Singaporean are familiar with the Karang Guni man who collected your old newspaper and unwanted electronics hardware.
Now, the business of Karang-Guni Online is more or less the same except that it can provide on-demand recycling for residents and corporations as customers can make a booking online for their discarded items to be collected. Beside that, Karang-Guni online also allow their customers to upload a picture of their item so that they can get a quote from Mr. Wong if he feels that the item can be sold. For items that cannot be sold, a collection fee will be charge for removal.
The collected items will be sold to new owners or recycling plants.
Personal Profile
A previous SMU graduate in business management and finance.
Previous Job
A former trader in Barclays Investment Bank who used to earn a 6 figures income annually. He started his digital Karang Guni business around year 2015.
Family Support
Mr. Daniel Wong mum, Madam Florence Tan, 58 works in administration and finance in an oil, sea and gas company said that she was at first shock by his son decision as it is not her intention to send his son to university and become a karung guni man collector.
However, like all mother, she eventually support her son decision and said that as long as his son is happy pursuing his own dream, she will be happy for him.
Niche Business
Mr. Daniel Wong first thought of his business about 10 months ago in 2015 and he had spent 4 months doing brain storming and consulting business professionals to assess whether he can profit from this business.
Later on, he spent another 4 months doing pilot testing which was crucial as his investors wanted proof that his digital Karang Guni business will be profitable.
As part of his business research, he followed a real Karung Guni man around every day for 2 months as the man go door to door with a horn and trolley to collect unwanted goods while shouting the familiar words, 'Karang Guni'.
The real life experience proof that this business can be profitable as he learnt more about the kind of items that were throw out by Singapore households.
Eventually, with his business plan, he was able to raise enough money which is in the high 5 figure region to start his online Karang-guni.com. The money from his investor will be used for the operating costs such as purchasing a van, petrol, website hosting, domain name and rental of a warehouse in Hillview Terrace to store the goods collected.
Social Enterprise
In the near future, Mr. Wong plan to establish his Karang-guni.com as a social enterprise as he feel that profit can be made from doing good. To return to society, he plans to hold regular events where those in the lower incomes group can come to his warehouse and pick up an item that they need.
Online Business Working Hours
As a new startup, Mr. Wong now work 16 hours daily, seven days a week and to keep himself going, he always think of his late grandmother wise words, 'if you wake up and do something with half the pay and double the hours, then you know that you have found something you love to do, irregardless of the pay', this is what we often call a 'passion'.
Online Presence
If you have old electronics goods to clear, you can contact Mr. Daniel Wong from his website.
Conclusion
Mr. Wong selection of this karang guni business shows that opportunities are all around us. Many people living in Singapore see the karang guni business as a low tech business and never thought that this could be done online. So, look around again and see if you can sniff out any other online business opportunities that could be just surrounding you that you did not even took notice of it.
Related:
The
Refund Guru - Solutionalization
Solutionalization formally known as The Refund Guru run
by Mr. Kong helps buyers to seek redress from errant businesses.
