Emerging Franchise VaVia Is Setting a New Standard in the $60 Billion Waste Disposal Industry

VaVia, the small-haul waste disposal franchise, aims to change the way both business owners and their customers see the waste business while capitalizing on growing demand in the industry. Designed to satisfy an unfulfilled need for tech-forward convenience and professionalism in the segment, VaVia (Italian for “it goes away”) has become the premier player in the growing waste-removal industry. Now, as residential and commercial construction picks up following the COVID-19 pandemic, the brand is gearing up for major franchise growth in markets across the country.

“In the waste removal space, our competition is primarily made up of franchise people who got into the waste business — we're the opposite,” said Phillip Nappi, co-founder and president of VaVia. “We're waste removal people who got into the franchising business. That's a huge advantage as we look for qualified partners eager to enter the booming $60 billion waste management industry.” 

Why Now Is the Time to Invest in VaVia

Demand is growing in the construction industry on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which waste disposal was considered an essential business. Because of that, Nappi says the time has never been better to join VaVia. “Construction is growing all over the country, and our services are more in demand than ever,” he said. “We offer an exciting opportunity to fill that demand with a non-brick-and-mortar business and wide-open territory availability.”

Looking ahead, the VaVia team has a goal of signing 100 franchises in the next four or five years. To help achieve that goal and encourage growth, the brand recently brought on franchising veteran Robert Maynard as a partner. By the end of 2021, Nappi says VaVia hopes to have 14 units signed.

“We're not just looking for franchisees, we’re looking for business owners,” said Nappi. “Dumpsters are easy to sell, so if you provide great customer service and have a good attitude, you can be successful in selling. Also, your customers are contractors and home owners, so franchisees should be hands-on and eager to get out and connect with the community, trade organizations and nonprofits. Best of all, with our proven business model and support infrastructure in place, owners don’t need experience in the industry — our franchisee in Houston came from an oil company, a franchisee in San Antonio was a teacher and our Birmingham owner was in finance.”

“From a franchising standpoint, it was totally new for me, but when I went to Nashville to meet Phillip and Tim, we just clicked,” said Columbia, South Carolina-based franchisee Clark McCarthy. “VaVia and its team all have the same ethical, moral and eternal beliefs that I have — it was an instant connection. For them to conceptualize this idea of bringing white-glove service to the trash business is a paying point for people, and the market is ripe for that service.”

Why A High-End Shoe Retailer Decided to Bet on The Waste Removal Industry

Nappi first entered the industry 22 years ago with the purchase of a small waste hauling company. After spending nine years growing the business, Nappi wanted a change, so he started Peter Nappi, a high-end shoe, boot and leather goods brand and learned all about the ups and downs of business ownership. Eventually, his path led him back to waste disposal, and in 2018, he spotted the need for smaller trucks and containers in the segment.

“General contractors needed more trucks that could navigate tight spaces and smaller containers,” said Nappi. “They also desired a higher level of service, and we saw the opportunity to use technology for a smart, easy and polished disposal solution for contractors and residential customers. Through professional dumpster rental and pick-up, we could help our clients finish their projects on-time and on-budget, without all of the headaches.” 

Nappi brought the idea to John Crawford, who grew his own small business, Meteor Education, into a national enterprise, and former business partner Mike Ampe. This founding team shared the foresight that the traditional waste disposal industry was in need of a better solution, especially for a new generation of contractors, homeowners and small businesses. With this winning concept in mind, the team set out to create a proven model that entrepreneurs could utilize to follow Nappi’s path to successful business ownership.

“We launched our franchise opportunity in 2019,” said Nappi. “Over the past three years, we’ve grown and now have 11 franchisees signed throughout the Southeast, including owners in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas and Tennessee.” 

How VaVia Outpaces the Competition and Positions Owners for Success

VaVia was created with a goal of providing entrepreneurs low operating costs, proprietary technology and a simplified business model. “I learned in my shoe business days that if you can combine beautiful branding, processes, technology and professionalism in such a basic business, you can really be successful,” he said. 

For one, Nappi says the VaVia business model is focused on bringing in a high-repeat customer base through accountability, reliable services and proprietary technology that allows customers to order and schedule deliveries or pick ups of dumpsters online.

“There is a huge lack of professionalism and sophistication in the waste management space,” Nappi said. “So many contractors have been burned by dumpster companies, so our tech-forward approach really resonates with contractors because they’ve dealt with companies that weren’t customer-centric like us. Additionally, we go after construction companies with multiple projects instead of only one-and-done customers. Not a lot of franchise concepts have that built-in, repeat customer base.”

VaVia also keeps startup costs low for franchisees thanks to the ability to hire non-CDL drivers and operate without a storefront.  

Nappi adds that franchisee support is essential to the VaVia franchising opportunity. “We bring unmatched leadership with 50-plus years of experience in the waste, franchising and technology development industries,” he said. “Most notably, we can leverage our waste management relationships and buying power to provide a network of colleagues to secure preferred pricing, which is a franchisee’s main expense.” 

VaVia franchisees also have access to in-depth marketing support. “We have a dedicated marketing partner in Google Ads and listings,” said Overton Thompson, director of franchising for VaVia. “Through that partnership, we bring a tech-savviness that is rare in the industry, which allows franchisees to capture those top search spots digitally and build up a solid presence in their individual market.”

The VaVia team is currently looking to add even more markets to the growing list of communities it calls home. The brand is currently looking for franchise partners across Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. 

“We are an emerging brand that is growing fast, and entrepreneurs have the opportunity to get in at the ground floor,” said Nappi. “We are proud of how far we’ve come, and we are excited to partner with more franchisees as we expand the VaVia brand across the country.”

The total cost to invest in VaVia ranges from $117,150 to $365,050 per territory. To learn more about franchising with VaVia, visit: https://www.govavia.com/franchise-with-us/