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

How BungoBox got its name

Published on ceoblognation.com

I came up with the name PungoBox one day. Pungo means move in Latin, so it seemed like a good fit. I told my cousin, Bob, who co-founded the company with me, and he thought I said BungoBox. Turns out, we liked that name even better and it stuck. We wanted a name that would become synonymous with moving box rental. We were looking for something unique, something memorable. Trademarks were available, domain names were available. We got to create a really snarky brand, and nobody has a preconceived notion about it, so we get to define what it means.

Tom featured on mashable.com - Be accountable, follow through, and choose the best people

Tom featured on mashable.com - Does higher education help in building a business

Tom featured on mashable.com - How to be effective in multiple local markets

BungoBox named “Promising Business” by Florida Trend

Published in Florida Trend

BungoBox: The fast-growing Orlando-based company with the catchy name and edgy slogan -- "We Make Moving Less Sucky" -- was founded in 2009 and recently awarded its 21st franchise to serve the New York City area. BungoBox rents reusable, interlocking plastic moving containers.

A Backstage Tour of Orlando’s Startups

Tom and Bob Cannon teamed up to give movers access to reusable plastic boxes.

Bill Peck

Published on entrepreneur.com

Founded: 2009
Employees: 7 franchise-company employees

Tom Cannon worked in sales, marketing and distribution for a manufacturing company when a buddy's move inspired a business idea: Give movers access to the same reusable plastic boxes that manufacturers use to store and move small parts. BungoBox was born. Renting from BungoBox costs half as much as buying cardboard boxes, says Cannon, and saves time on packing and unpacking.

Not many people were moving when the company launched in 2009, but “we didn't know the difference,” says Cannon, who teamed up with his cousin Bob Cannon. “We were still growing.” The recession had its benefits: “We bought our building out of foreclosure and got our trucks for a fraction of what we would have paid,” he says. The company, which is a franchise, now has 20 locations in the United States and Canada.

BungoBox featured on entrepreneur.com

Orlando Entrepreneurs Say Magic is Returning

By Sarah Max, published on entrepreneur.com

Editor's note: We've been taking a virtual tour of U.S. cities to see how the 2008 financial crisis changed the entrepreneurial landscape, for better or worse. Read about New York, Houston, Washington, Baton Rouge, La., Boise, Idaho and Indianapolis.

The financial crisis hit Orlando with a one-two punch.

First tourism took it on the chin – obviously a big blow give that the region is home to Disney World, Universal Studios and other major theme parks. Then the housing market doubled over, wiping out home equity and many construction and real estate jobs in the process. The median single-family home sales, according to Zillow, plunged to $140,000 in early 2011 from more than $320,000 in 2007.

“It got to the point where you could no longer assume a restaurant you wanted to go to was still in business,” recalls Richard Fox, a serial entrepreneur and partner with the Astralis Group, which advises and invests in concept-stage companies. “You had to call and check before you planned to meet there.”

As in other cities around the country, the recession was a catalyst for many would-be entrepreneurs to try to make a go of it. In Orlando, though, funding seemed even tougher to come by. Local angel investors were bent on protecting their depleted assets, says Fox, and venture capital funding in the region came to a screeching halt. Home equity had been a popular source of initial funding. “But we know what happened to that,” says Gordon Hogan, director of the University of Central Florida Business Incubator Program, which saw applications drop by 25%.

Related: Boise Attracts Startups Seeking Quality of Life

Ted Murphy, founder of IZEA, a company that connects national advertisers with social media influencers, was forced to let go of half of his staff after one of his VC backers told him he needed to “cut off one arm and one leg and see if we could still swim,” Murphy recalls. “It was a huge blow for morale.” On the bright side, it forced the company to “figure out what we do well.” Within 18 months IZEA doubled its profit margin, he says, and in 2011 it went public.

Nearly five years since the start of the Great Recession, some of the magic has returned to the city. Tourism dollars are coming back, home prices are creeping higher, and the unemployment rate – which averaged 11% in 2010 on a non-seasonally adjusted basis – was 7.1% in February.

Entrepreneurs, meanwhile, are starting to emerge from the rubble.

“It feels like there’s a startup and tech renaissance,” says Murphy, who met with four different startups last week alone to share advice gleaned from his own experiences. New ventures are migrating to office space downtown, sparking networking and enthusiasm. Design and development studios such as Envy Labs are cropping up. Established telephony company Voxeo hosts a co-working space for startups in its downtown space.

Meanwhile, startups are doing a better job mobilizing, says Murphy, who’s hosting a Trucks & Tech event later this month, bringing together food trucks and techies. The city is also gearing up for its third Startup Weekend, which has sold out every year since its 2011 launch. Venture Pitch Orlando will follow in May.

Most people around the country know Orlando as a vacation destination – and sometimes that has its drawbacks, says Tom Cannon, who cofounded the reusable packaging supply franchise BungoBox in 2009. But it also has its advantages – including cheap direct flights to virtually every major city in the country “and from a franchise sales perspective it doesn’t hurt to have your location near the mouse house,” he says, referring to the Disney complex.

Related: Indy's Entrepreneurs Make a Full-Court Press

The tax situation is also a huge benefit. Florida has no state income tax “and the state really does make a point of keeping business taxes so low they are almost not a consideration,” adds Fox.

While tourism is certainly a major part of the economy, the area also has a considerable high-tech presence, thanks in part to its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center and the Army’s Simulation and Training Technology Center. More than two dozen colleges, universities or campus branches – the Florida Institute of Technology, Rollins College and University of Central Florida among them – call the region home, and many host incubators, venture labs and business plan competitions.

“One of our VCs wanted us to relocate to Silicon Valley, and my response was ‘in that case we’ll need a lot more money because our costs are going to double,’” notes Murphy. Indeed, one big advantage of launching in Orlando, he says, is “you’re not competing against the 800 pound gorillas for talent.”

Funding is still hard to come by, say entrepreneurs of a common complaint in most cities outside Silicon Valley. “But there’s no longer a feeling that just one dollar bill is available and circulating from one person to the next,” says Fox, adding that these days he’s only calling ahead to restaurants when he thinks he needs a reservation.

Corrections & Amplifications: An earlier version of this story misstated the name of Tom Cannon, co-founder of BungoBox.

7 Specific Ways To Harness The Power Of Social Media

By Tom Cannon, published on forbes.com

If your company hasn’t learned to harness the power of the social media world yet, here’s one reason you should: According to Google, nearly 60 percent of people talk more online than they do in real life. So where do you begin? There are plenty of avenues to take. Here are some ideas for putting your business into the spotlight, gleaned from a recent Ragan Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Host a Google+ Hangout On Air. What do Maroon 5, the Dalai Lama and President Obama all have in common? They’ve all hosted Google+ Hangout On Air sessions. It’s a new spin on having conversations with your audience by allowing them to engage with your product and meet the people behind the brand. Disney, for example, premiered its “Lincoln” film trailer through the Hangout On Air feature. Here’s how it works: You log into your Google+ account, click Start Hangout and conduct an online video chat that streams the conversation live. Every Hangout on Air is automatically saved to your YouTube account.  The most important thing to remember: Practice beforehand, so you can nail things like lighting and sound.

Start an ambassador program. Your employees can be your best advocates or your worst enemies. Chances are, you’d like to go with the former. Many of them already use social media, so why not harness the energy of engaged employees into something useful? Start by creating a social media customer engagement policy and conduct training. Sprint does this in an entertaining and wildly successful way through its Social Media Ninjas program. They even have “black-belt” ninjas who tout the latest devices. Consider taking that a step further and recruit fans outside of your company as additional ambassadors.

Hold a contest on Pinterest. Pinterest offers a creative and meaningful way to connect with a huge audience –especially female customers ages 25 to 34 — many of whom spend loads of time on the site. In fact, as of February 2012, Pinterest had more monthly usage per user than Google, Twitter and LinkedIn combined, according to alltwitter.com. By holding a contest, you can connect with a niche audience that was likely not paying attention to your company before, and it can give you insight as to the audience’s needs and wants. TIP: Use curalate.com to measure your Pinterest presence. It finds images about your brand to help you measure your reach.

Tweet with gusto. For starters, let your personality shine through when tweeting. Start the conversation by asking your fans questions so they can generate colorful commentary. For example, Marvel asks its fans for thoughts on movie releases and games. And across the company’s Twitter accounts, hashtags are sprinkled in. The handy little # symbol categorizes tweets by topic and can make a huge difference. Case in point: When the NBA held its slam-dunk contest this year, viewers were asked to vote for favorite dunks using #spriteslam as the hashtag. Likewise, #spriteslam was tweeted 50,000 times in the first two minutes it appeared on-screen. But be sure to check your hashtags ahead of time. The pithy phrase may already be in use, and it may not be in line with your branding. Likewise, have a fresh pair of eyes look over the hashtag. Susan Boyle’s #Susanalbumparty was a PR disaster.

Listen to your fans. When Tasti D-Lite’s technology and digital marketing exec noticed a fan tweeting about potentially buying from the dessert company later in the day, he offered her a Tasti D-Lite coupon and she continued to tweet about how pleased she was with this interaction. This took less than a few minutes to do, but think of how effective it was. Along the same lines, when a Phoenix Suns fan sent out a tweet and photo complaining about a bad seat at a Suns game, the Suns social media team offered the unhappy fan a special seat in a suite. His resulting tweets were positive and influenced his huge audience.

Publish killer content. What makes content good? It has to be engaging enough that people want to share it. Ask yourself is this relevant to my audience? Does it answer a question? Does it provide entertainment? Do you have share buttons next to your content to make it easy for your readers to share it with their friends? And remember, you don’t have to generate all the content. Ask your audience members to guest blog, which will enable you to reach their audiences, too.

Develop a social media strategy. Of course, none of this makes sense if you don’t have goals and long-term thinking in mind. Just like anything else, you don’t want to throw your brand out into the social mediasphere all willy-nilly. Having a strategy will help you plan ahead for contests and such, and it helps you to shape your message. Keep in mind: Any good social media strategy should address the good (contests and coupons) and the bad and the ugly (customer complaints).
 
Courtesy of YEC
Tom Cannon is the CEO and cofounder of BungoBox, an Orlando-based company that rents moving containers made of recycled plastic as an alternative to cardboard boxes. Founded in 2009, BungoBox now has 21 locations in the U.S. and Canada and plans to open 150 more franchise locations in the next five years as part of a steady and strategic growth strategy.

Courtesy of YEC
The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons.
 

BungoBox Mentioned In Popular Raleigh Magazine

Midtown Magazine is the premiere lifestyle magazine for North Hills - one of Raleigh's most vibrant areas to live, work and play!  With Spring finally in the air, their March / April 2013 issue helps prepare readers for the season ahead.  Need the latest fashion?  They have you covered.  March Madness on your mind?  Read on.  How about a Spring move? Buying or selling, Midtown's article by Kurt Dusterberg gives you an update on the market, an outlook for the Spring season and some great tips to get started (it is never too early).  One of the tips?  You guessed it:  BungoBox.  

Checkout the article here: http://issuu.com/midtown/docs/mm_web_ma2013/65    

Read the entire issue:   http://issuu.com/midtown/docs/mm_web_ma2013

BungoBox info on page 68? Here: http://issuu.com/midtown/docs/mm_web_ma2013/69

The Midtown Magazine website: http://www.midtownmag.com

BungoBox on 9News.com in Denver

New Triangle store aims to replace the cardboard moving box

Published in the News & Observer by staff writers Amy Rue, Andrea Weigl and David Bracken

Retailing notes:

After working in wealth management and financial planning for the past 14 years, Raleigh resident Penn Nugent pined to do something a bit more entrepreneurial.

What he settled on is a franchising opportunity that aims to make the use of cardboard boxes in the moving process a thing of the past. On Jan. 14, Nugent will open the Triangle’s first BungoBox store, which allows businesses, families and individuals to rent plastic moving boxes. (The company’s slogan is “We Make Moving Less Sucky.”)

BungoBox will rent you a large plastic box of about 2.5 cubic feet for $1.75 a week, and will deliver all the boxes you need for your move to your doorstep. The company also rents a larger box that can hold about 4 cubic feet.

“The model is simple: We deliver them to your home or business for free,” said Nugent, 40. “When you’re done and you’re unpacked, we come and pick them up for free from your new location.”

He estimates using BungoBox costs about 50 percent less than buying cardboard boxes. And BungoBox’s rentals come with attached lids, and the boxes can be stacked and placed on rollers.

“Imagine just the labor involved to have your employees build and tape boxes,” Nugent said. “You’re saving time and cost.”

Nugent’s store will be BungoBox’s 20th nationwide. There’s already a store in Charlotte. Although Nugent expects most of his business to come from those moving within the Triangle, BungoBox can supply boxes if a customer is relocating to another market that has a store.

Nugent’s BungoBox store will be in Raleigh’s Brier Creek area at 7424 ACC Blvd.

Want To Franchise Your Small Business? 8 Tips To Get Started

By Tom Cannon, published on forbes.com

If you have a small business that can be easily replicated, then franchising may be one of the best ways to expand it at a fast pace. And if you tackle it the right way, you can certainly pump up your profitability.

Here are eight tips to help you through the transition:

1. Get organized. Think through the process of precisely how your business works. Franchisees will need exact details and guidelines to get their businesses up and running. This process takes some time, but it’s worth it — even if you decide not to launch the franchise option, this will still ultimately help your business run more smoothly. From marketing to signage to business cards to staff training, it all has to be executed in a similar manner. Develop an operations manual to give franchisees a quick way to reference policies and best practices and create an approval process so that you sign off on major decisions.
2. Hire an attorney. Getting expert advice is really crucial during the franchising process. For starters, you’ll need to fill out a Franchise Disclosure Document. It has a very distinct format you need to follow, and it’s important to have a lawyer walk you through this process. You’ll need to set pricing, create a franchise agreement and determine intellectual property protection. (In addition to meeting with an attorney, the International Franchise Association also has some excellent resources.)
3. Be picky. Just like dating, you should be extremely selective when it comes to choosing franchisees. It’s easy to find people with capital, but are they the right people? Do they have the right background in order to run a business? This is someone who will be representing you, so it needs to be a good fit. After all, you are in this to protect and grow your brand. Set up an interviewing process and know what your deal-breakers are.
4. Build and protect your brand. As a franchisor, your most valuable asset is your brand; protect it at all costs. Your brand represents your culture, your beliefs and your attitude toward your customers. When you franchise, you are giving new people the ability to represent your brand. This is one of the biggest risks of franchising. Clear guidelines should be established for the use of all of the brand assets. You want to be sure that you are sending one clear message from one clear source, and that message is consistent throughout the organization. No detail is too small. This can seem overbearing, but never let anyone use your brand assets in any way, no matter how small, without your prior approval. Monitor everything, pay close attention to videos and pictures, and monitor all social media outlets in a regular and detailed fashion.
5. Choose the right locations. What locations make the most sense for your business? Where do you have brand recognition already? Consider keeping your first few locations close to home, but far enough away that it doesn’t hurt sales at your initial location. That way, you can manage logistics easily. Keep in mind you’ll want to visit these locations in person from time to time, so choose locations with easy access to an airport.
6. Find a mentor … Or two or three. There will always be people who are willing to give you advice — you just need to seek them out.
7. Know how you want to grow. Steady, strategic growth is ideal. Does it make sense to expand on an international level? Or should you stick to a statewide plan?
8. Support your franchisees. At first, you’ll need some face time with your franchisees, as well as lots of time online and via phone. Do all you can to encourage them by celebrating victories and milestones. Scour through articles that you find helpful and share them. And last but not least, set up a way for franchisees to communicate with one another, too.

