox.com

Spa Diggity Dog Shampoo: All natural, organic dog shampoo. No chemicals or toxins. http://www.spadiggitydog.com

Organic Groceries: Heirloom produce, grass-fed meats, artisan cheeses and locally grown foods that can be delivered to your doorstep. http://farmfreshwindermere.com

Organic Totes: Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods’ cotton bags come in six different designs with sayings like “EcoChic” or “Green is the New Pink” chemical and pesticide-free bag. They also have toys, rattlers, diapers and toddler-feeding products made of corn-based plastic. http://www.dandelionforbaby.com

Mrs. Jones Soapbox All-Purpose Cleaner: Mrs. Jones’ cleaning products are made of all natural ingredients – many of them food- based. Even the packaging is in reused plastic bottles. http://www.etsy.com/shop/mrsjonessoapbox
 

BungoBox Bonanza

Published in the Denver Business Journal April 6, 2012

“No more dumpster diving for soggy cardboard boxes” is a great summary of the BungoBox business model. The Orlando, Fla.-based company rents out durable plastic boxes for moving. And now it’s in Denver, with franchisee Jim Garner having just opened a territory that stretches from Boulder to Castle Rock.

Garner, 52, left a job as Midwest regional sales manager for 14 years for Poly Processing Co., which supplies storage systems for corrosive chemicals, to do this. “It’s an exciting concept,” says Garner, who already has orders lined up for the week of April 16. “With the demographics of Denver and the greenness, I think it’s right on point.”

Meaning, far fewer cardboard boxes winding up in landfills.

“What attracted me to the model was a value proposition that the Bungo Box has,” Garner says. “Peace of mind for the end user because the boxes are delivered to the site of the move, and they’re picked up at the end of the move. They don’t have to hassle with sourcing cardboard boxes, putting them together with packing tape and breaking them down at the end. Also, the cost can be up to 50 percent less than traditional cardboard boxes.”

Franchises cost $25,000 per 1 million of a territory’s population.

Tom Cannon and his cousin, Bob Cannon, founded the company in May 2009. “We’re the largest U.S. franchisor” in the field, Tom Cannon says. There are 12 locations — 10 in the United States, plus two in Canada, in Halifax and Edmonton. All are franchises, except for the Orlando location, which the cousins own and whose customers have included Lockheed Martin, Microsoft and the NBA’s Orlando Magic.
 

Learn How to Raise Money for Your Business at the 2012 Funding Symposium

Tom Cannon, BungoBox CEO, will be speaking at the UCF Business Incubator Daytona Beach next month. He'll be talking about where to find the money to start up a successful company. Learn the difference between angel investors and venture capitalists and the full range of funding sources in the state of Florida.

Topics include:

-- Private equity investment process and investor expectation at each stage

-- How to target and present to equity investors to enhance the likelihood of successfully raising capital

-- Tools to help entrepreneurs assess their investor-readiness at each step of the way

-- SBIR/STTR Grants

-- Seed Capital Acceleration Program

-- Tips from serial entrepreneurs, angel investors and venture capitalists

Date: April 12, 2012

Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Light breakfast and lunch included

Location: UCF Business Incubator Daytona Beach International Airport 601 Innovation Way Daytona Beach 32114

RSVP: Arlene Wilson arlene.wilson@ucf.edu 386-872-3100 386-872-3101 RSVP—Seating is limited

Cost: Incubator clients free! All others: $35

BungoBox: Green Moves

Published in Orange Appeal Magazine

If a move is in your future, you should get to know the easiest and greenest way to pack up. No more buying and assembling cardboard boxes and taping them up. Durable, plastic, stacking BungoBoxes -- in addition to boxes (in two sizes), there are wardrobes for hanging clothes -- are delivered to you on a rolling dolly. After you fill them up, just close the interlocking top, and stack and roll into a corner until moving day. After you move, you just call for a pick up.

Founded by Orlando resident Tom Cannon, it is the largest and fastest moving box rental company in the country. In addition to the Central Florida, more are popping up -- even in Canada.

