Richard Smith, Managing Director of Mobile Bins Australia, shares his advice for selecting a durable commercial-grade bin suited to a variety of applications.
Richard Smith, Managing Director, Mobile Bins Australia has been in the commercial-grade bin industry for more than 20 years. Mobile Bin Australia focuses its efforts on providing a prompt service to waste contractors, local government, and the medical and construction industry. Richard frequently provides advice to his customers on a range of critical purchasing decisions, from understanding commercial grade standards, to determining appropriate stock levels to suit a specific sector’s demand. The Mobile Bins Australia team has extensive experience in solid waste contaminant and disposal and plastic bins and accessories, and is on hand to provide the following tips in further detail.
1. Establish a minimum stock of bins
In Richard’s experience, smaller businesses have been known to only purchase bins when they require them. Not stocking enough bins can lead to problems down the track, particularly during unexpected peak periods. Richard says some of the forward-thinking and larger companies can stock up to 100 bins, which can put pressure on the smaller players to deliver. As a minimum stock holding, Richard recommends his clients stock between five to ten bins at a time.
“We suggest to our clients to establish a minimum stock holding as a buffer. If they’ve got an immediate order, our client’s income is generated by getting a bin out to a client and then starting to charge that service fee,” Richard explains.
2. Consider hot stamping your bin
For customers looking to increase their brand awareness and reduce theft, Richard recommends hot stamping a bin. Mobile Bins Australia builds and maintains its own hot stamping machines. “Often we are hot stamping the bins with the client’s logo or insignia with their emblem or name or a phone number,” Richard says.
“It brands the bin for life and is a great anti-theft device. Mobile Bins Australia is aware that of some instances where unscrupulous contractors have stolen bins from their competitors.”
3. Look at forecasting purchases
Nobody wants to find themselves in a pressurised situation with no bins, and for this reason Richard recommends forecasting minimum bin requirements based on predicted growth. Richard also asks clients to look at their historic bin use when forecasting for future purchases. As a minimum forecast, he recommends looking ahead of up to three months in advance, with six months being an optimum consideration.
“Some of our clients have growth agendas their working on, with up to 10-20 additional services per month.
“Peak times for bin orders are June/July to coincide with the end of financial year. Some of the bigger companies make purchasing decisions on European financial year dates, which vary depending on the country. At the moment, we’ve got orders taking us right to December.”
He says he recommends clients look ahead as it shortens the time gap in waiting to action a new order for a contract.
Richard notes it’s of particular importance for niche industries to consider the colours their ordering, as some colours may be in short supply. For example, colours such as yellow are used for the medical industry, while burgundy applies to the hospitality sector. Standard bin colours are green, with red, blue and yellow lids. While Mobile Bins Australia does carry a range of industry bins, its stock levels are determined by the level of demand for these products.
4. Consider financing your bins
If you’d like to invest in your business or are predicting growth but don’t have the cash flow, Richard says that companies should consider financing their bins. Mobile Bins Australia can suggest some financing options to help progress this. Richard says this may particularly appeal to smaller contractors experiencing a growth phase.
5. Beware of inferior bins
When choosing a bin, Richard argues it’s important to consider whether the product conforms to an established set of manufacturing standards, as there are some cheaper alternatives in the market.
He advises his clients to beware of cheaper bins that purport to be of a commercial grade standard, as these products are not built to last. Conducting your research into bin standards is of particular importance, and the team at Mobile Bins Australia is happy to provide any additional advice.
“We only supplies the world’s best globally available quality of bins that are superior for durability and impact resistance and will last longer in commercial applications.”