Tom Cannon is the CEO and cofounder of BungoBox, an Orlando-based company that rents moving containers made of recycled plastic as an alternative to cardboard boxes. Founded in 2009, BungoBox now has 17 locations in the U.S. and Canada and plans to open 150 more franchise locations in the next five years as part of a steady and strategic growth strategy.

Courtesy of YEC

The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons.

BungoBox is the Outstanding Small Biz for 2012

BungoBox’s plastic moving bins prove profitable

Originally Posted by the Orlando Business Journal here: http://bit.ly/VF8NI7

Other links asscociated with this story: http://bit.ly/VVlieX and http://bit.ly/WQA3i6

Moving. No one likes the work involved in doing it. Which is why, in 2009, a small company called BungoBox began its mission: changing the way people move forever.

Cousins Tom and Bob Cannon, cofounders of BungoBox, found a creative alternative to cardboard moving boxes: Renting out stackable, reusable plastic bins for commercial and residential moves. BungoBox delivers the sturdy bins to a customers’ doorstep, and after the customer unpacks, picks them up at the new office or residence.

“If one person uses an average of 50 boxes per move, each person runs through about 800 cardboard boxes alone,” said Sarah Sekula, BungoBox director of public relations. “Plus, our customers get an earth-friendly way to move that’s cheaper than buying cardboard boxes.”

In three years, the small Casselberry company went from two employees and no franchisees to seven workers and 50 franchisee staff members in the U.S. and Canada with more than

$1 million in revenue.

BungoBox is the top winner in the 1-25 employees division of Orlando Business Journal’s 2012 Outstanding Small Businesses competition.

“I want to leave a legacy,” said Bob Cannon, president. “I want to inspire people that innovation isn’t dead. If you surround yourself with really smart people, you can accomplish anything.”

In the next five years, BungoBox plans to increase the number of franchise locations from 16 to 150, said Tom Cannon, CEO. Three to five new franchises are scheduled to open in North America and Canada by the end of this year.

“We want to be the largest in the world and the leading moving box company in the U.S. Anything less would be short of our vision,” Tom Cannon said.

Now that BungoBox has taken off outside of Florida, similar companies are starting to take notice.

“BungoBox has defined and executed a vision to become competitive as a franchisor and operator,” said Joe Aiello, president of New Jersey-based competitor, Rentacrate. “Their sales of franchises is commendable in this economy. They have also done a great job in creating a brand for Bungo.”

Many people who have used BungoBox for residential or commercial moving come back as repeat customers.

BungoBox accountant Bonny Bowyer of Bowyer & McCullough PA is convinced of BungoBox’s convenience and service.

“I’m moving in two weeks, already have my order in, and I’m going to pack, unpack and give them back, just like the website says,” Bowyer said. “It’s good for businesses; it’s good for individuals. They’re the first industry doing this, and every industry starts with someone doing something with a new idea.”

BungoBox

Division: 1-25 employees

Description: Rents out plastic moving bins for commercial and residential moves

Top executives: CEO Tom Cannon and President Bob Cannon, co-founders

2012 projected revenue: $1 million-plus

Revenue growth 2010-2012: 471 percent

Employees: Seven, plus 50 franchisee staff members

Community service: Food, clothing and toy drives during the holiday season; The Ephraim project; Habitat for Humanity; Startup Weekend Orlando; UCF Venture Labs; provided boxes for Envy Labs’ food drive

Contact: (888) 479-1888; http://www.bungobox.com

Other division winners: BigEye Creative; Studio 3 Designs LLC

BungoBox to open franchise in Albany

By Eric Anderson, published on timesunion.com

BungoBox, which rents plastic reusable boxes for moving, has awarded a new franchise operation in Albany, the 17th for the Orlando, Fla.-based company. The franchise is expected to begin operations in coming months.

Customers who are moving can rent the stackable boxes for a week or more, packing them and moving to their new destination, then call BungoBox to pick up the boxes once they're unpacked. One catch: You must be moving to a city that also has a BungoBox franchise.

Enough boxes for a three-bedroom house cost $105 a week to rent. Using the boxes is intended to cut down on cardboard waste and the need to tape or tie boxes together. Customers are responsible for moving the boxes from their old home to their new home. "The moving is up to you," BungoBox says

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)

Executive Profile: Tom Cannon

Published in Orlando Business Journal

By Anjali Fluker

Tom Cannon, co-founder and CEO, BungoBox Holdings Inc.

Tom Cannon likes to be part of the culture in Orlando that brings startup companies to town — considering his own firm was a startup just two years ago.

Cannon, 40, is co-founder and CEO of Casselberry-based reusable, interlocking plastic moving container company BungoBox Holdings Inc., which had nearly $1 million in 2011 revenue and is set to double that this year.

He started his firm in 2010 and has grown it to 17 locations in Florida, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and in Canada, adding franchisees in Connecticut and Virginia earlier this year. The firm is on pace to have nearly 25 sites by year’s end.

Cannon wants to share his secrets to success, so he helped organize an event called Startup Weekend Orlando earlier this year, which will hold its second event on Nov. 9. Additionally, he mentors three to five new entrepreneurs at a time and is a board member for Orlando Inc.

“We have to create new cool local companies that will create more jobs,” he said. “We have all the tools — it’s just a matter of getting companies to stay here and getting those with money to invest in them.”

Personal
Education: Bachelor’s in advertising, University of Florida; bachelor’s in history, University of Central Florida

First job: Rax Roast Beef

Little-known fact: I was a really bad student in high school. I signed up for the U.S. Navy a year before graduating and was overseas during the Desert Storm Operation.

Favorite distraction: Listening to Spotify

Business Philosophy
Basic philosophy: Live and let live.

How I grew business through a down economy: We used the franchise model. The current environment is ripe for people wanting to start their own businesses.

True Confessions
Best business decision: Choosing my current business partner Bob Cannon

Worst business decision: Choosing to work with friends

Goal I have yet to reach: Raising capital to grow faster

In a moment of weakness, I: Give my children whatever they want ... and enjoy a drink

If I could pick another job, I’d be a: History professor

My most annoying habit: I fall asleep on the couch every night, and I snack and get full while my wife is cooking dinner.

Favorite dish to cook: A good filet

A phrase I use too often: At the end of the day ...

Et Cetera
Pet peeves: Laziness and apathy

Favorite restaurant: Bonefish Grill

I’m reading: Rework

I’d like to visit: Ireland

On my iPod: U2, Coldplay and Dave Matthews Band

I’ve always wanted to learn: How to code

My dream ride: 911 Turbo
 

Tom Cannon says Orlando is a Startup Paradise

Published on tech.co

Tech Cocktail asked: “Why is your city a startup’s paradise?”  Their answers are below.

1. Startup in the New Sin City

The era of sin is over. Las Vegas is now focused on startups, sustainability, spirituality, and social change. Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh has played a tremendous role in downtown Las Vegas’s startup culture, pledging $350 million of his own money to fund downtown businesses. Las Vegas’s real startup success is just as important its Jellies – discipline-specific coworking sessions for entrepreneurs and community leaders in such areas as tech, food, green living, and health and wellness. These are launching successful businesses and community projects such as The Reset Project, Build a Greener Block, and Las Vegas’s own Startup Weekend.
Finally, with our generous tax structure, we are not only growing our own startups, but also seeing startups from across the country relocate here.
- Alexia Vernon, Communication and Leadership Author, Speaker, Coach, and Trainer at Alexia Vernon Empowerment LLC

2. Music City Is An Entrepreneurial Hub

Nashville may be a bit new to the startup game, but it’s growing quickly. Having been known for primarily launching music or health care companies, it’s now growing tech companies, consumer products, and entertainment ideas. Kudos go to organizations like Nashville’s new Entrepreneur Center, working hard under the leadership of Michael Burcham to provide incubation, knowledge, and pathways to funding for people with a great idea. Chapters like the local Social Enterprise Alliance are also helping to network and support entrepreneurs with a desire to make a profit while making a difference. Top-notch schools like Vanderbilt and Belmont pump young talent into the local economy. Belmont offers a major in entrepreneurship too. Wonderful climate and affordable living are icing on the cake!
- Sam Davidson, President and Cofounder at Cool People Care, Inc.

3. The City of Angels Flies

Los Angeles may be known for being one of the biggest entertainment hubs in the world, but it is also beginning to attract startups for a couple of reasons.
There are more colleges and universities in Los Angeles than almost any other city in the US, making it easy to find people to test your product and provide feedback when you’re just starting out. There are other startups in the LA area, but not so many that weekday parties and competition down the street becomes distracting and a constant fear. It’s good to be a little bit secluded, but still connect with others in the area.  So your team needs a break or just a change of scenery? You can easily drive twenty minutes to the beach and start a quick game of frisbee or set up a beach work station!
- Stacey Ferreira, Cofounder and Vice President at MySocialCloud

4. Don’t Count Chicago Out

Aside from the incredibly friendly and supportive culture of the Midwest, Chicago is a paradise for B2B startups because we have the largest concentration of the Fortune 500 companies in the US. When you start to add in that the cost of living, salaries, and office space are 40-60 percent less than the coasts, it means that startups here only need to raise a fraction of the venture capital needed elsewhere. In addition, it makes the viability of bootstrapping much more realistic.  Finally, with nearly 9.5 million people, the talent pool is enormous, especially for sales and marketing talent.
- Seth Kravitz, CEO at Technori

5. NYC Will Never Sleep

I’m so proud that Poshly.com is headquartered in New York City. First, our industry – beauty – is primarily based here; it makes meetings very easy when the industry you are serving is in your locale. Second, New York City has incredible diversity in looks and ideas – that means that inspiration abounds. Third, the pace of New York City appeals to the entrepreneur lifestyle. You’re never the only night owl in this town – this is the city of dreamers and over-achievers!
- Doreen Bloch, CEO and Founder at Poshly Inc.

6. Take to Tel Aviv

Israel is known as the Startup Nation around the world, and Tel Aviv is proof of that.
There are entrepreneurs working on startups in every corner of the city. Having a huge, vibrant community makes it an amazing place. There are dozens of startup events per week. Everyone wants to network and help each other out.  Almost every entrepreneur in Israel has gone through required military service, making these people very responsible, quick thinking, and overall brilliant founders.
- Ben Lang, Founder at EpicLaunch

7. Don’t Forget DC!

DC is a great place for startups! We have as much diversity that rivals any other city in America, which allows a free flow of ideas to be passed around. Being the most powerful city in the world, we’re still small enough that you won’t get lost in the crowd. Making connections is fairly easy. Everyone knows everyone around here! DC has become the hub of the East Coast. So many people travel through and stop in DC that it has become the meeting place for entrepreneurs all over the world.
- Angela Pan, Owner/Photographer at Angela B. Pan Photography

8. Columbia Spotlights Middle America

What’s so special about Columbia? Hopefully, you’ve heard of the Mizzou Tigers, but this isn’t just a college town.
Columbia is fostering fantastic entrepreneurial ventures with qualified advisers, investors, affordable (sometimes free) co-working space, incubators, and inspiring events like Startup Weekend, TEDxMU and True/False. Book’d is here because it’s so much easier to build and test in this market, given the low cost of operation, lack of ego and community support. The culture is a mix of Midwest values and collegiate lifestyle (“Cocktails and Dodgeball” just last week!), but with the intelligence and drive to create actual value in what we’re building. We’re not playing around – AdVentures was #28 on the 2011 INC 500, Zapier is now YC ombinator-backed, and more is building.
- Emily Eldridge, CEO at Book’d

9. Boulder Breeds Founders

If you’re looking for startup paradise, look no further. Boulder definitely wins first place.
Besides its breathtaking beauty, Boulder has 200 miles of public hiking and biking trails, 43,000 acres of open space, and 300 days of sunshine a year to use it.  Second, Boulder’s home to lots of happy, smart people. People live here because they want to, not because they have to. Boulder was named the “#1 Happiest, Healthiest Place in America” by a 2011 Gallup Poll, “Foodiest” by Bon Appetit magazine, and “Beertown USA” by Draft Magazine. If this doesn’t make for a startup paradise, I don’t know what does. Let me know when you’re ready to move.
- Sarah Schupp, Founder at UniversityParent.com

10. Orlando Has Startup Magic

Orlando is one of the cheapest places in the nation to launch a business. When we opened our doors in late 2009, we got things up and running without a huge investment of capital. We bought our 4,000-square-foot warehouse at a 50 percent discount, and all of our expenditures were bought at a discount.
Local leaders and organizations here embrace entrepreneurship in a big way. We are lucky to have Orlando Inc., which provides a strong support system and has helped us gain momentum quickly. The Rollins Business Accelerator and the UCF Business Incubation Program are also top notch and have helped tremendously with creating buzz, establishing partnerships, and connecting with mentors. UCF, the second-largest university, is nearby, so we have snagged some of the area’s top talent.
- Tom Cannon, Cofounder & CEO at BungoBox

11. Berkeley Has Everything Necessary

Berkeley is an incredible place to launch a business. The UC Berkeley campus is right in the middle of the city, providing amazing resources of engineering talent and student interns, not to mention classes and professors. The community has a growing startup population, too, which means that all of the amenities are readily available. Office space is plentiful, as are incubators. The city government has experience dealing with setting up new businesses. And there are plenty of advisers to be found from already-existing businesses. Importantly, within the thriving Berkeley community there are plenty of customers. There are individuals across all demographic lines. And, of course, there are plenty of businesses across industry and scale if you are building a business-to-business product.
- Aaron Schwartz, Founder and CEO at Modify Watches

12. Silicon Valley Still Rules

All of the investors are here: whether you’re looking to join an incubator, raise an angel round of funding, or close your Series A, Silicon Valley has every type of investor in every type of industry you can think of. It’s still home to the best engineers: Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Microsoft are all headquartered in Silicon Valley. These companies hire the best engineering talents. If you have the right pitch, the right vision, and get lucky, then it’s possible to get top talent to leave their comfortable corporate job and to join your startup. While the startup culture is emerging in many cities, startups are a tradition in Silicon Valley. The majority of people you meet here are founders, work at startups, or plan to leave their job soon to start their own company.
- Jun Loayza, Founder at Tour Woo
 

Outside the Box

Published in Denver's 5280 Magazine

After a months-long search for a Boulder home, my husband and I finally secured that tingly, we-could-actually-see-ourselves-living-here feeling. Our relief, however, quickly turned to dread. We have to pack. Fortunately, a new “green” venture called Bungo Box arrived in Denver and rescued us from the tedium of tape and cardboard. The company rents plastic bins that snap closed, stack, and roll on detachable wheels. The boxes—prices start at $1.75 per box, per week—come in only two sizes, which means packing the truck won’t feel like a game of Tetris. Bungo Box made our move as seamless as moving can be without paying someone else to do the work. bungobox.com

Preparing for summer moving season

Published on 9news.com

DENVER - In a little over a week it will be Memorial Day and while the holiday weekend marks the unofficial start of summer experts say it's the official kick-off to another season - moving season.

