Like many people, I was hit hard by the 2008 economic crash. I had been in the construction industry for many years, working in sales. During the recovery my business improved but the money brought in was less than what I had earned in years past. Having always been a believer in donating a portion of my income to charities, this was becoming increasingly difficult to do. While continuing to support a family during this downturn, family expenses and debts were building. This tension increased to the point that I would either have to get a part time job or give up my charitable giving.  While taking out the trash one evening, I noticed the scrappers working in my neighborhood. I was curious about this, so I started to pick up items myself. I would break them down in my basement and analyze each item to see if they were of any value. This was natural for me: during my childhood I spent a lot of time taking things apart to see how they worked, leading people to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. And I replied "a junk man”. Fast forward to the evolution of Restoration Electronics, LLC.  My newly-found scrap work post-2008 took some time to come together and I encountered a big learning curve dealing with scrap yards and working to maximize my return on scrap. While many people doubted my business model, this fueled me to get it right. My business outgrew the basement, the garage, and storage space under the deck. At this point, I moved to the warehouse where I am now located.  While the early growth of the business was gradual, after three years my business, I am happy to report, is now doubling every year. Learning, getting an LLC, moving into a warehouse, finding part time help and developing strong business partnerships has taken time. This web site is the logical next step. In the meantime, my experience in business has driven an important concept into my DNA