About The Junk Pirates
A wire to the eye, a nickname that stuck, and a first junk haul that turned into a company. This is how The Junk Pirates came to be, and why we run the business the way we do.
The Junk Pirates is a family-owned junk removal company founded by Paul Garrison in Springfield, Missouri in 1999. What began with one truck and a single hauling job now serves four markets: Springfield, MO, Columbia, MO, Odessa, TX, and Midland, TX, providing residential, commercial, cleanout, moving, renovation, and disaster junk removal.
Founded in 1999
One truck and one hauling job in Springfield grew into the company you see today.Family owned and operated
Started by Paul and Donita Garrison, still run by the standard they set.Four cities, two states
Springfield, Columbia, Odessa, and Midland all fly the same flag.The Story Behind The Junk Pirates
A Pirate's Life Indeed
You may wonder how a guy minding his business building a kennel for his beloved dogs ended up running a junk removal company with crews in two states.
It was 1993. I was twisting wire to form the kennel's gate when suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my right eye.
I tried to ignore the pain, hoping it would go away. I finished the kennel, headed to the store for dog food. Blood dripped onto the store's concrete floor from my eye.
I knew I was in trouble.
I Almost Died
The emergency room doctor said I needed surgery. Now. Who knew that the first surgery would turn into five?
The doctor cut corners and did not give me enough medicine to ward off infection. Septic shock set in, and I was close to death.
Thankfully, another doctor saved my life. One that did not take shortcuts. One that did the job right with care, concern, and expertise.
I did not die, but my right eye did.
How a Patch Became a Purpose
Aye, Aye, Cap'n!
I got back to work as soon as I could. Wore a patch over my eye. "Aye, Aye, Cap'n! What's it like to be a pirate? Do you enjoy sailing the seven seas?" And then everyone would laugh.
You would think their comments bothered me and made me feel self-conscious or embarrassed. But they didn't. And you know why? Because I was laughing with them.
Life Is Short
Life is short, and things happen, like losing an eye. But, as humans, we tend to take life for granted. Choose the easy route. Cut a corner or two.
The doctor who neglected to medicate me properly taught me a valuable lesson. Another doctor saved my life. He was attentive, took his time, and used his skills to heal me.
So, I embraced being called a pirate, a one-eyed jack, and a swashbuckling sea rover.
The First Job That Started It All
I'll Be Your Huckleberry
One day the corporation I had been working with since 1999 asked if I knew anyone that could remove some junk for them.
Without hesitation, I said, "I'll be your huckleberry!" I was perfect for the job. I had a truck, I had the manpower, and I had the will.
That first junk hauling turned into another job, then another, until I was hauling junk full-time.
Let's Become Pirates
And then an idea struck. Why not start my own junk-hauling business? And so I did.
My wife joined me, and we collaborated on a name. Nothing seemed right until Donita said, "Pirate!"
Of course! I only have one eye (sans patch since I received a prosthetic), and pirates wore patches, even when their eyesight was good.
You might not believe this, but pirates wore eye patches to improve their vision.
I See Things Others Don't
Wearing a patch over one eye forced the other to adjust, just like mine. It helped pirates see better at night and notice things they might not have noticed.
In other words, it strengthened the pirate's open eye, as it did mine. That is why I "see" things that others might not.
My crew and I were clearing out a customer's garage to ready her home to sell. When we finished, had swept everything, and were ready to leave, I noticed some broken windows and boards in the side yard.
I could have left that pile of junk where it sat. She had not asked us to take it. Our job was only the garage and nothing else. But I did not do that. Instead, I threw the extra debris in the back of the truck.
The customer came out and said, "Oh, you don't have to take that. It's not part of the garage."
But we did have to take that additional junk, because that is what we do. We go above and beyond what our customers expect, without complaint and without shortcuts.
My name is Paul Garrison, and I want to show you how The Junk Pirates are different, our purpose, and how we conduct our business.
It is not about junk. It is about people and doing the right thing.
Can I hear an Aye, Aye?
To Perform Above and Beyond Your Expectations
In January 1983, Steve Jobs spoke to the Apple employees responsible for developing the Mac computer. There was a feeling among the group that they were headed out to sea, veering away from the trend of the personal computer at that time.
"It's better to be a pirate than join the navy."