According to Jim Garner the owner of BungoBox Denver, a company that specializes in renting out green moving boxes, the season is tied to the Real Estate market and the number of people looking to move begins to pick up in April as home sales begin to increase.

By the end of May companies are preparing for the height of moving season which typically lasts from Memorial Day to Labor Day. They say many summer moves, like spring moves, are driven by home sales but additionally wedding season and graduations leave many couples and newly minted grads looking for a place to live.

Garner adds during the summer people may also have more opportunities to move without having to miss work.

"Also contributing to the seasonality are the 3-day holidays Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day which allows extra time for those self-moving to organizing and to the physical labor of moving," Garner told 9NEWS.

Garner says 60 to 70 percent BungoBox's residential business will come between April 1 and September 30.

The number of people looking to relocate begins to decrease after Labor Day because of the threat of snow but doesn't completely stop. He says past Halloween there is a definite drop-off that he attributes to the weather and the holidays.

Anyone contemplating a move over the busy summer season should try and reserve moving companies, rental trucks or labor as soon as possible to insure they get the equipment and services they need as well as the best price according to Garner.

For more of his moving advice, including tips on how to choose a moving company, please watch the video above.

BungoBox on Denver Channel 7

Greengirl interviews Denver BungoBox

Local retirees find ways to stay active in community

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.
 

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.”

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."

Local franchise looking to rethink the way we move

Published on innovationgainesville.com Feb. 9, 2012 

{image_3rdbromlocalfranchise} A local entrepreneur hopes he can help cardboard go the way of the dinosaur by rethinking the way people move – with reusable plastic boxes, rather than the cardboard boxes which wind up in the garbage more often than the recycling bin. 

David Stockman, local owner of BungoBox, finds it hard to believe that — until now — there hasn’t really been a good alternative to using cardboard. In fact, “We’ve been using the same environmentally unfriendly materials for the past several hundred years,” he said.

BungoBox, a Florida company that Stockman recently franchised in Gainesville, rents reusable plastic moving boxes as an alternative to the traditional cardboard box, helping to keep that moving waste out of Gainesville landfills.

According to BungoBox, only half of the cardboard Americans use actually gets recycled. The average American moves  every more than 16 times in a lifetime, all the bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts and boxes can quickly add up. With our student population, Gainesville sees more people on the move than many other places.

Essentially, customers rent BungoBoxes and other moving equipment from the company, which are then delivered to their doorstep prior to their move. Once you complete your move, the company will drop by the new address to pick up the rented BungoBoxes. The simple concept has been a hit, and BungoBox, which is based in Orlando, has opened 12 franchise locations in the past 11 months.

“It ends up being a no-brainer for customers because not only are you creating a zero-waste move, it’s also cheaper than buying the alternative — cardboard,” Stockman said.

Check out BungoBox here before your next move.

Education On the Go

With the tough economy locked tighter than a Vegas vault, it's no surprise that many small businesspeople are still proceeding carefully. Some, however, are doing quite the opposite. Like Tom Cannon. He launched his BungoBox franchise in May 2011 and went full steam ahead—without the operation falling apart.

In fact, his two-year-old company, which rents plastic reusable bins as an alternate to cardboard boxes for moving, has added at least 10 franchise locations in the past year alone (still counting). Plus, there are still hundreds of franchise applications to review. Even more, the company started making a profit after year one, a feat not easily accomplished, of course, in the boom-or-bust (mostly bust) world of entrepreneurship.

So, how has he kept up with all the growth? He’s gone back to school.

“You can take all the business classes in the world and still not be prepared for everything thrown at you when you become a business owner,” Cannon says. “By the time you have some years under your belt and start making money, well, it’s time to take some classes again.”

With that in mind, the 39-year-old recently completed a three-month program at Rollins College in Winter Park called the Rollins Business Accelerator. This new program is designed to help second-stage entrepreneurs evaluate strategy and develop a growth plan while maximizing cash flow for future profitability. It's surely not the only formal training available in Central Florida. With Orlando ranked as one of the “10 Best Cities to Start a Business,” according to Entrepreneur magazine, there is plenty of instruction to go around. In this instance, though, the Accelerator prompted Cannon to really think, well, outside the box.

“This class has given me the tools needed to harness the vision I have for my company,” adds Cannon. “The lessons learned from all involved have forever left a mark and will play an important role in our culture. I feel like we now have a distinct advantage when faced with any challenge or obstacle."

Classes, each accommodating up to 15 CEOs/presidents, are held at the Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship, in the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins. One hundred percent of the faculty have started, bought or run a successful business.

“We identified a gap of preparation in the market,” comments Cari Coats, the center's executive director. “We often get CEOs and/or presidents of entrepreneurial ventures [enrolling] in one of our MBA programs. We’ve noticed an upswing in the demand for business preparation skills by entrepreneurs.”

{image_indev2}

Not every entrepreneur, however, is able to afford the cost or have the time to enroll in a two-year MBA program. The Rollins Business Accelerator fills this void in the market, with no long-term commitment or significant capital investment required, says Coats, who also is president of C2 Advisors, a management consulting firm specializing in strategy, operations, governance, marketing and business development services for corporations and other enterprises.

“Recent graduates over the past four years of our program have been able to elect a concentration in entrepreneurship with their MBA program,” she says. “Graduates (who received their degree) prior to a few years ago (and) who have entered into an entrepreneurial venture since graduating may feel they need a mini-MBA primer intensely focused on running [their] own venture.”

And, in case no one has noticed, entrepreneurship is to the economy as fuel is to an engine. It makes things move. Big picture: Who would debate that entrepreneurship (and innovation) will be crucial to the nation’s economic revival and competitiveness in a global marketplace?

At the Rollins Business Accelerator, students are assigned a professional coach, who has a successful entrepreneurial track record and helps them learn about relevant topics such as how to position their company for growth, how to lead their organization, how to obtain capital to fund growth and who to negotiate with. During the comprehensive three-month program, entrepreneurs work on their business and leave with a development and planning process they can use as a tool for ongoing growth.

“Ultimately, it’s a place that fosters support and inspiration,” Cannon says. “The ability to work on my business with the nationally ranked Crummer faculty, who have been there and done that, and with dynamic classmates was certainly a game changer.”

Cannon contends that he walked away with a good assessment of the current status of BungoBox, the competition and the market. Now, he believes, he's ready to make better decisions about the continued growth of his company.

“It definitely helped me hone in on my strategic thinking and get advice from people who’ve been in my situation and come out on top,” he concludes. “It’s is a must for any business owner.”

Published in Florida Forward
November 10, 2011
By Sarah Sekula

Tom speaks at the The UCF Center for Entrepreneurship

{image_ucfentrepreneurship} Tom will be speaking to a group of entrepreneurs at The UCF Center for Entrepreneurship tonight. As part of the UCF Incubation Program’s Excellence in Entrepreneurship Certificate Course, participants will learn from successful business leaders like Tom who have created innovative companies in Central Florida. 

If you’d like to book Tom or Bob Cannon for your next event, please contact Sarah Sekula at sarah.sekula@bungobox.com.

For more about the UCF Business Incubation Program, visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu.

BungoBox: An Eco Friendly Alternative to Cardboard Boxes for Moving

Winning B.I.G.

Published in Orlando Inc's EveryMonday

Since winning the 2010 B.I.G.* Award, Tom Cannon, CEO and cofounder of BungoBox, has seen his moving-box rental company grow quicker than he could have ever imagined. In fact, the company has grown over 1,000 percent since launching in May 2009, and has expanded to nine new markets. It comes as no surprise, though, when you consider the smart, simple concept his company is based on.

Consider this: Until now, there really has not been a good alternative to traditional cardboard boxes. “We have been using the same environmentally unfriendly materials for the past several hundred years,” says Cannon. “And, unfortunately, only half of the cardboard Americans use actually gets recycled. The rest gets tossed into the garbage.”

Enter: BungoBox. They rent reusable plastic bins to save consumers time and money over traditional moving methods. The concept is simple: A BungoBox truck delivers the stackable moving boxes (a large box of about 2.5 cubic feet rents for $1.75 a week) to a customers’ doorstep. Once they’ve been unpacked, BungoBox picks them up at the new residence.

Since he began BungoBox in August 2009, the company’s revenue has increased 600 percent, from $25,000 in 2009 to $175,000 in 2010. They expect to earn more than $1 million this year. Add the B.I.G.* Award to the mix and you’ve got a winning combination.

Winning the B.I.G.* Award came at just the right time. “Being recognized as a leading business in Central Florida and having the support of Orlando, Inc., was phenomenal,” he says. “When it comes to gaining momentum, contacts and exposure, we couldn’t have asked for more.”

Cannon says BungoBox delivered more than 100,000 boxes in 2010 to residential and corporate clients who include the Orlando Magic, JP Morgan Chase, Lockheed Martin and Sears.

“We want the name BungoBox to define the market,” Cannon says. “When people talk about renting boxes, we want them to immediately think of BungoBox, just like when people say ‘Xerox’ or ‘Kleenex.’”

Ultimately, BungoBox aims to have at least 100 franchise locations in North America established in the next five years and also plans to become global eventually.  If it’s up to Cannon, cardboard boxes will be a thing of the past.
For more information about BungoBox, call (888) 479-1888 or visit www.bungobox.com. For franchise details, visit bungobox.com/about/franchise.

Thinking inside the box

Published Sept. 30, 2011 in The Chronicle Herald

[caption id="attachment_2293" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Troy McLean, who runs a BungoBox franchise with his partner, on Thursday stands with some of the company’s reusable boxes, available to customers as an alternative to cardboard, in Hammonds Plains. Photo by Christian LaForce"][/caption]

By BILL POWER Business Reporter

IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE to build a better mousetrap, but some Halifax entrepreneurs have learned it is possible to build a better box.

The business partners picked up the national rights earlier this year to form BungoBox Canada — a plastic moving-box rental enterprise hatched in the United States — and announced Thursday the first franchise in this country will be established in Edmonton.

"Our plan is to build out slowly and allow each franchise to establish a solid local business in their market, providing an alternative to traditional cardboard moving boxes," partner Darin McLean said in an interview.

"Eventually we will have a system that links all the major Canadian centres."

McLean said the popularity of BungoBox is spreading at a good pace in Halifax Regional Municipality, especially among people in the moving and storage business and among consumers.

"There are about 1,500 moves in the region each year, and I think it is reasonable to get about 200 of those moves onto our system this year. We’re confident we’ll eventually have 80 per cent of the market."

BungoBox rigid plastic boxes are durable and easily stacked and the partners promote the fact their system is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than traditional cardboard boxes.

"People who use cardboard boxes often feel bad after their move when they have to dispose of the used boxes," said McLean.
BungoBox plastic boxes are picked up by the company after they are used. There is no additional cost for the pickup service, which is built into the rental fee.

A two-bedroom package includes 32 large boxes, three extra large boxes and one dolly for $90 for one week and $25 for the second week.

After the move within Halifax-Dartmouth region is completed, a representative picks up the boxes.

"We expect to develop 20 franchises across Canada over the next two years and hope to award two more Canadian franchises before the end of the year," said McLean.

His partners in the venture are brother Troy McLean and Raymond McFadgen.

Profile: Tom Cannon

Published in Florida magazine

Cardboard moving boxes are recyclable, but up to half of them still wind up in landfills, says Tom Cannon (advertising ’96). His company, BungoBox, offers a green, wallet-friendly alternative to cardboard by renting reusable plastic bins for corporate and residential moves.

The company, which Cannon started with his cousin Bob in 2009, has grown to include locations in Canada and Arizona as well as throughout Florida, where the company is based. Cannon had the idea for BungoBox while working in the steel manufacturing industry, where reusable inventory bins were the norm. He realized they would be ideal for packing, especially if the bins could be rented instead of purchased.

Cannon initially marketed BungoBox on its green cred: The bins can be used up to 400 times before they’re retired, as opposed to cardboard boxes, which tend to give out after a few uses. He quickly realized, however, that customers were primarily drawn to the convenience of the stackable lidded bins, which are delivered to customers and picked up empty at their new home or office, as well as the price: Weekly rentals start at $1.75 per box.

“For most of our customers, the green aspect is just the gravy,” Cannon said.

-Alisson Clark (BSJ ’98)

Move Without Cardboard Boxes

Aired on WCTC-TV Sept. 13, 2011

No more wrestling with that pesky packaging tape.

A new company just opened in Tallahassee, it provides movers with plastic boxes for moving, instead of using cardboard boxes.
A BungoBox truck delivers the stackable moving boxes to a customers' doorstep. Once they've been unpacked, BungoBox picks them up at the new residence.

The company says unlike cardboard boxes, their boxes are durable, stackable and eco-friendly.

Currently, the company is unable to service customers that are moving out of their 9 location areas.

Click here to see the video.

BungoBox on CBS Radio

Aired on CBS Radio Aug. 19, 2011

[caption id="attachment_2159" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Reporter Peter King interviews Ann Francis, EcoRollins advisor, and Rollins student Kristin Urban."][/caption]

Rollins College student Kristin Urban recently moved into her eco-friendly dorm in a non-conventional way; she’s did it without using cardboard boxes. When she moved into the Mowbray House, a fully sustainable “living lab” located on the Rollins College campus, she used plastic, recycled moving bins called BungoBoxes and, in turn, creating a zero-waste move.

