A Scrap Life: Episode 111 | Colin Douthit | Premier Scrap Services

On this episode of A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Colin Douthit of Premier Scrap Services to talk efficiency in business, outsourcing to increase productivity, and the struggles faced with growth. Produced by Recycled Media.

Transcription


Scrap Life Podcast – Episode on Premier Scrap Services

[0:02]
Brett: Welcome to Scrap Life, a podcast solely focused on the hustlers, grinders, operators, and business owners who live and breathe the scrap metal industry every day. Here’s your host, Brett.


[0:19]
Brett: What’s going on, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Scrap Life! You all know me—I prefer to do podcasts with people who are doing big things in the industry or who I’ve had the opportunity to do business with over the years.

You might recognize this company: Premier Scrap Services. They’ve been around for a while, but the cool thing is that they’re under new ownership now. They’re expanding their services beyond what they were traditionally known for.

We’re still doing business with these guys, and they’ve helped us a ton with contract torching. So, I invited Colin Delit, from Premier Scrap Services, to come on and chat. Colin, thanks for joining us!


Early Beginnings and Business Building

[1:09]
Colin: Thanks for having me, Brett! I’m excited to chat with you. When I first got into the scrap industry, I started researching more about the key players. Seeing your social media presence and podcast, I thought, “This is the guy I want to connect with!” And then, it turned out we were already doing business together—a total win-win.

Brett: Those are always the best conversations! I like promoting people who are genuinely doing the work. Builders, especially business builders, are some of my favorite people to talk to because I feel like we’re aligned. We’re always trying to grow and improve, which is hard.

Colin: It’s very hard—probably one of the hardest things I’ve done. I’ve built a few businesses from scratch, but stepping into one that’s already running is refreshing. It’s still a grind, but it’s different from starting at zero.


Football Background

[2:53]
Brett: One of the first things I noticed when we talked was that you played some football. Where are you from, and what’s your football background?

Colin: I’m a Midwest kid, born and raised just outside of Kansas City. I went to school in Central Missouri and played football there for five years. Like any good football player, I had my fair share of injuries.

Brett: What happened?

Colin: I tore my ACL twice—once in my senior year of high school and again in my senior year of college. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to finish either of those seasons.


Building Premier Scrap Services

[4:47]
Brett: So, after football and college, what led you to Premier Scrap Services?

Colin: After a few corporate engineering jobs, I started a real estate and property management business. My business partner, Adam, joined me around 2020 after getting downsized. We built that business together, had a successful exit, and eventually found the opportunity to acquire Premier Scrap Services.

Brett: Did you already know Mark Imel (the original founder of Premier Scrap Services)?

Colin: No, we didn’t know Mark before acquiring the business. Our investment banker brought Premier Scrap to our attention, and it just felt like the right fit.


Transitioning Into the Scrap Industry

[10:50]
Brett: Transitioning from real estate to the scrap industry must have been interesting. What attracted you to this space?

Colin: We were looking for a business in a gritty, hands-on industry—not something overly “polished.” The scrap industry fit perfectly. Mark had built a strong foundation with Premier Scrap, and there was a solid team in place. We saw growth potential and decided to move forward.

Brett: Premier started with torching, right?

Colin: Yeah, it started as a torching company and expanded into labor services and other verticals.


Outsourcing and Business Efficiency

[16:10]
Brett: One of the things I’ve learned over the years is the value of outsourcing. It allows businesses to scale without taking on too much fixed cost. Is that something you’ve implemented with Premier Scrap?

Colin: Absolutely. Outsourcing has been key for us. For example, we outsource accounting, HR, and payroll. It allows us to focus on operations and business development while professionals handle the back-end.

Brett: That’s a game-changer. It’s refreshing to know that some of those tasks are off your plate and being handled properly.


The Value of Flexibility

[20:49]
Brett: What I like about Premier is the flexibility it provides. For example, when we had big windmill jobs, I could call Mark or Jay and say, “I need four guys now,” and they’d make it happen.

Colin: Exactly. We allow businesses to expand and contract as needed without committing to permanent staffing or equipment. It’s all about meeting those temporary surges in demand.


Closing Thoughts

[43:41]
Brett: I think Premier Scrap Services fills a real niche in the scrap industry. If anyone out there is listening and thinks, “I need help with torching, labor, or other services,” it’s worth giving you guys a call.

Colin: Thanks, Brett. We appreciate the support and look forward to continuing to serve this industry.

Brett: Absolutely. Thanks for coming on the podcast, Colin!


[48:19]
[Music]