Entrepreneurial Steps to Success

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In writing about entrepreneurship across decades, I made my own list of the high fives for running a business:   – Common sense – Organizational skills – Passion – Leadership – Integrity    Every one of these squares with Ashleigh and Tyler Roop and their All American Hauling business. They were high school sweethearts who waited until after college to begin life and business together. Tyler has approached the business model in a slow, measured, intelligent manner.  Both of them graduated from Blacksburg High School [class of 2012] and attended and graduated from New River Community College. Tyler went on to vocational welding and machine work classes, while Ashleigh got a bachelor’s degree in finance from Radford University. “I wanted something to provide stability, and everyone deals with money, in business and at home.” She graduated in 2018, and they got married two years later.  While Tyler bounced around a bit in the machining industry, Ashleigh started working as a receptionist to get her foot in the door of the office environment. She has risen to senior accountant at Virginia Power Technology.    “I want to be a business owner”   One day, Tyler announced: “I want to be a business owner.” Ashleigh didn’t know this was a dream of his, but by now she felt she had the skills to manage the financial end of a small business.  Tyler set about investigating services which might be lacking in the New River Valley which he could fill. “He likes to work with his hands, be outside, in the field, so to speak,” Ashleigh relates. His research presented the discovery that there were no compact dumpster rentals in the area. “I found a company in Wytheville and one in Roanoke which offered short-term, small dumpster rentals, but nothing based in the New River Valley,” he explains.  “Not to jump ahead of ourselves, we started with a 6-foot utility trailer we already owned and could pull behind our vehicle,” he continues. They advertised on Facebook and got some little jobs. Moving forward slowly, they got money via a loan to buy a hook lift trailer on a hitch, which they could still pull with a personal vehicle, and one small dumpster.  Tyler did this for one year part-time while still working as a machinist. When Ashleigh became very ill after the birth of their daughter, Tyler had to take a lot of time off from his job, and the company let him go. As they mulled over options, Tyler decided this was just what he needed to jump full-time into All American Hauling.   Networking    In 2024, he ordered three more small dumpsters, and this year, four more. As business grew, the couple — both Blacksburg natives – realized that Facebook was not going to reach everyone. So, they joined several Chambers of Commerce, NRV Business Exchange, NRV Homebuilders Association and hosted a booth at Home EXPO last spring. In September, they launched a website. “We did realize not everyone looks to social media for services, and the website has already expanded our reach in the community,” Tyler shares.  When not scheduling and driving for pick-ups or deliveries of their 6-yard and 10-yard dumpsters, Tyler stays busy networking and developing partnerships with property managers, real estate professionals, homeowner’s associations and local contractors.  All American Hauling provides dumpsters for small renovations and construction jobs, eviction clean out, abandoned storage units and all manner of junk removal. “We prioritize what can be useful to donate to the AGAPE Center, Thrift Well and other places which accept contributions,” he states.    The high fives of entrepreneurship   Tyler and Ashleigh exhibit common sense and organization skills with their market research, financial acumen and slowly moving forward until their small business took root. Each one has a passion for entrepreneurship and the New River Valley. Leadership is obvious in the discipline and commitment necessary to run one’s own business, being your own boss. And integrity is the hallmark of fair pricing, credibility and trustworthy business dealings.  This husband-wife duo each recently turned 31 years old. Their entrepreneurial spirit burns brightly, and with Tyler’s keen eye in noticing holes in the service market for small dumpster rentals, well, it’s possible this is the tip of the entrepreneurial iceberg for the Roops.   Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Photos courtesy of All American Hauling