Consider this: Only about half of the cardboard that Americans discard actually gets recycled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One BungoBox will replace a minimum of 250 average cardboard boxes during its lifetime -- the equivalent of 1,575 gallons of water, four large trees, 923 KW hours of energy and 40 gallons of gas.

“Everything the students do at the Mowbray House is meant to be an example; they take their roles as environmental ambassadors seriously,” says Ann Francis, adviser to Eco-Rollins and manager of the student-run sustainability program. “Since the average American moves more than 16 times in a lifetime, all the bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts and boxes really add up. Using an alternative to cardboard just makes sense.”

CBS Radio Interview

Turning plastic into profit

Published in the Orlando Business Journal Aug. 19, 2011

[caption id="attachment_2146" align="aligncenter" width="594" caption="Photo taken by OBJ"][/caption]

by Kerri Anne Renzulli

Tom and Bob Cannon are waging war on cardboard — and winning. Their weapon of choice: reusable interlocking plastic moving boxes.

As founders of BungoBox, a Casselberry-based company that rents the plastic boxes for commercial and residential moves, they are out to take back the market share cardboard enjoys. To accomplish that, they are offering a product that is both cheaper and sturdier than cardboard while being eco-friendly.

“We have to reprogram people and create the awareness that cardboard is not the only option,” Tom Cannon said. “In every facet we have cardboard beat. We want our product and our brand to be recognized as the new standard.”

Since the cousins began BungoBox in August 2009 with each chipping in more than $500,000 from their personal savings, the company’s revenue has increased 600 percent, from $25,000 in 2009 to $175,000 in 2010. They expect to earn more than $1 million this year.

“We have a 100 percent conversion rate. All our clients come back, not just satisfied but as raving fans,” Bob Cannon said.

Jeannette Casasnovas, executive assistant for Total Medical Solutions, said when her company moved its offices, BungoBox was selected because of two factors: affordability and eco-friendliness. But she wasn’t the only one pleased with the decision.

“I have employees who were a part of the move and saw how easy Bungobox was and now are calling them to help with their personal moves,” Casasnovas said.

The Cannons credit such success to the simplicity of their idea and the tenacity with which they’ve worked to realize it.
At startup, Tom and Bob Cannon were the sole employees and performed tasks ranging from box delivery to sales calls.

“I used to say I was pulling a Superman because I’d go directly from a business meeting and wearing a tie to running a delivery in shorts,” Bob Cannon said.

Tom Cannon added that it now has become a source of pride for him to see a BungoBox truck on the road — and not be the one driving it.

While their own staff has remained small, that’s not to say the Cannons don’t have growth on their minds, with franchise development.

The pair began offering others the chance to ride their idea’s coattails at the start of this year. By May, their first franchise opened in Tampa.

BungoBox opened another five franchises already this year, the most recent in Halifax, Canada, and plans to have 10 open by year-end. Another 20-30 locations in Canada are expected to open in the coming years.

Greg Steinig, owner of the Tampa-based franchise, said he couldn’t be happier with the business, as he has been profitable since opening.

“Other companies don’t have the business model that the Cannons do. They have a system that brings customers in,” Steinig said.

BungoBox aims to have at least 100 franchise locations in North America established in the next five years, but would like to become global.

To get there, the pair plan to follow two tenets they believe all businesses need.

“You have to be excited about what you’re doing, because that excitement is contagious and it spreads to customers, employees and franchisees,” Bob Cannon said.

And, added Tom Cannon, such excitement should be tempered with a determination to take risks. “Work 10 times harder than you ever thought you would and do what most people are unwilling to do.”

BungoBoxTop local executives: Tom and Bob Cannon, co-founders.
Description: Rents plastic boxes for commercial and residential moves.
2010 revenue: $175,000.
Employees: Eight.
Contact: (888) 479-1888; http://www.bungobox.com.

Deals for college students moving onto campus

Aired on ABC15 August 11, 2011

MESA, AZ - If you're looking for cheap alternatives to boxes, there are two options.

At BoxSmart , they sell boxes for half the price of what you would find at a regular store.

"We carry the standard moving boxes, small, medium, large," said Michael Hidder, a salesman for the company.

For a small box, they charge 90 cents.

The company recycles large amounts of boxes and then brings them back to a facility in Mesa, where they're sorted and processed.

"It’s an interesting new way to recycle boxes, recycle cardboard, reduce the strain on the environment and it’s something as simple as a cardboard box," Hidder said.

It's nothing fancy, but it certainly does the job, he said.

"You walk in, we can get you in and out in a matter of five to 10 minutes," he added.

The second option: A BungoBox .

Christ Smatt owns the company's second franchise.

Smatt said it's eco-friendly, sturdy, easy to use and move around.

"You simply put stuff in it, close it. Put stuff in the next box, close it up. And stack it. Put it on our dollies...wheel it out to your truck, so now you’re saving time, especially if you have movers that you’re paying by the hour," Smatt said.

It saves time and money, he said.

If you have a current ASU ID, Smatt will give students 10% off.

Rollins student moves using eco-friendly BungoBox

Tom Cannon – CEO and co-founder of BungoBox

Published on Ideamensch.com July 29, 2011

[caption id="attachment_2116" align="aligncenter" width="442" caption="Photo by Bill Peck."][/caption]

Tom Cannon is the CEO and co-founder of BungoBox. The largest and fastest growing moving box rental franchise in North America. In just two years Tom and his team have grown from a single location in Orlando, Florida to seven locations. BungoBox has also launched international expansion with the first location to open in Canada by the end of July and a development plan to open at least 20 in Canada. BungoBox is on track to have over ten locations by the end of this year in the United States.

Tom has recently been nominated to the Orlando Business Journal 40 under 40. In November of last year, BungoBox won the 2010 BIG* Award for Business Innovation and Growth. Additional, Tom and BungoBox have been featured in multiple newspaper articles and blogs throughout the US and Canada. Over the past 20 years, Tom Cannon, 39, has served in the United States Navy during the First Gulf war, been instrumental in the launch of three successful companies, held executive-level positions in sales, marketing and management and today is the CEO and co-founder of BungoBox.

He is a graduate of the University of Florida, with a degree in advertising, and a graduate of the University of Central Florida, with a degree in history. Tom has traveled extensively but has always made his way back to his birthplace to be with his friends and family in Orlando, Fla.

When he’s not rethinking the way Americans move from one location to the next, he is soaking up the Central Florida lifestyle. And that means boating, fishing and enjoying the outdoors. He loves spending time with his wife Heather and three children, hanging out with his friends and, of course, being a part of the Gator Nation.

What are you working on right now?

Social commerce is the next big idea. It’s basically the meshing of e-commerce and mobile commerce with social networking. Dell and Amazon own e-commerce.  Apple is the leader in mobile commerce, but no one leads the next wave, social commerce.

With that said, BungoBox has ventured into this new frontier with both guns blazing. We have invested a considerable sum of money in order to provide the best customer experience possible. I wish i could share all the details, but we feel that this total package is so revolutionary for not only our business and industry, but a game changer overall. We are always working on ways to improve our business and be the leading innovator in our industry. We feel that this is the only way to stay in front of the competition.

What does your typical day look like?

I wear many hats. I can be on the phone with our Phoenix location and fifteen minutes later be on the phone with our Tampa location. I deal with PR, marketing, technology, product development, and strategic partnerships.  My day is extremely unpredictable and always subject to change.

I enjoy a great many things about my job. You see, I love business, I love creating something from nothing and I simply love that BungoBox is that spark in someone else’s life. We are changing lives by creating businesses all over the country and changing our customers’ moving experience at the same time.

Three trends that excite you?

I am a big geek when it comes to technology and the web. So, typically trends that excite me most are usually found there.

The mobilization of the web is phenomenal to me. I think that we have only scratched the surface here. I believe that most communication, if not all, will take place over some mobile device, smart phone or tablet within 10 years, maybe sooner. And all of these devices will be interconnected and act as one, no matter which you choose at a given moment.

Social media will dominate all media soon enough. I believe that social media will have more of an influence on how we all live our lives and perceive the world, just as radio and then TV once dominated. Social is next, clearly Facebook is in the lead here. However, there are some other players that have some interesting ideas. The only problem I see with Facebook is that it is becoming the establishment in social, and it is never cool to be the establishment.

I would be remiss if I did not say that shared use of resources and assets clearly excites me. This is the premise BungoBox has been built on. I believe that the rental model continues to thrive in many more markets. It is simply the most efficient and cost effective allocation of resources for items that people only need every so often. This will be very big for years to come.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Our entire team is encouraged to think of new and innovative ways to do business. No matter what it is that we do, we always think that we can do it better. I think that we are pretty lucky; we are still a fairly small organization. Therefore, change is always much easier and it is actually still fun when new things happen.

So, with that said, any idea that we feel drives us towards our vision is usually gone after in full force. We don’t worry about making mistakes, because we always learn something from them. The trick is identifying the bad ideas as quickly as possible and moving past them while learning at the same time. What we have found is, since we bring some many ideas to life and we try so many different things…we make less and less mistakes…it gets easier to identify the really good ideas from the bad ones.

What inspires you?

It’s ultimately my family who inspires me to work so hard. I want to have a long-lasting business that can be passed down from generation to generation. The emotion and adrenaline, which is a result of my efforts, is somewhat intoxicating and exhilarating at the same time. The rush of great failure and great success at every turn just makes me feel alive. I cannot imagine working in any other atmosphere; it would just be boring to me.

What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?

The biggest mistakes have been not always being true to my dreams and fighting my nature to build businesses. My mistakes have always been when I choose to work for someone else. I have been successful in those situations, but never truly happy.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I think that there are a lot of really cool business ideas out there. Ideas are not usually what make a great business, however, it is the execution. But here is one for you: I think that if someone could truly figure out audio indexing, that it would be huge. Someone should build an engine that will crawl audio and video files and index the results when a search inquiry is made. I’m not talking about the file names or the tags, but the actual spoken word. Can you imagine the possibilities?

What do you read every day, and why?

I’m a huge fan of mashable.com. The stories are relevant, and I learn something every time I read a blog post on their site.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read, and why?

No Man’s Land by Doug Tatum. This book is a must read for any business owner. It will help you identify the phases of your business and how to manage them when they arrive.

What is your favorite gadget, app or piece of software that helps you every day?

Until recently it was always my iPhone, now it is my iPad.

Three people we should follow on Twitter, and why?

@DalaiLama : When your day is most hectic and stressful, his tweets will give you pause and perspective

@Bob_Cannon: He is my partner and cousin… Super Smart… (but let’s be honest he is Twitter “challenged” and could use the followers.)

@GaryVee: Gary Vaynerchuk just popped on my radar in the last few months. He has a cool refreshing message and is an expert in building a personal brand and leveraging that to further his business interests.

Who would you love to see interviewed on IdeaMensch?

I’d be interested in reading about Wayne Huizenga since he’s had such success when it comes to renting things, much like we have. It would be interesting to see how he got his start renting cars, movies and hotel suites.

When is the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it.

I laugh out loud all day long, actually. I work alongside of my cousin, Bob, who cracks me up left and right. We’ve both put our heart and soul into getting BungoBox up and running and that translates into some long hours. Glad he’s there to keep me motivated and smiling.

What is your vision for BungoBox?

To be the largest, most recognizable and best moving box rental company in North America, with well over 100 locations in the United State and over 30 Locations in Canada within five years.

On a personal level, what is the hardest thing about building a business?

The inability to keep balance at home while working so much and the fact that the decisions that we make everyday have a great affect on more and more lives, so it is important / imperative that we are careful with our choices.

Connect :

Twitter: @tommy_cannon and www.twitter.com/BungoBox
Website: www.bungobox.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bungobox

Bad Economy: Good for Business?

Aired on FOX35 July 28

Bad Economy: Good for Business?: MyFoxORLANDO.com

By Meghan Yost
Fox 35 News

Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/local/072811-bad-economy-good-for-business%3F#ixzz1TQ7WY800

27 Million and Counting: Tom Cannon, BungoBox

By Ben Craw

Meet Tom Cannon, co-founder of BungoBox, an Orlando-based maker of stackable, reusable plastic moving containers.

Starting your own business is a noble -- not to mention exciting, rewarding and often crazy -- undertaking. The experience is an adventure, to say the least, and no two entrepreneurial paths are exactly the same, whether they result in fame and fortune or just a few hard knocks.

There are an estimated 27 million small businesses in the United States. And 27 Million and Counting is our attempt to capture as many of these unique, only-in-America success stories as we can. The premise is simple -- we give entrepreneurs 60 seconds to share their stories, in their own words. We hope they will inspire, inform and maybe make you laugh. This is Tom's story.

Name: Tom Cannon
Company: BungoBox
Location: Orlando
Website: www.bungobox.com

Franchise Chatter Exclusive: Q&A with Tom Cannon

Published on franchisechatter.com on June 30, 2011

Ambrosio’s note:  I discovered BungoBox through small Google Adsense text ads that kept appearing on my blog.  When I finally visited their site, I was so impressed with the quality of their content and branding that I knew I had to feature the company. Please visit the BungoBox website to see a great example of a new franchise concept with a distinctive brand message that really stands out.  I also appreciated the contrast of their fresh business model in an otherwise old-school industry.  Tom Cannon, CEO of BungoBox, was so gracious in granting my request for an exclusive interview, which we completed in record time.  Thank you, Tom!)

Tom Cannon served in the US Navy during the First Gulf war, been instrumental in the launch of three successful companies, held executive-level positions in sales, marketing, and management and today is the CEO and co-founder of BungoBox.   He created the company with his cousin Bob Cannon, a commercial real estate investor and broker.

1.  What made you decide to start BungoBox?

I just love business — all aspects of it are just fun to me and it makes me feel more alive than anything.  I especially love simple businesses that can change current standards.  The greatest and coolest ideas seem to come from tech companies and I am the biggest geek when it comes to new technology and the power of the web.

Every once in a while, a great idea comes along that is not necessarily technology-related, but involves a more traditional service/bricks and mortar business.  I believe that BungoBox is one of those ideas.  We will change an entire industry with a simple concept, and technology and the Internet will be some of the key tools we use to do this.

So why did we decide to start BungoBox? It’s a once in a lifetime idea that if executed properly could be revolutionary. We thought we could execute well enough to be the best at it and so far, I believe we are.

2.  Why should someone interested in owning his or her own business consider a moving supplies franchise?

Until now, I would have said that this would be a difficult category to do business in.  It has a bad reputation for poor customer service and a lot of consumer distrust.  Someone should be interested now because BungoBox will provide a customer experience that is long overdue in the industry.

