Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Myers
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/06/2015
Myers Family Starts 7 Kids Computer Recycling Business (2015)
Owner of Neillsville’s newest business, 7 Kids Computer Recycling, pose for a family photo outside their building located on East USH 10 across the road from OEM Manufacturing. The environmentally-friendly company opened for business May 4. Shown are (l-r) are Taylor, Tiffany, Koltin, Jim, Travis and Katie Myers. Missing from the photo are Brandi, Tyler, James and Tara Myers. Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press
By Todd Schmidt
A chance overnight stay in Neillsville last fall resulted in a new business start-up for a new family in the community.
Jim Myers (retired Army) and his wife Tiffany, formerly of New Berlin, were delivering a trailer a route through Neillsville when he ran out of hors as a driver. They checked into the Supper 8 Motel to get some rest, and during their stay got a taste of Neillsville hospitality.
“We checked out the town and basically fell in love with it,” Tiffany said. “It is a small-town environment. Everybody we met made us feel very welcome.”
A short time later the Myers family decided to move to Neillsville. The children are attending Neillsville schools.
“Everybody has been very encouraging and hospitable,” Tiffany said. “All the children are doing very well in school.”
With that as a backdrop, Jim and Tiffany decided to pursue setting up a family business they have named 7 Kids Computer Recycling. The Myers’ have purchased the former Harvest Moon Productions building at W4999 USH 10, located across from OEM Manufacturing, and began accepting items Monday.
Tiffany’s father operated a similar recycling business in New Berlin for 15 years.
“We have experience in recycling,” Tiffany said. “It was a family-grown business, and we saw need and an opportunity in this area.”
Jim, Tiffany and three of their children, Taylor, Katie and Travis, along with their grandson, Koltin, gathered at the business doorstep Friday to close on the building purchase and explain their operation.
They will accept computers and electronics of all kinds, stripping most items to the bare bones, and either recycling the materials or retaining used parts for resale.
“Since 2010, it is against state law to dispose of electronics in landfills,” Jim explained. “Markets are strong for recyclables right now. We have been in contact with several communities about doing community-wide recycling events. Our motto is ‘we are excited to help save the environment one computer at a time.’”
He noted all computer hard drives would be erased to Department of Defense standards.
Tiffany said if a customer brings in a laptop computer with a broken screen that could easily be fixed, the unit would be rehabbed and then sold at a low cost to someone who needs one. Sales will be made to the general public at 7 Kids Computer Recycling or via eBay.
“We also plan to serve as an eBay auction drop-off point for those customers who have low feedback on their accounts,” Tiffany said.
Other items will be accepted for recycling, including washers, dryers and stoves (almost anything without Freon) and car and truck batteries (as long as they have not exploded with chemicals seeping out).
They are running a special through May 15, with no charge for accepting TV’s, monitors or LCD devices. After May 15, an $8 per unit charge will be assessed to cover disposal costs.
Business start-up expenses have been pretty minimal. Much of the recycling work is done with hand tools, which they already had. At some point they will have to purchase a forklift.
Jim has joined the American Legion in Neillsville. The family is looking to get involved with the community in other ways.
“We want to make as much of a positive impact as possible here,” Jim said. “We want to be able to give back to the whole community.”
They plan to organize an outdoor flea market at the 7 Kids Computer Recycling site the weekend of May 9 and 10. There will be no charge for booth space as long as vendors bring a minimum of five canned goods.
“All the food will be donated to the new Neillsville area food pantry,” Jim said. “We have already contacted them and made the arrangements.”
Jim and Tiffany have also rented the American Legion Hall Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, for an indoor flea market.
“This is a way to get people together,” Jim said. “A flea market is the place to do it. Nobody gets rich. The activity helps the community.”
Jim also started Jim’s transport Service, which he used to deliver boats, trailers and RV’s across the nation. He plans to selectively take hauling jobs, concentrating on the recycling business instead. At some point, 7 Kids Computer Recycling will offer trailers for sale on consignment.
7 Kids Computer Recycling will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon, with the exception of the third Saturday of the month, when the business will be closed. For more information, call 715-937-6016.
