## Scrap Life Podcast 6,415

**Host: Brett Eart**

Welcome to Scrap Life, a podcast dedicated to the hustlers, grinders, operators, and business owners who live and breathe the scrap metal industry every day.

**Brett Eart:**
Scrap Life podcast number 6,415 or whatever it is. Um, I don’t really know what the number is. I don’t really care cuz I love doing this. I get to sit down with people I enjoy. We don’t have sponsors, so we can say what we want, and just do it because we love it. Today I’m sitting down with Chris Demer from Lewisburg Recycling and his son. Chris, introduce your son for me, please.

**Chris Demer:**
Yeah, this is my son Austin. He’s getting ready to be a high school senior, and so he’s been working with me for two summers. This will be his second summer working with us.

**Brett Eart:**
That’s awesome. So I grew up in the recycling center. I’ve done most every job around here, and I had my son working in the recycling center when he was 12. I think the recycling center is such a great place for kids because you meet such a diverse mix of people. You see everyone from the old lady with 20 pounds of cans to the guy with the crack problem trying to scrape together five bucks and everyone in between – business owners, tradesmen, plumbers, electricians. It’s a good slice of what the world is, right? You’ve got to figure out how to get along with everybody.

**Austin Demer:**
Dude, it’s crazy. It goes from people who don’t speak English, to crackheads. But you get to see all kinds of people just scraping across a couple dollars. At first, I probably got frustrated not knowing everyone’s situation, but I learned that being nice goes a long way. It’s about the word of mouth and what they’re going to bring in the future to grow our business.

**Brett Eart:**
Exactly. It’s the long dollar. How you treat people is the long dollar. You think about the future and not just buying scrap, but how you deal with people. So Chris, you’re first generation in this deal about to have the second generation. What got you hooked and down this path of scrap metal?

**Chris Demer:**
Well, it was completely random to be honest. I retired from the military in 2022 with no real plans and a buddy of mine was in real estate, came across the listing for an existing scrapyard and thought of me. He saw potential in it if it was run more efficiently. We bought it at a good deal and everything just kinda fell into place. I originally thought it was just something to do, but the scrap industry, it just gets in your blood.

**Brett Eart:**
Having a military background must be beneficial in this industry where structure and efficiency are key. What was the biggest hurdle for you, Chris?

**Chris Demer:**
Definitely the cash flow process. We set up our business focused on customer service, and the industry doesn’t have a very high bar for it. So, word of mouth spread like wildfire. We grew rapidly, and managing that cash flow was challenging.

**Brett Eart:**
Yeah, cash flow is crucial in our industry. What challenges do you face working with a team or keeping operations efficient?

**Chris Demer:**
The workforce isn’t like military staff. People aren’t always consistent or up to expectation, so setting up metrics that all employees are required to meet helped. Understanding our operations and rotating roles whenever necessary keeps things in line.

**Austin Demer:**
You know, I learned a lot from just working there, especially seeing how many different kinds of people come in and the way they treat this job. I’ve learned resilience and a lot about business values from my dad.

**Brett Eart:**
Chris, what’s next for you and Lewisburg Recycling?

**Chris Demer:**
We’re looking to purchase a second yard, much larger than our current one, that will allow us better control of market pricing, both for buying and selling. It’s a step towards growth and expanding our operations further.

**Brett Eart:**
That’s exciting. Is there a focus on passing the torch to Austin?

**Chris Demer:**
We’re focusing on that, yeah. Austin will pursue college first, but the business is there for him to step into if he wants. Family involvement in the business offers the chance to spend more time together and pass on responsibilities gradually.

**Brett Eart:**
Well, thanks for sharing your journey today. Anyone looking to get in touch with Chris and Lewisburg Recycling can find them on their Facebook page. Thanks again, Chris and Austin, for joining me today.

—

*(The conversation concludes with expressions of appreciation and encouragement for their ongoing business ventures.)*