There is plenty of business out there to go after too — 20%  of the U.S. population move annually.  It’s a multi-billion dollar industry.  Additionally, this does not even quantify the extremely large commercial side of the business, which in my opinion is just as large and is a sizeable portion of our business.

3.  What sets BungoBox apart from your competitors in the moving supplies industry?

For the most part, our competitor as of now is the cardboard box. Therefore, hands down, our solution is better than that antiquated method of moving.  Over time, we anticipate new competitors to enter the market and compete with us directly on the moving box rental concept.   And frankly, we are preparing for that competition which we know will come.   We will simply provide a better customer experience through constant and consistent improvements.

We are set to beta our new site and software in early July that will blow the doors off anything out today. This will be the third  version of the platform behind our website and ordering system.  It will cost the competition hundreds of thousands of dollars to catch up to our technology –  and at least a year, even if they have the money.

We are currently designing several new products in order to enhance our current offering and also redesigning some of our current products in order to make them better, stronger, and less expensive.

Finally, we strive to have the strongest, most recognizable, and most compelling brand.  Our goal is to define the market. If you want to rent boxes for moving, you will rent a BungoBox. With a projected 10 – 15 locations by the end of 2011, we are well on our way to building a large interconnected network that will be difficult to duplicate.

4.  What qualities do you look for in a prospective franchisee?

We are looking for driven and determined self-starters. They must have an entrepreneurial spirit but have the ability to channel that spirit within the confines of an established system.

5.  Can you describe the ideal territory and neighborhood for a BungoBox franchise?

Our current territory is set at 1 franchise per 1 million in population. The more dense the population, the easier it is from a logistics standpoint.

6.  Based on your observations, what concrete steps do your most successful franchisees take in order to build and grow their businesses?

Those that are the most successful in the early stages are those that follow our lead and allow us to navigate the course based our our successes and failures. Additionally, they do not just sit back and expect business to knock on the door.  They work our system with energy and determination everyday.

7.  What kind of ongoing support do you extend to your franchisees to help them become more successful?

We spend a lot of time on the road with our franchisees in their markets. We provide them extensive on the job training in their markets in order to help them understand the best way to interact with various personalities and to deal with any questions that come their way.

Most recently, we spent 4 days in Phoenix and made 30 face to face sales calls with the new franchisee. When we left, he had multiple new customers, multiple follow up sales appointments and meetings, and several requests for quotes of a very large size.

Additionally, we provide back office assistance in the form of a customer call center and dedicated reps to assist the franchisees in their daily tasks and efforts.

8.  What would you tell a prospective franchisee who wants to know about the profit potential of a BungoBox franchise?

Without getting too much into specific numbers, our original location was cash flow positive within 8 months and profitable in the first year. Each location has opened strong enough to either be out of inventory in the first month or begin to have major inventory concerns.

9.  Can you describe your typical day as CEO of BungoBox?  What do you enjoy most about your job?

I wear many hats. I can be on the phone with our Phoenix location and fifteen minutes later be on the phone with our Tampa location. I deal with PR, marketing, technology, product development, and strategic partnerships.  My day is extremely unpredictable and always subject to change.

I enjoy a great many things about my job. You see, I love business, I love creating something from nothing and I simply love that BungoBox is that spark in someone else’s life.  We are changing lives by creating businesses all over the country and changing our customers’ moving experience at the same time.

10.  Is there anything else that you’d like to share with us about BungoBox?

The goal of BungoBox is to be the largest and most innovative moving box rental company in North America. We are currently the leader in both categories and expect to maintain that position by working with the best franchise partners and always keeping our customers at the center of our focus.

To learn more about Bungobox, please visit their website, Facebook page, Twitter account, and YouTube channel.  You can also follow Tom Cannon on Twitter.

BungoBox opens packing franchise in Tampa Bay area

Published in the St. Petersburg Times June 7, 2011

[caption id="attachment_2027" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo by: Dirk Shadd"][/caption]

By Mark Albright

One of the pains of moving is rounding up enough boxes. These days, most stores crush their cardboard for recycling. So amateur movers face buying boxes at up to $4 a pop. Now they can rent a four-wheeled dolly and rugged, stackable, plastic BungoBoxes for a week at $1.75 apiece.

It's the brainstorm of two Orlando cousins, Tom and Bob Cannon, whose startup recently set up shop in the bay area by copying the common thread behind billionaire Wayne Huizenga's fortune: rent things.

For Huizenga it was renting trash bins from his Waste Management, videos from Blockbuster, cars from National or hotel suites from Extended Stay America. With the Cannons, it's about renting their 40,000 crates — made from recycled plastic — that pay for themselves after four rentals but are designed to last for 400.

"We aim to be the PODs of packing boxes," said Tom Cannon, the 39-year-old chief executive of BungoBox. The edgy and elegantly simple business (slogan: "We Make Moving Less Sucky") takes the hassle out of chasing down packing materials by delivering and picking up its oddly named boxes for no extra charge.

Orders come in through a toll-free call or the Internet, so the operation in Largo needs little more than a truck and a place to sanitize and store the unrented boxes. Minimum orders are usually $75, but the company has done them for as little as $15.

"BungoBoxes rent for a quarter a day, so you can pack up a two-bedroom apartment for less than $80 on a one-week minimum," said Greg Steinig, the Largo franchisee, who gets half of his sales moving businesses and last week had 1,500 of his 2,000 crates rented. A military brat and former pharmaceutical salesman, Steinig has lots of experience after moving 35 times in 48 years. "We had a small operating profit the first month," he said. "I expected to do well from the start but was stunned when one of our first customers ordered 600 boxes to move their offices. Companies are moving all the time."

Weekend movers can buy stackable plastic storage totes of varying flimsiness for $7 to $15 at discount stores or Home Depot. If they're the type of movers who take years to unpack, BungoBox will sell its boxes, minus the rental fees. The Cannons don't have the field to themselves.

A national competitor called Rentacrate Inc., which has a distribution center in Tampa, offers a similar service, as does another called FrogBox in the Pacific Northwest. And the Cannons recognize that the business concept is so easily copied that they must become a national brand before others do.

"We differentiate ourselves with price and service," said Bob Cannon, the 43-year-old president of the company that now has franchises in Orlando, South Florida, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Atlanta and Nova Scotia. They came up with the memorable name by happenstance. Tom told his cousin over the phone that he liked the word PungoBox, a play on a Latin phrase for packing up to move. "I mistakenly relayed to my wife that it was BungoBox, which she immediately said was a great name," Bob Cannon said. "When I corrected myself that it really was PungoBox, she said, 'That name stinks.' " BungoBox it was.

Ecopreneur Interview Series: BungoBox

Published on ecopreneurist.com May 18, 2011

[caption id="attachment_1896" align="aligncenter" width="442" caption="Photo by Bill Peck."][/caption] Part 17 in a series where Krates Ng (co-founder of Mokugift the ecard service) interviews fellow ecopreneurs.  Today, Krates interviews Tom Cannon, the CEO and co-founder of BungoBox.  BungoBox rents reusable plastic moving bins as an alternative to cardboard boxes.

1. Why did you start your company?
We started our company because we realized the need for an alternative to cardboard. Surprisingly, until now, there really hasn’t been a good alternative. Weʼve been using the same environmentally unfriendly materials for the past several hundred years. And, unfortunately only half of the cardboard Americans use actually gets recycled. The rest gets tossed into the garbage. If it’s up to us, though, that will all change. Who knows, maybe 20 years from now cardboard will be a thing of the past.
In a nutshell, here’s how BungoBox works: Let’s say a customer decides to move from a three-bedroom house, BungoBox would make a free delivery of the stackable moving boxes, which come in 3- and 4-cubic-foot sizes. The customer pays $1.75 for a large BungoBox for a week, but if it’s needed longer, the price is cut 50 percent. Customers get free labels. After the move, the moving boxes are picked up at the new residence for free.

2. Is there a story behind the name of your company?
I came up with the name PungoBox one day. Pungo means move in Latin, so it seemed like a good fit. I told my cousin, Bob, who co-founded the company with me, and he thought I said BungoBox. Turns out, we liked that name even better and it stuck.

3. What was the toughest challenge in getting your company through the most recent growth stage and how you overcame the challenge?
Everything will cost more and take longer than you expect. No matter how conservative you are on the front end, no matter what cushion is built into early numbers, they will be wrong. This occurs because everything is just a guess, most numbers are pulled out of thin air and massaged into some sort of artful projection. If you have remodeled or built a house, you know exactly what I am talking about. The thing is, you cannot leave your home half remodeled, and you cannot leave your company half built either. Money is the key to solving these problems. Most start-ups fail because of lack of capital, not because of the idea. I learned that you must always be looking at least 3 to 6 months ahead, and if you need money in six months you better be aware of it and be working to solve that problem, with investors or loans.

4. Can you describe the moment when you knew that your company hit full stride as a business?
I’m not sure any business owner ever really feels like their business has really hit full stride, however, we knew that we had a solid business when we became profitable in our first office in the first year of operation. It was further validation for us was when others decided to partner with us, invest in our idea and become part of the BungoBox family by purchasing franchises.

5. If you had to pick one product in your lineup, which one would you showcase and why?
Our business works because it’s a comprehensive system. If we take one element out, it is not as viable. However, our showcase product is really the combination of two products, which forms the perfect solution. It is the Large BungoBox and the Custom fitted 4 wheel Dolly called BungoWheels. These two products together make moving a snap. In other words, we say “you can pack, stack and roll them right out the door.”

6. How is your company going to grow in 2011? And how can other ecopreneurs help?
We are growing rapidly, even quicker than we could have dreamed of. We launched a franchise option late last year and have already opened three franchise locations (South Florida, Arizona and Tampa) this year. We will be announcing our international expansion into Canada soon, too. For more about our franchise options, visit http://www.bungobox.com/about/franchise. Other ecopreneurs could certainly help by spreading the word about BungoBox. Once people know about us, they tend to become raving fans because it’s an idea that just makes sense environmentally and economically. Word of mouth has been huge for us.

How to Build an Innovative Moving Company – Interview w/ BungoBox founder Tom Cannon

Published on moomkin.com April 29, 2010

[caption id="attachment_1879" align="alignleft" width="442" caption="Photo by Bill Peck. "][/caption]

Q: Do you think the education you’ve invested in helped you on the road to success?

My education has been very useful to me throughout my career. I studied advertising at the University of Florida. This experience taught me an overwhelming amount about how business really works. Specifically, that sales and marketing is the lifeblood of any company, but to be truly successful one has to have a fully integrated plan, not only on the communication (external) side but also on the operations side (internal). Additionally, I gained the most value out of the opportunity to work on a one-on-one basis for about 12 or so credit hours with an awesome professor, who is now the chair of the department, Dr. Sutherland… the man is a genius!

Q: What was the “breaking point” in your career that made you decide to build your own brand?

The fact that you are asking about branding is very interesting. I think that it takes some time for most to learn how valuable a brand actually is, some never do. I learned that fact early, during my advertising education. I always wanted to have my own business and learned very early that if you can capture the magic of a truly unique, powerful and memorable brand, that is something special and rare. I think that we have done that with BungoBox.

Q: What were some of the obstacles that you had to overcome to get to where you are now? How do you overcome failure?

I think that most obstacles — money, family and time limitations — are pretty common among those trying to build a business. It is pretty simple, you have to be willing to do what most others will not do, never fear failure and have a relentless pursuit of your vision. Basically, I feel that failure is simply a lesson (on what not to do again), not the inability to succeed.  In other words, I never really fail; I just make mistakes along the way to achieving whatever I set my sights on.

Q: As a young professional, what were some of the mistakes that you made and what did you learn?

The biggest mistakes have been not always being true to my dreams and fighting my nature to build businesses. My mistakes have always been when I choose to work for someone else. I have been successful in those situations, but never truly happy.

Q: How do you measure success?

Early in my career I used to measure success solely on money. Then, when I learned that if I followed my heart and chased my vision and always concentrated on being the best at whatever I did that the money just kind of followed. Therefore, I measure success on my very difficult and unforgiving self-evaluation of my effort and decision making. As long as I feel that I have always given my best and made the best decisions, I feel that I have been a success under my own standards. It has served me well.

Q: What is one advice that you can offer to your readers?

If you are starting your own business be prepared to work 10 times harder and spend 10 times more money than you thought the day you started. However, if you stick to it, the rewards are worth the effort because they are 20 times better that you could have dreamed.

Q: What do you do for fun?

I love spending time with my kids and watching Gator football.

Q: What is your favorite 1) gadget(s), 2) software(s), 3) website(s) that makes your life easier and more productive?

I cannot live without my iphone.

I really dig Mashable

RingCentral and DropBox are productivity multipliers. Just awesome.

Ways to Connect with you:

www.BungoBox.com

Twitter: @tommy_cannon

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 serves Canada, greater Orlando (Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia) greater Phoenix (Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe), greater South Florida (Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, St. Lucie) and greater Tampa (Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Hernando counties). For more information about BungoBox, visit www.bungobox.com

Tom Cannon, CEO and co-founder

Tom Cannon has served in the United States Navy during the First Gulf war, been instrumental in the launch of three successful companies, held executive-level positions in sales, marketing and management and today is the CEO and co-founder of BungoBox. Heʼs a graduate of the University of Florida, with a degree in advertising, and a graduate of the University of Central Florida, with a degree in history. Tom has traveled extensively but has always made his way back to his birthplace to be with his friends and family in Orlando, Fla. When he’s not rethinking the way Americans move from one location to the next, he is soaking up the Central Florida lifestyle. And that means boating, fishing and enjoying the outdoors. He loves spending time with his wife Heather and three children, hanging out with his friends and, of course, being a part of the Gator Nation.

Canada's first BungoBox location to open in Halifax

Published in The Weekly News April 20, 2011

by Yvette d'Entremont

Raymond McFadgen describes his new business initiative as “one of those things that seems obvious when you see it.”
McFadgen, Darin McLean and Troy McLean recently purchased exclusive rights to develop and sell BungoBox locations throughout Canada, starting with Halifax.

Anyone who has ever moved knows the pitfalls of finding enough cardboard packing boxes. BungoBox adds a twist to the experience by providing durable, stackable plastic containers made of recycled material.

The company’s promotional material says the BungoBox experience is designed to “cut the cost of your packing supplies in half and protect your stuff a lot better than cardboard boxes.”

So how does it work? Customers call BungoBox, determine how many boxes they need, and rent them for a set period of time. The company’s catchphrase is “Move. Unpack. Now Give’Em Back.” McFadgen said individual containers can be rented by the week, or customers can choose a package geared towards a one, two, three or four bedroom move.

