BY KADIE VICK
FOR THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — A local family has opened a new business called Toss It, providing the community with dependable and hassle-free trailer rental services.
“One of my entrepreneurial beliefs is that a company has to have an easy process for the customer,” said Jay Pritchard, co-owner of Toss It. “Life is full of frustrations, and if you can make it easy to buy a product and the communication is great, customers will feel like you are taking care of them. I think that is the winning recipe for the success of a small business, making the process of purchasing the product simple for customers.
“To rent, customers can call, text me or book online,” he said. “After customers book, they get an email with all of the instructions on where to pick up the trailer. Once the customer picks up the trailer, I will meet them, go over everything and help them hook it up, then the customer can drive away. If someone needs to add extra time, they can do that, and it is not a big deal.”
Pritchard said he believes that businesses should bring positivity to their community, and he hopes to grow to serve the exact needs of locals.
“I believe that every business has a certain responsibility to add value to its community, or an area,” he said. “Unfortunately, some of the bigger box places that are filling up communities don’t feel like they’re part of the community. They feel soul-less. I want my business to reflect the community and bring warmth to customers.”
For now, Toss It rents two sizes of utility trailers — 5×8 ft. and 6×10 ft.— that can be used to move furniture, a golf cart or any other similar items. As the company grows, Pritchard said he will acquire more equipment based on community needs.
“I plan to purchase more trailers and similar items as I hear customers’ needs. Every community is different, and the needs of the people in that community are different. This area has a lot of college students who are moving in and out, and it is a very transitional area. So, we are making sure we are designing our services around moving, as well as for junk removal that apartment complexes or individuals may need,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard said community response to the new business has been supportive.
“Everyone has been really receptive,” he said. “I’ve already targeted customers, and I’ve really been blown away by the reception. People have already begun to call me up to look at the trailers for them to use for moving and other things. Since we have just recently launched, working with these first few customers has been a learning opportunity. We have already noticed things to improve, [and] we are constantly tweaking to give customers the best experience.”
Pritchard’s wife, Laura, is co-owner of the business and also home schools their four young children.
“When Jay comes up with an idea, I’m already on board,” she said. “So, when he came up with Toss It, I felt like it was a wonderful business idea, and I was excited, as always, to do something with him. He is my favorite business partner and my partner in life. And when he brought up the idea to start Toss It, I knew we should go for it.
“Jay has been the main one behind researching the practical ways of actually building the system to start Toss It,” she said. “He is kind of the hands and feet of the business, but I’ll always bring him ideas and share my thoughts at night when we’re home together, and then the next day, he will go out and do a lot of the things we’ve talked about. It works out great, we balance each other out well, and we are a great team.”
This is not the Pritchards’ first local business endeavor. They owned The Overall Company, a coffee shop in downtown Opelika, before moving to North Georgia in 2018, but their special connection to the Auburn-Opelika area brought them back here a about five months ago to start Toss It.
“What separates this area from what we experienced in North Atlanta and the other places we have been is how unique the community is,” Pritchard said. “Auburn-Opelika has a lot of things going for it that even places that are larger in population don’t have. It is really special, and I can’t really put my finger on it, but I mean the quality of the people here is amazing, and I am so excited to be back.”
Toss It also offers junk removal services and can quickly haul away furniture, yard waste, debris and more. Call or text (334) 521-2091 for a free quote.
To find out more about Toss It, visit www.utossit.com.