And for the environment, Tom says “Surprisingly, until now, there really hasn’t been a good alternative to using cardboard. We’ve been using the same environmentally unfriendly materials for the past several hundred years. And, unfortunately, only half of the cardboard Americans use gets recycled. The other half gets tossed into the garbage.”

Orlando Startup Weekend Starts Friday

BungoBox CEO Tom Cannon will serve as a mentor and judge at Startup Weekend, which begins on Friday. Come out and participate or just to watch Tom in action.

What is it?
Startup Weekend Orlando is an intensive 54-hour event where developers, designers, marketers, product managers, and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startups. Starting March 23, aspiring entrepreneurs have 60 seconds to pitch their ideas, stir up interest, and encourage others to join them. Teams are then formed around the best 10 to 15 ideas. Entrepreneurs are then challenged to validate their ideas, create a business model, and turn ideas into a working app, website, and at times even profitable businesses by Sunday afternoon. Sunday night, a panel of judges consisting of business leaders, investors, and technology entrepreneurs will vote on the startups with the most potential to become sustainable businesses.

Winning teams will receive in-kind donations from local businesses -- giving the startups everything they need to get their business of the ground. Additionally, select teams will get the opportunity to receive up to $15,000 in funding and three months of incubation provided by Startup Orange County. Outside of the prizes available, Startup Weekend Orlando is also a great opportunity for networking and building new professional relationships.

Although close to 500 of these events have already taken place word wide, this is the first time that Startup Weekend is being held in Orlando. This 54-hour weekend is intended for anyone interested in Orlando’s technology and entrepreneurial communities. Startup Weekends are specifically designed for entrepreneurs looking for feedback on an idea, searching for a co-founder, or those who want to learn a new skill. Startup Weekends are risk-free environments where everyone is expected to roll up their sleeves and dive into the world of startups.

Participants in Startup Weekend Orlando will also gain valuable feedback from a panel of mentors consisting of local business and technology leaders, professors, investors, startup lawyers, as well as successful entrepreneurs from around Orlando.  

Details:
Date: March 23 - March 25
Venue: University of Central Florida: Classroom Building I, 4000 Central Florida Blvd
Friday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
http://orlando.startupweekend.org/tickets/ 


Cost: $99 / $49 for students
 

Bloomberg The Mentor - BungoBox Full Episode

Feb. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Entrepreneurial cousins Bob and Tom Cannon hit early success with their moving box rental business, BungoBox. Already franchising in 11 areas, the cousins turn to CEO Marc Lore, who sold Diapers.com start-up for $570 million, for advice on how to most effectively scale their business. (Source: Bloomberg)

BungoBox helps with the chore of moving

Published in the Tallahassee Democrat Feb. 10, 2012

By Elizabeth M. Mack 

Democrat staff writer

Local entrepreneur Ken Stevenson understands that moving can be a pain, so when he heard about the new moving concept BungoBox, he thought it would work well in Tallahassee.

"The traditional way to move is use cardboard boxes," he said. "You tape them together and then you can only stack so many before the bottom box becomes squashed."

But BungoBox offers stackable plastic tubs that can be rented.

"We deliver them, they pack, they unpack and then we pick them up," he added, noting that the boxes are weatherproof, durable and less costly than purchasing boxes.

"We have a simple slogan: 'Moving Sucks,'" Stevenson said, "so our mantra is we try to make moving suck less."

Stevenson opened the local franchise Jan. 1 in Midtown, 831 N. Monroe St.

The company was started in Orlando by Tom Cannon in March 2010. Today there are 12 locations — six in Florida, two in Canada and one in Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver and Phoenix, Cannon said. The company's goal is to open 100 more locations in the next five years.

The local business is truly family run, with Stevenson's wife, Connie, taking on the networking and community outreach, his son, Ryan, handling the deliveries, and daughter Sami handling the social media.

"My job is to just keep everything organized," he said. "So far, it's been great."