Although the local partners haven’t settled on Canadian pricing yet, McFadgen estimates the cost for the Bungo Boxes needed for a typical one bedroom move would be about $75 or less for a one week rental.

The boxes come with specially designed dollies, each one holding as many as five boxes that “nest” inside the dolly.

Consumer support and interest in the Florida-based BungoBox company has exploded since co-founders Tom and Bob Cannon first started up in 2010. The pair have already received more than 200 franchise applications, and were thrilled to have expanded internationally to Canada in their second year of business.

McFadgen said opening the first Canadian BungoBox location in Halifax made sense because of the high level of “green” awareness in the region and the constant movement of people.

“We looked at mobility rates. In Halifax you have the universities and the military, so there are a lot of people moving about,” he said. "As a green initiative it's a good location to start. Recycling has taken hold here and there's a lot of green awareness."

The company also plans to target local commercial moves. McFadgen said that part of the business has been very successful in the U.S., particularly among businesses interested in promoting their corporate “green” initiatives.

“We’re hoping time wise to have the Halifax franchise up and running in about a month,” he said. “People seem to think it will have a good acceptance rate, especially here in Halifax.”

The local franchisees plan to open 20 to 50 BungoBox locations nationwide within the next two years.

More information about the company can be found at www.bungobox.com. The Canadian website is under construction and local customers will be redirected to the Canadian site once it’s up and running.

Smart Move, Indeed

Published in FirstMonday magazine

It’s no secret that a recession tends to breed great ideas, as well as startups of all sorts. So how well are these new companies doing?

For one, BungoBox, a Casselberry-based startup that rents recycled plastic moving boxes, is doing so well that its owners had more than 50 franchise requests before even launching their franchise option. (The company now has more than 200 applications.) BungoBox's product durability and sustainability are cited as keys to the company’s success. When cardboard boxes are reused, for example, they can last for approximately four moves. By comparison, BungoBoxes can be reused several hundred times. After that, they are recycled and made into new boxes.

Additionally, the success of BungoBox is paying off for other local businesses through an affiliate program. The owners of BungoBox say that they are thrilled about the rapid expansion of their innovative business and that they designed their concept from the very beginning with franchising in mind.

Smart move, indeed.

Investors wrap up rights to moving firm

Published in the Chronicle Herald April 15, 2011

[caption id="attachment_1842" align="aligncenter" width="441" caption="Photo by Bill Peck"][/caption] By BILL POWER Business Reporter

Three Halifax-area investors have scooped up rights to the BungoBox moving franchise for Canada and plan to begin renting plastic moving boxes in the Halifax area within the month.

BungoBox is an Orlando company that has achieved success with the do-it-yourself moving crowd in Florida and is expanding across the United States.

"It’s a simple concept," partner Raymond McFadgen said Thursday of the venture.

"We bring the boxes to you and you fill them. We pick the boxes up at the new location once they are unpacked."

McFadgen and business partners Darin and Troy MacLean plan to get the business running in the Halifax area over the summer and add four additional Canadian locations before the end of the year.

They expect to develop 20 to 50 franchise locations across Canada over the next couple of years.
BungoBox started in May 2009 and rents reusable plastic boxes to assist with residential and commercial moves.

The company promotes itself as an environmentally friendly and cheaper alternative to cardboard boxes.
A BungoBox truck delivers the stackable moving boxes, which begin at about $1.75 per box per week.

McFadgen said he and his partners are in the process of converting pricing from the American company to Canadian dollars, but he estimated box rentals for a typical one-bedroom apartment, including delivery to the customer and pick up of boxes after the move, will be about $75 (before taxes).

Commercial moves have been a big part of the business in the United States and the partners expect businesses in Canada will appreciate the concept, he said.

BungoBox packing boxes are made of rigid plastic and each can be used for about 500 moves. Base units feature wheels so the stacked boxes can be moved around easily.

Halifax has a highly transient student and military population and should provide a good starting point for the business, said McFadgen.

He said he and his partners hope to build a national organization, headquartered in Halifax.

The U.S. website for BungoBox provides a good idea of what the rental moving box concept is all about. McFadgen said a Canadian website will be available as soon as the French translation is completed.

Outside the Box

Published in the Gulf Coast Review April 15, 2011

[caption id="attachment_1824" align="aligncenter" width="630" caption="Bob Cannon and his cousin Tom Cannon in the warehouse at BungoBox’s corporate office in Casselberry, just north of Orlando. The company, which rents plastic boxes to movers, recently signed a deal to open as many as 50 franchises in Canada, and hopes to add 15 franchise locations in the U.S by the end of 2011. Photo by Kurt LeBlanc. "][/caption]

By: Dan Ping, editor Central Florida

Bob Cannon knew he had built a better mousetrap.

But without a strong brand name, he was afraid his company would be just another startup lost among thousands of new companies.

Cannon and his cousin, Tom Cannon, founded Move Green in suburban Orlando in May 2009. The company rents recycled plastic boxes to businesses and homeowners who are looking for an alternative to cardboard boxes.

Move Green was more of a default name the cousins used as they launched their company and honed their business plan. Neither cousin was pleased with the name because “being green” is a two-edged marketing tool: people like companies that promote earth-friendly practices, but most believe those products and services are more expensive.

Furthermore, Move Green did not accurately describe the business.

“Most people thought we were a moving company,” Bob Cannon says. “I wanted the word ‘box’ in our name, because that’s what we’re selling.”

The cousins kicked around names for about a year to no avail until a misunderstood cell phone call (see sidebar) led them to the perfect moniker: BungoBox.

“It’s kind of a fun word to say - BungoBox,” Bob Cannon notes.

More importantly, BungoBox is a made-up word that provides the company a blank slate to create a unique brand.

In the beginning ...
The concept of renting plastic boxes to consumers is a new concept, though for years retail businesses have used the very same boxes to move inventory from the warehouse to individual stores.

In fact, it was while walking through a distribution center that Tom Cannon — whose background is in distribution and manufacturing — hit upon the idea of using the boxes after a buddy had coaxed him into helping him move. The boxes turned out to be so much easier to pack and transport than cardboard boxes that he saw a business opportunity.

The Cannons are a family of entrepreneurs. Bob and Tom’s grandfather founded Central Florida Heating and Air Conditioning. And Bob Cannon worked for Trycon Inc., a real estate development firm founded by his father in 1980, as a project manager.

Trycon had sold most of its real estate holdings by 2008, so when Tom Cannon approached his cousin about starting a company, he was all in.

The pair used their savings to start the company, and Tom Cannon began working his network in the distribution industry to find a company to supply the boxes. The cousins bought from a middleman at first, but Bob Cannon, interviewed by the Business Review, says the manufacturer recently opened a plant in Kissimmee to handle BungoBox’s needs.

Cannon’s background in the real estate business provided him plenty of cold-calling experience, so he began meeting with moving companies, attending trade shows and sending out marketing flyers to generate business.

Although business was slow to start, Cannon says each month has exceeded the previous month’s sales throughout the company’s nearly two-year history.

He declined to provide specifics, but Cannon says more than $1 million has been invested in BungoBox. “A lot that has that has been ongoing revenues the business has generated,” says Cannon. “We’ve reinvested heavily into the company.”

After starting operations in Orlando, the company turned to franchising opportunities to grow the business.
Greg Steinig, a Gulf Coast resident, purchased the first BungoBox franchise in February that now operates in the Tampa Bay area.

Franchises are a key component of BungoBox’s strategy, for they will provide the network necessary for the company to target the interstate moving market and expand nationwide.

In addition to Steinig in Tampa, Cannon says franchises have been sold in South Florida and Phoenix.

And just this week, Cannon closed a master franchise deal with a trio of investors — Darin McLean, Troy McLean and Raymond McFadgen — that wants to open up to 50 BungoBox franchises in Canada. The group plans to open a training facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this summer and add four locations by the end of 2011.

In the U.S., Cannon expects to sell 10 to 15 franchises by the end of the year. Cannon says potential franchisees from Washington, D.C., Dallas, Nashville, Syracuse and Los Angeles are flying to Orlando to see the company’s operations first-hand.

Finding success nationally, Cannon believes, will require BungoBox to become the generic name for the industry.

“We want the name BungoBox to define the market,” Cannon says. “When people talk about renting boxes, we want them to immediately think of BungoBox, just like when people say ‘Xerox’ or ‘Kleenex.’”
Cannon told the marketing team, Orlando-based Knight Images, to emphasizes the convenience of the boxes, not the environmental benefits.

“I told the designers to absolutely stay away from the color green,” says Cannon.

Knight Images created a series of cartoonish images that show the hassles of cardboard: fragile items falling from the bottom of a weak box; a person collecting boxes in dumpsters and alleys; and a mover tangled in tape as he tries to seal the boxes shut.

Those images are used on mailers, brochures, the company’s website and on all of the large box trucks BungoBox uses to transport its product. “It’s all in fun, but it also sticks out in people’s minds,” Cannon says. “We want our brand to stand out so that our competitors have to work twice as hard to get half the recognition.”

The price is right
Although a similar company in Seattle, named Frogbox, aims to get that recognition by marketing the “green” aspect of the company, the Cannons believe the environmentally friendly aspect isn’t enough to attract customers.

Steinig, the company’s first franchisee in Tampa, agrees.

“The majority of the public doesn’t make buying decisions solely on whether something is green,” says Steinig, whose franchise territory includes Hillsborogh, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Cannon makes no bones about what drives new customers: price.

“I compete with cardboard,” says Cannon, who has set his rental rates below U-Haul’s price for the brown boxes. “I have to convince them with the price first, then the value-added stuff gives them an extra boost to try us.”

The “value-added stuff” hits at the heart of what Steinig calls “the frustration of moving.”

He should know. Including his time in the U.S. Army, Steinig estimates he has moved 30 times.
“I know everything that is frustrating about moving,” says Steinig, adding that cardboard boxes are at the top of the list.

Steinig points out that you don’t have to spend weeks collecting boxes from Craigslist, neighbors and local stores, BungoBox delivers boxes to your house or office and then picks them up at your new location in a week. Plus the sturdy plastic boxes can be easily stacked in any order regardless of what’s inside the box.

What’s next
Cannon says BungoBox delivered more than 100,000 boxes in 2010 to residential and corporate clients who include the Orlando Magic, JP Morgan Chase, Lockheed Martin and Sears. Those customers have said they will use BungoBox again.

“What we’re finding is that people don’t just become repeat clients,” Bob Cannon says. “They become raving fans.”

Cannon has built relationships with several of the national moving companies, and he wants to affiliate BungoBox with other organizations as well. The housing departments at universities would be a natural fit, as would apartment complexes, and contractors who renovate homes or offices.

And Bob Cannon is working on a deal to set up BungoBox in grocery stores. He says most grocery stores no longer keep boxes for people to pick up, but managers still get requests.

“If we could partner with a store, the manager could provide them with our brochure,” Bob Cannon says. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Cannon sees plenty of opportunities, in large part because of the investments in time and resources he and his cousin have made. He says they’ve learned that no matter how much money or time one expects to invest in launching a company, it takes 10 times that to be successful.

There was no playbook to guide the cousins, and some of their decisions were nothing more than an educated guess. “We worked hard and tried to think of every angle,” Cannon says, “but at the time you don’t always know what the right decision is.”

What’s in a nameThe name BungoBox was created by accident. While waiting in line at a store, company co-founder Bob Cannon received a call from his partner and cousin Tom Cannon.

Tom explained that he had found a Latin word — “pungo” — that was part of a phrase meaning “to move.” He suggested naming the company PungoBox.

“I’m listening on my cell phone, and I thought he said ‘BungoBox,’” Bob Cannon says. “I went home and told my wife, and she loved BungoBox.”

A few days later, Bob realized he misheard his cousin, but at that point it was too late.

“When we came up with the idea to start the company, she was immediately on board. She thought it was a great concept,” Bob Cannon says. “We figured if she was right about the concept, she was right about the name, too.”

Franchise basicsThose looking to purchase a BungoBox franchise won’t have to spend $1 million to get up and running. Co-founder Bob Cannon says depending on the market, it takes a $75,000 to $100,000 investment to launch a franchise. The investment includes 2,500 boxes, a truck, marketing material and $30,000 in reserve capital. Franchisees will also need a small warehouse space — about 1,000 to 1,500 square feet — to store and clean the boxes.

Cannon says new franchises locations will start with one employee, usually the owner. “It ramps up pretty quick once you get the business started,” Cannon says.

All orders will be placed through the BungoBox corporate office, either online or through the toll-free phone number. Cannon says the company is making a substantial investment —  “well over six figures” — to develop a custom software package that will handle ordering, inventory management, scheduling and accounting.

“We want the franchisees out in their communities and focused on growing their business,” Cannon say. “The corporate office will take care of all the back-end operations so all a franchisee has to do is turn on the computer in the morning and see how many boxes need to be delivered or picked up.”

One question all potential franchisees ask: How do I pick up boxes if a customer moves out of my area?
Cannon’s answer: “Almost all of your business will be local.”

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 2009, 67% of movers stayed in the same county, another 17% move to a county within the same state and only 13% moved out of state.

Green moving option touted

Published in The Arizona Republic March 12, 2011

by Luci Scott
The Arizona Republic

A company that rents reusable, recycled plastic boxes as a green alternative to cardboard is moving into the southeast Valley.

Chris Smatt has bought the first franchise in metropolitan Phoenix for BungoBox, a Florida-based company that touts its boxes as green, more convenient and more affordable.

Smatt's franchise is the second in the nation; the first is in Tampa.

He purchased the rights to do business in Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa and Scottsdale and can also work in Phoenix. He plans to begin operations in May.

In a nutshell, here's how the business works: If a customer decides to move from a three-bedroom house, BungoBox would make a free delivery of about 40 boxes, which come in 3- and 4-cubic-feet sizes. The customer pays $1.75 for a large crate for a week, but if it's needed longer, the price is cut 50 percent. Customers get free labels. After the move, the crates are picked up for free.

The boxes, which have handles, can be stacked five high on a dolly.

"You'll shave off time when movers are wheeling boxes onto the truck, five at a time, as opposed to carrying cardboard boxes one by one," Smatt said.

He described the BungoBox as a green alternative to cardboard boxes, a durable crate made of 100 percent recycled plastic.

"We're saving trees and providing convenience and affordability," Smatt said.

Smatt will soon be looking for warehouse/office space of about 1,200 square feet, perhaps in south Scottsdale because he figures that would be centralized for his territory.

The company, based in suburban Orlando, was co-founded by CEO Tom Cannon in August 2009. Franchising began in September last year.

Smatt is not new to franchising. Before signing on with BungoBox, he owned franchises in financial services and in security.