In other words, why be like everyone else?
We know you have plenty of choices when hiring a junk removal company. But many people believe it is better to work with a local business, that it helps the community thrive. And it is always better to work with someone who cares.
Our Ten Spirit of the Law Principles
A scripture in 2 Corinthians speaks about the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law.
The letter of the law is doing what is necessary and nothing more. You call for junk removal, we remove the junk, and our transaction is complete.
The spirit of the law goes beyond what has to be done to what can be done. Yes, we have to pick up your junk as requested, but because we follow the spirit of the law, "has to" turns into "wants to."
It is doing above and beyond. It is picking up junk at your home or business like it is my house or business. It is caring, and doing a job for you that I hope someone would do for me.
We are guided by these Ten Spirit of the Law Principles:
01 | WE TRUST FIRST
02 | WE GIVE AND THEN RECEIVE
03 | WE MAKE IT EASY
04 | WE IMPROVE LIVES
05 | WE SET THE STANDARD
06 | WE ELIMINATE STRESS
07 | WE'RE OPEN TO IDEAS
08 | WE UNDERSTAND JUNK
09 | WE LISTEN
10 | WE CREATE HAPPINESS
Our P.I.R.A.T.E. Values
Do core values really matter? Walt Disney's brother Roy thought so when he said, "It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are."
At The Junk Pirates, our values are the foundation of our business. They represent our company, our approach to each other, our partners, and our customers, and they are reflected in everything we do.
P = Passion
We love what we do and get it done right. We are passionate about improving your property and decreasing your stress.I = Integrity
We are more apt to lower our price than increase it. We are fair, reasonable, and do what is right, going the extra mile to finish the job with stellar results.R = Responsibility
We handle your junk removal needs safely and on time, making sure no harm comes to your property or the environment along the way.A = Attitude
We insist on the WOW Factor. We go above and beyond what is expected, aiming to make a difference in your day, not just your driveway.T = Trust
We trust each other, say what we mean, and do what we say. You can count on us to be on time, too.E = Empathy
We understand the emotional weight of decluttering, especially with estate cleanouts. Many items hold memories, and we treat them that way.Our Mission and Our Vision
Mission: transform the junk removal business
Mark Twain once said, "Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
Our mission as good pirates is to bring our customers affordable, quality junk removal with the highest level of integrity. We want every customer to experience our WOW Factor.
We do not just pick up old furniture and dump junk. We aim to leave your property cleaner and brighter, with an attitude and professionalism you will remember.
Our mission is about people, not junk.
Vision: end illegal dumping
Illegal dumping has increased in recent years, and our home area is no exception. Around Springfield alone: wet concrete poured onto a woman's property, a truckload of tires dumped in front of a business, thousands of pounds of trash left at a river.
Illegal dumps attract vermin and insects, and tires collect stagnant water that breeds mosquitoes capable of carrying diseases like the West Nile virus.
Proper, legal disposal is built into every job we run, in Missouri and in West Texas alike. Together we can make our communities a better place by stopping illegal dumping now.
The Junk Pirates Today
One truck and one hauling job in Springfield, Missouri grew into a full-time junk removal company with crews in four cities across two states.
Springfield and Columbia carry the flag in Missouri. Odessa and Midland carry it across West Texas.
The company is still family owned and family operated, still run on the above-and-beyond standard Paul and Donita set, and still committed to donation, recycling, and proper disposal on every load.
Some of Our More Interesting Projects
The jobs that stuck with us, told the way they happened.
A veteran's home, cleared with care
How the crew helped a veteran dig out from a hoarding situation that had taken over his home.An elderly couple's storage unit
A disabled couple needed years of stored belongings cleared. Here is how the job went.After the fire
What it took to clear a family's property after a house fire changed everything.Find The Junk Pirates in Your City
The story started in Springfield. It continues in four ports.
Springfield, MO
Where the first haul happened, and home port since 1999.View Springfield →
Columbia, MO
The Pirate standard, carried to mid-Missouri by The Junk Pirates Columbia.View Columbia →
Odessa, TX
Serving Odessa homes and businesses the way Springfield taught us.View Odessa →
About The Junk Pirates FAQs
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Ready to Sail With Us?
Now you know the story. Tell us yours, starting with whatever needs to leave your property.
Call 800-800-JUNK