"The people of Phoenix are in for a treat - we'll make their life much easier," he said.
More details: bungobox.com.

Bungobox launches franchise in Phoenix

Published in Orlando Business Journal March 7, 2011

An Orlando-area firm offering eco-friendly boxes for moving as an alternative to cardboard announced its second franchise location in the last two weeks.

BungoBox, which rents out reusable plastic boxes, said the new Phoenix location will open for business in May. This comes just one week after the firm announced its first franchise location in the Tampa Bay area, which will open next month.

See the full release here.

Casselberry-based BungoBox Holdings Inc. was incorporated in May 2010, state records showed.

Front Porch Radio - With Guest Tom Cannon

Transition to Spring with Tom Cannon of BungoBox and Leah on Feng Shui

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Central Florida is proud to be home to the world wide headquarters of BungoBox (http://www.bungobox.com/), a new company that plans to help you move. Founded by local guy Tom Cannon, they literally just sealed the deal on the first BungoBox franchise with more in the works. Julie moved last November with the aid of this revolutionarily simple service and fell in love.

Co-host Leah Fairchild is certified in the Pyramid School of Feng Shui (http://www.fengshui-ii.org/pyramidfengshui.htm) and talks about how to make the transition into spring with some simple, time tested tips.

Do you like us? Then really like us on facebook. Do you really REALLY like us? The consider a listener supported donation for our all volunteer show and help us pay for some marketing stuff so everyone else can be our fan too.

Front Porch Radio is a local talk variety show which spotlights folks who are making a difference in OurLando in the indie music, art, business and eco communities. Find out what the locals are up to and catch some great music by local favorites every Wednesday at noon. Tune in online at wprkdj.org or 91.5 FM in the OurLando area.

Julie Norris hosts the show because she is passionate about creating community in OurLando. She is co-owner of Dandelion Communitea Cafe, a certified green business serving up delicious organic & vegetarian fare in the ♥ of OurLando. She also blog’s about being a natural mama at GaiaMama

Green Your House Move With BungoBox

Published on greenlivingtips.com 1.23.11

By Green Living Tips

Moving house is always a pain and sourcing boxes only adds to it. Unlike the good ole' days when we tended to stay in a location for a very long period of time, these days around twenty percent of the U.S. population moves residence each year. U.S. residents will relocate, on average, 16 times in a lifetime. That's a lot of moving and a lot of boxes.

It's a scary thought that I may still have a few moves left in me! The omens are all there though, just a few feet away from me are about 30 flattened cardboard boxes from the previous shift. They mock me and my resolution of "no more moving!" and are taking up some valuable space.

I've written previously on greening a house move in relation to disposing of junk and also on the topic of used cardboard boxes to stow the stuff you want to keep, but here's a different approach - the BungoBox.

BungoBoxes are stackable plastic containers that you can rent and the company says it can cut the cost of your packing supplies in half, while providing a better level of protection for your gear than using cardboard boxes. BungoBox will drop them off at your current location and then pick them up at your new digs.

They come in two sizes, with the large being 27” long x 17” wide x 12” high and the extra large is 28” long x 20” wide x 15” high. There's no need for tape as they have lids that snap securely into place. For added security, you can also use cable ties. The boxes also have removable contents labels.

One of the aspects I really like about the BungoBox is that when they have reached the end of their serviceable life - after around 400 uses - the plastic is recyclable. I seem to remember when looking at their site a few months back that the boxes are also made from recycled plastic.

Another product they offer is the BungoWardrobe - you can leave your clothes on hangers, shift them into the wardrobe and then into your new closet.

BungoBox currently serves Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Seminole and Volusia counties in Florida, with new franchises opening up regularly; so if you aren't in one of those locations or even in the state, it might be worthwhile still giving them a call to see if coverage has been extended to your area.

Given the cost saving aspect as well as the green angle, I think this company certainly has potential to have a huge presence nation-wide and I'd love to see this concept in Australia!

Learn more about BungoBox.

BungoBox.com – An Eco-Friendly Move

Published on youngupstarts.com Nov. 19, 2010

by Daniel Goh

Here’s one of the moving industry’s dirty little secrets: of the materials used by Americans for moving purposes – such as cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts and tape – most of it is discarded, with half of that being recycled. Considering the fact that the average American moves more than 16 times in a lifetime, that’s a lot of waste that goes into landfills or incineration plants. Environmentally friendly, this is not.

Florida-based company BungoBox (http://www.BungoBox.com) plans to change that. The company is in the business of renting out BungoBoxes – durable, stackable, supposedly sustainable plastic containers that purportedly cuts the cost of packing supplies in half. It’s somewhat ironic – eschewing recyclable cardboard for plastic – but BungoBox founders Tom Cannon, 38, and Bob Cannon, 42, are certain it has massive advantages over the traditional cardboard boxes.

Essentially, customers rent BungoBoxes and other moving equipment from the company, which are then delivered to their doorstep prior to their move. Once a customer completes their move, the company will drop by their new address to pick up the rented BungoBoxes. “BungoBoxes do not need packing tape, come with removable contents labels, security features to prevent tampering; they are stackable and crush proof,” says co-founder Tom Cannon.

“BungoBoxes have custom fitted dollies that allow for easy movement and alleviates most of the lifting typically involved with moving.” It’s definitely a far cry from the traditional corrugated cardboard box, which was founded by printer and paper maker Robert Gair in the 1890s.

Thinking Out Of The Box
Tom Cannon, who served four years in the US Navy and was involved in the first Gulf War, has a background in distribution and worked – over 20 years – with many large companies that utilize distribution centers. He came across such boxes when he was walking through one such distribution center, which was used to pack and distribute products from hundreds of companies to local retail stores. At that time, he had a friend who was moving – he was recruited to help out – and it hit on him that it would be rather cool and far easier to use such boxes instead of cardboard ones.

“So I began to look into what it would take to get a hold of some of the boxes,” recalls Tom. “What I found is that there are a couple of very small companies already providing moving box rental on local level, out west. As I researched and learned more, I thought that this concept could be huge and revolutionary on a scale that had national and international implications.”

Tom soon shared this idea with his cousin Bob Cannon, a commercial real estate investor and broker, who was immediately blown away by the idea. “We recognized a great opportunity to become the national brand that defined this new space,” Tom says.

The two got to work on the idea. Today, BungoBox works with both commercial clients from small local businesses to Fortune 500 companies, as well as home owners of one-bedroom shoebox apartments to huge five-bedroom homes. “Residential customers typically rent our boxes for two weeks and have an average fee of US$150 to US$250,” Tom reveals. Commercial clients typically rent BungoBoxes from two to four weeks and have an average fee of US$500 to US$2,000. Already, they are projecting to break even, and maybe even become profitable in their first full calendar year in business.

It also helps that they feel they are doing something about the environment. With one BungoBox having the ability to replace a minimum of 250 average cardboard boxes during its lifetime, it’s not surprising they have been awarded the Central Florida Eco Effort Award.

Growing The Business
BungoBox recently officially launched their franchise system (they became eligible to sell franchises at the beginning of August last year), and already they have over 100 applicants from all over the country. Tom predicts they should have at least three to five franchises open in 2011.

“We built BungoBox from Day One to be a franchise,” Tom explains. “Every decision we have made is to benefit the franchise system and the eventual franchisees. We think that with BungoBox we have a unique opportunity to build a franchise system that is a true interconnected network of locations. This will allow our customers over time the ability to move just about anywhere and utilize the BungoBox system.”

“This, in our opinion, is the fastest most efficient method for us to grow,” he adds. They’ve also received interest from overseas, and while they are not currently focusing on other markets, they are willing to evaluate opportunities as they come.

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. One of the key challenges, Tom admits, has been awareness, especially at the residential level. “This type of alternative is just not on the radar yet, people are not looking for it and people have a hard time finding what they are not looking for,” he says. Once consumers become aware, says Tom, they almost always close the sale and clients tend to become raving fans who then help with word-of-mouth.

BungoBox is currently self-funded, and their pilot location is self-sustaining at this point. Any additional money will go towards the franchise system, says Tom. “We are talking to a handful of interested individuals about infusing additional capital into the franchise arm of the company; these individuals offer not only money but strategic partnerships in many areas we are targeting.”

Entrepreneurship Is In Their Blood

Both Tom and Bob come from deep-seeded entrepreneurial roots – their grandfather has always owned his own businesses, and their fathers as well. “(We simply) know no other way of life,” says Tom. “In this case we were looking for a business that was revolutionary with big implications, one that was timely yet simple and easy to understand. This fit our goals perfectly and we absolutely love what we are doing.”

They’ve learnt a few lessons along the way, too. “Whatever amount of effort and money one thinks it will take succeed, it will take much more than you can imagine,” Tom muses. “Additionally, most of those you choose to work with will not have the ability to match your efforts and the relentless pursuit of the vision. In other words, very few of those that begin the race with you, will actually cross the finish line with you.”

But these lessons haven’t dampened their spirits. “We are having a tremendous amount of fun while working harder than we ever have.”

Surviving a Move

Published on moving.com Nov. 17, 2010

BungoBox.com – An Eco-Friendly Move

Published on youngupstarts.com Nov. 19,  2010

by Daniel Goh

Here’s one of the moving industry’s dirty little secrets: of the materials used by Americans for moving purposes – such as cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts and tape – most of it is discarded, with half of that being recycled. Considering the fact that the average American moves more than 16 times in a lifetime, that’s a lot of waste that goes into landfills or incineration plants. Environmentally friendly, this is not.

Florida-based company BungoBox (http://www.BungoBox.com) plans to change that. The company is in the business of renting out BungoBoxes – durable, stackable, supposedly sustainable plastic containers that purportedly cuts the cost of packing supplies in half. It’s somewhat ironic – eschewing recyclable cardboard for plastic – but BungoBox founders Tom Cannon, 38, and Bob Cannon, 42, are certain it has massive advantages over the traditional cardboard boxes.

Essentially, customers rent BungoBoxes and other moving equipment from the company, which are then delivered to their doorstep prior to their move. Once a customer completes their move, the company will drop by their new address to pick up the rented BungoBoxes. “BungoBoxes do not need packing tape, come with removable contents labels, security features to prevent tampering; they are stackable and crush proof,” says co-founder Tom Cannon.

“BungoBoxes have custom fitted dollies that allow for easy movement and alleviates most of the lifting typically involved with moving.” It’s definitely a far cry from the traditional corrugated cardboard box, which was founded by printer and paper maker Robert Gair in the 1890s.

Thinking Out Of The Box
Tom Cannon, who served four years in the US Navy and was involved in the first Gulf War, has a background in distribution and worked – over 20 years – with many large companies that utilize distribution centers. He came across such boxes when he was walking through one such distribution center, which was used to pack and distribute products from hundreds of companies to local retail stores. At that time, he had a friend who was moving – he was recruited to help out – and it hit on him that it would be rather cool and far easier to use such boxes instead of cardboard ones.

“So I began to look into what it would take to get a hold of some of the boxes,” recalls Tom. “What I found is that there are a couple of very small companies already providing moving box rental on local level, out west. As I researched and learned more, I thought that this concept could be huge and revolutionary on a scale that had national and international implications.”

Tom soon shared this idea with his cousin Bob Cannon, a commercial real estate investor and broker, who was immediately blown away by the idea. “We recognized a great opportunity to become the national brand that defined this new space,” Tom says.

The two got to work on the idea. Today, BungoBox works with both commercial clients from small local businesses to Fortune 500 companies, as well as home owners of one-bedroom shoebox apartments to huge five-bedroom homes. “Residential customers typically rent our boxes for two weeks and have an average fee of US$150 to US$250,” Tom reveals. Commercial clients typically rent BungoBoxes from two to four weeks and have an average fee of US$500 to US$2,000. Already, they are projecting to break even, and maybe even become profitable in their first full calendar year in business.

It also helps that they feel they are doing something about the environment. With one BungoBox having the ability to replace a minimum of 250 average cardboard boxes during its lifetime, it’s not surprising they have been awarded the Central Florida Eco Effort Award.

Growing The Business
BungoBox recently officially launched their franchise system (they became eligible to sell franchises at the beginning of August last year), and already they have over 100 applicants from all over the country. Tom predicts they should have at least three to five franchises open in 2011.

“We built BungoBox from Day One to be a franchise,” Tom explains. “Every decision we have made is to benefit the franchise system and the eventual franchisees. We think that with BungoBox we have a unique opportunity to build a franchise system that is a true interconnected network of locations. This will allow our customers over time the ability to move just about anywhere and utilize the BungoBox system.”

“This, in our opinion, is the fastest most efficient method for us to grow,” he adds. They’ve also received interest from overseas, and while they are not currently focusing on other markets, they are willing to evaluate opportunities as they come.

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. One of the key challenges, Tom admits, has been awareness, especially at the residential level. “This type of alternative is just not on the radar yet, people are not looking for it and people have a hard time finding what they are not looking for,” he says. Once consumers become aware, says Tom, they almost always close the sale and clients tend to become raving fans who then help with word-of-mouth.

BungoBox is currently self-funded, and their pilot location is self-sustaining at this point. Any additional money will go towards the franchise system, says Tom. “We are talking to a handful of interested individuals about infusing additional capital into the franchise arm of the company; these individuals offer not only money but strategic partnerships in many areas we are targeting.”

Entrepreneurship Is In Their Blood

[caption id="attachment_1455" align="aligncenter" width="328" caption="BungoBox founders Tom Cannon (left) and Bob Cannon."][/caption]

Both Tom and Bob come from deep-seeded entrepreneurial roots – their grandfather has always owned his own businesses, and their fathers as well. “(We simply) know no other way of life,” says Tom. “In this case we were looking for a business that was revolutionary with big implications, one that was timely yet simple and easy to understand. This fit our goals perfectly and we absolutely love what we are doing.”

They’ve learnt a few lessons along the way, too. “Whatever amount of effort and money one thinks it will take succeed, it will take much more than you can imagine,” Tom muses. “Additionally, most of those you choose to work with will not have the ability to match your efforts and the relentless pursuit of the vision. In other words, very few of those that begin the race with you, will actually cross the finish line with you.”

But these lessons haven’t dampened their spirits. “We are having a tremendous amount of fun while working harder than we ever have.”

Seminole Voice: BungoBox Offers an Eco-Friendly Move

Published Nov. 12, 2010 in the Seminole Voice

Tom and Bob Cannon, owners of BungoBox, offer customers an easier, eco-friendly way to move. By Kristy Vickery Guest Reporter Gaby Aparicio knows the stress of moving very well — she has moved nine times in 15 years.

But after moving so many times, she has finally discovered a simpler way of doing it with the help of a new company called BungoBox. "It was a great experience, and I thought it was the smartest choice because of the fact there was no waste and it was cheaper," Aparicio said. "I didn't have to buy cardboard boxes and go through the hassle of picking them up and what was I going to do afterwards with the boxes?"

BungoBox is a company that was launched this past March, to offer an eco-friendly, cost effective move. BungoBoxes are durable, stackable, sustainable plastic containers made out of 100 percent recyclable materials that can are delivered before a move and picked up after one.

Aparicio said the moving process this time around was not only much more organized, but environmentally safe. "I'm totally about going as green as possible," Aparicio said. "I didn't have to worry about returning the boxes or getting rid of them," she said.

According to the BungoBoxes' website, cardboard accounts for 41 percent of landfills in the U.S. alone, and of that paper and cardboard, only 25 percent of it gets recycled.

BungoBox owner Tom Cannon said that although being green was a major factor, there were still other key drivers he needed to consider.

"Although being green was a good factor, it was really just the icing on the cake… it wasn't the number one driver; it was really the convenience and cost," Tom said. "Because even if we were green but more expensive, some people would have chosen not to work with us."

He also said because there is a lot of frustration during a move process, he wanted to make the process as organized and cost effective as he could for customers.

"We wanted to make it a little more fun and less stressful, so we decided to build a national brand," Tom said. "And since then the service has just really taken off in Central Florida."

Bob Cannon, co-owner of BungoBox, said customers were blown-away by the idea.

"It's such an innovative idea, I had to be part of it," Bob said. "I thought this company had all the right principles, eco-friendly, sustainable, reusable and affordable; it hit on all the core values that could help people."

He also said that cardboard boxes are going to soon be a thing of the past.

"Within five years from now, I think cardboard will be obsolete," Bob said. "I think you'll just wake up one day and they won't be around anymore; it's like a paradigm shift, the way people are going to move."

Looking for cardboard boxes can also be an annoyance for some when time is limited.

"I have to buy all the packing tape and try to find them (cardboard boxes), which just became a hassle," Aparicio said.

BungoBox is hoping they can help offer their consumers a more efficient way of moving, while having less impact on the planet.

"You can get 400 uses out of a BungoBox, and there's no chance a BungoBox will end up at a landfill," Bob said. "It's so brilliant, so simple and so necessary — the easiest decision people will ever make."

Learn more To order BungoBoxes or for more information on their services, call 888-479-1888 or visit www.bungobox.com.

Why We Love Living Here

Published in Texture Magazine Sept. 2010

By Sarah Sekula

LOCALS REVEAL WHY THEY CALL CENTRAL FLORIDA HOME. Metro Orlando is home to more than two million people, and the reasons are many. For some, it’s the unbeatable weather. For others, it’s because the area is a great place to start a business. Want more reasons? These seven locals are eager to share why they love living here. To see and hear their and other residents’ stories, visit the Metro Orlando EDC’s OrlandoWorks channel at www.youtube.com/orlandoworks.

ANNA AQUINO
KISSIMMEE, OSCEOLA COUNTY
“My husband and I moved to Central Florida in 2000 and to Osceola County in 2005. We’re both from the north originally. Osceola County is a great place to raise a family. There is always something to do in the area. This is where we felt we needed to be for this season in our lives. It’s always nice to be able to call family in the north while it’s snowing to tell them you just turned the A/C down. We love being here because it’s a small town right next to “the big mouse.” There is always something happening in the community. The parks are always great, but the local stomps are always more fun.”

TOM & BOB CANNON
LONGWOOD AND LAKE MARY, SEMINOLE COUNTY
“We both grew up in Seminole County, and we’ve lived here most of our lives. Our grandparents, cousins and uncles live in Seminole, too. We feel most comfortable here, and I would be sur- prised if we didn’t always have a home here. Last year, we launched BungoBox as a way to keep unnecessary waste out of Central Florida landfills. We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response, and I think that is partially due to the way that Metro Orlando embraces small businesses. Our family has had Seminole County-based businesses for more than 30 years. Bob and I are just keeping the tradition going.”

JENNIFER FLUG
ORLANDO, ORANGE COUNTY
“On multiple occasions I have found myself passionately bragging about all of the wonderful things this city has to offer. I have been living in the Down- town Central Business District for the past three years and love the area. Once my weekend begins I have no reason to use my car since everything I could want is right downstairs. There are endless options for restaurants and cafés to suit every taste. Lake Eola is a popular spot for weekend strolls and community events. One of my favorite events is the weekly Farmers’ Market. Every Sunday many local farmers, food vendors and artists come out to transform the serene lakeside park into a fabulous outdoor market.”

RODNEY HUGHES
WINDERMERE, ORANGE COUNTY
“First, I love the city, the people and the pace. However, I had to grow to like it. I was dating my present wife at the time I moved here. After living in Winnipeg, which was like Siberia, I realized that I was allergic to cold weather. So that convinced me to move here with her. I am an entrepreneur at heart, so being in a place where people are open to new ideas and accepting of who you are as a person was very attractive to me. This region is a perfect place for entrepreneurs because
of those reasons and all of the resources here. I also love coming home to the palm trees after traveling to other cities. What keeps me here is the fact that Orlando is a young city with much to give and more and more opportunities being uncovered every day. The move has been everything that I expected. Today, wild horses couldn’t drag me away. This is home.”

BOB O’MALLEY
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, SEMINOLE COUNTY
“I have three kids, and Orlando is a great town for young families. I like Orlando because of the numerous options for outdoor recreation. In particular, we enjoy going to the beach (on both the east and west coasts), canoeing on the Wekiva River, and playing soccer year- round. We also really like the school our kids attend. I’ve lived in Boston, which is a great city, but the weather is mis- erable. I grew up in Maitland. My family moved here when I was entering second grade. In total, I’ve lived here 30 years.”

KAREN CYR
MINNEOLA, LAKE COUNTY
“After bouncing around multiple apartments and houses for nearly five years (everywhere from Winter Park to east Orlando), I knew I found my home when I laid eyes on Lake County. That feeling was set in stone my first week- end in my new rental house in Min- neola. Neighbors that actually wave and talk to you, beautiful rolling hills, serene lakes and a multitude of state parks are just some of the reasons why I love living in Lake County. The main reason, though, is the people.
Living in Lake County is almost like taking a step back in time to a more family- and community-orientated era, where people take pride in own- ership and respect their neighbors. There is a united feeling here — you feel like a person instead of a number. There is nowhere else in Central Florida that I would even think about raising a family, and friends and family who come to visit my new home are always speechless over the landscape of this unique area of Florida. It’s easy to see why I’m so passionate about my new home."

Eco Effort Awards

Published in Central Florida Lifestyle September 2010

The winners of our second annual Eco Effort Awards are all local companies that strive to reduce their carbon footprint and offer staff and community members alike ways to be more eco-friendly.

BungoBox
“Green” Efforts: Bob Cannon created and rents BungoBox reusable plastic bins as an alternative to the traditional disposable cardboard box and packing tape. When you reuse cardboard boxes, they can last for approximately four moves, the stronger, more durable BungoBoxes, can be reused several hundred times. After that, they are recycled and made into new bins.

Community impact: “We’ve been noticing people are embracing eco-friendly and sustainability,” says Cannon. “Landfills aren’t getting full, it’s supporting local business. It’s easy to buy a cardboard box, but not as easy to replace a tree. They are convenient, cheap and eco-friendly.”

Eco-inspiration: Cannon is an entrepreneur by nature and after 20 years in real estate decided he wanted to do something that would leave a legacy and create a business he could be proud of. He describes the idea of BungoBox as “so brilliant in its simplicity.”

Reasons to Become an Entrepreneur

Published in The Entreprenette Gazette July 8, 2010

By Sarah Shaw

I often wonder what made someone decide to become an Entreprenette. Do you? When I graduated college and got a job in the movie business, I never thought for a second about being an Entreprenette. I was just going to work in the film business forever and find my fame and fortune there. Even though I come from a long line of entrepreneurs of all kinds (Fashion Designers, Linen & Sheet Designers, Factors, Shrinks, Dentists, Deli Owners and more I’m sure), it really never occurred to me to follow in their footsteps as I didn’t feel passionate about anything in particular at that time……except for perhaps a guy or two! When I did have my Ah-HA moment – I finally understood the reason I was taking the plunge and what was so alluring about being my own boss. I love hearing others stories and thought you might too. A big thanks to my Experts who contributed their stories to inspire and guide you.

Thrills of owning a business

How to get over the first big hurdle: "I started my own business because I crave the adrenaline rush. It’s like base jumping; you are always one wrong move from failure. Although it takes time and patience, long hours and determination, the intensity of being an entrepreneur is what makes me feel alive. I’ve learned if you’re in it just to make money, you’ll be disappointed. Instead, you have to be in it simply for the reward of envisioning something and seeing it become a reality." -- Tom Cannon, co-founder and CEO of BungoBox

For 106 more reasons to launch your own business, click here.

The Moving Show

Aired on Boomer Alley Radio (KFWB News talk 980) May 30, 2010

Bob Cannon, co-founder and president of BungoBox, discusses "the next big thing in moving" with Boomer Alley Radio show hosts. Click the link below to listen to the interview.

Boomer Alley Interview

Get to Know: Bob Cannon

Published in Pegasus Magazine March 2010

When people tell Bob Cannon, ’93, he should be on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank, he politely disagrees. Sure, he runs an ingenious company called BungoBox, which rents reusable plastic bins rather than cardboard boxes for moving, but he says he’s doing just fine without the “sharks” (a.k.a. multi-millionaire business tycoons who potentially invest in smart startups).

Why the unfaltering confidence? Well, it goes back to his days as a liberal studies major at UCF, where he narrowed his focus in the fields of business and economics. “The well-rounded curriculum gave me a broad background for going into business,” says Bob. “It helps me relate to people, because I have been exposed to many ideas and concepts outside of typical business/economic theory.” And, he points out, professor Edward Sheridan, his former economics teacher, sparked the interest.

“I still remember sitting in class and applying his thoughts to ideas I was already having,” Bob recalls. Nearly two decades down the road, he thrives on using economic theory from the scientific perspective. “Typically you can model business plans and programs by applying economic ‘science’ to see if your ideas can or cannot work,” he explains.

Likewise, when it comes to seeing the big picture, Bob certainly gets it. In fact, he spends his waking hours rethinking the way Americans move from one location to the next. No small feat, indeed. In other words, he’s hoping that cardboard goes the way of the dinosaur.

With a glance at the stats, it seems Bob is on to something big. Consider this: An average American moves 16 times in a lifetime. If you use an average of 50 boxes per move, each person runs through about 800 cardboard boxes alone. And, sadly, Bob says, much of that ends up in a landfill. To him, and countless others, it just makes more sense to incorporate a reusable, environmentally conscious product over the alternative.

“Twenty years down the road, who knows, perhaps cardboard will be a thing of the past,” says Bob. While that remains to be seen, one thing is certain. Bob, simply put, is quite content with his post-college days. On top of running a business, he is also a licensed Florida real estate broker and has been a commercial real estate developer/ investor since graduating from UCF.

And there’s plenty of excitement at home, too. Bob, who lives with wife, Rebecca, and kids — Sarah, 8, and Trent, 6 — in Lake Mary, FL, is expecting twins this summer. When he’s not playing the all-important role of super-dad, he is likely swinging a golf club or globe trotting to his favorite locales, including Paris, where he got married in 2007.

Smart Move

Published in FirstMonday Magazine January 2010

Local entrepreneur hopes cardboard goes the way of the dinosaur. In other words, he is rethinking the way Americans move.

People tend to put on their thinking caps during a recession. Take Jim Henson for example. During the Eisenhower depression he invented his world famous Muppet characters and subsequently launched a behemoth entertainment empire. Hewlett-Packard Development Company also got its start during down times. It grew from a $538,000 investment in a garage at the end of the Great Depression. Most likely, history will repeat itself. We’ll see another Trader Joe’s or MTV get its start during the current tough economic climate. And, chances are, BungoBox, a Casselberry-based company, will be a contender.

It sprang up last year and its eco-friendly idea is proving to be popular in both the commercial and residential markets. “The beauty of it is that it’s a simple concept,” says Bob Cannon, co-founder of BungoBox. “We rent reusable plastic bins as an alternative to the traditional disposable cardboard box and packing tape.”

Trash Talking

Let’s face it: Only about half of cardboard that Americans discard actually gets recycled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And since the average American moves more than 16 times in a lifetime, all the bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts and boxes really add up. Consider this: If you use an average of 50 boxes per move, each person runs through about 800 cardboard boxes alone. “When you reuse cardboard boxes, they can last for approximately four moves, however, many times they are discarded after only one move and end up in a landfill,” says Cannon.

The stronger, more durable plastic bins that BungoBox rents can be reused several hundred times. After that, they are recycled and made into new bins. “It just made more sense to use a reusable, environmentally conscious product over the alternative,” says Greg Dalglish, who used BungoBox products when he moved from Columbia, S.C., to Orlando in October. Better yet, he was pleasantly surprised that the price to rent BungoBoxes, which include large, extra large and wardrobe-size boxes, was actually less than the cost of cardboard boxes.

The cost to rent a BungoBox is $1.75 per week. The cost of a similar cardboard box is $3.50 or more.

Angela Shaw also used BungoBox products recently to move delicate event decorations from the University of Central Florida’s main campus to SeaWorld. Not only were none of the items damaged en route, she was wowed by how easily the bins stacked on top of each other, like life-size legos. With the help of a dolly, she easily moved four BungoBoxes at once. “In the past, we've used cardboard boxes that we've had to collect and store around the office,” she says, “Or, we’ve purchased oversized plastic bins that usually resulted in unmanageable weight loads.”

Startup Smiles

The concept of renting reusable plastic bins is certainly not new. In the past, however, it’s been limited to Fortune 500 companies, moving from office to office. Or, supermarkets and pharmacies that need to move products. Now that the residential market has picked up on it, the popularity will likely grow.

Plus, “The fact that the economy is so sideways right now has actually worked in our favor,” says Cannon. “We were able to get the business up and running without a huge investment of capital.” In fact, BungoBox’s founders snatched up a 4,000-square-foot warehouse recently at a 50 percent discount. “Our trucks, all our expenditures were bought at a discount,” Cannon happily explains. Overall, BungoBox founders say their goal is to reinvent the moving process. “Twenty years down the road, who knows, perhaps cardboard will be a thing of the past,” says Cannon.

For more information, visit www.bungobox.com. And look for more BungoBox locations in the future, as the founders hope to franchise starting with an Atlanta location within six months.