Born Scrappy

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In this episode, I chat to George Adams. George is the CEO of SA Recycling and has been the driving force behind its incredible growth over the past 40 years, growing it from $10m to around $4b in annual revenue.

SA Recycling is currently the largest scrap metal recycling business in the US, processing over 5 million tons of recycled metal every year with about 3,100 employees across 140 locations in 16 states.

In this episode we chat about:

• A day in the life of George Adams
• Buying the right equipment
• Incentives & Bonuses
• Inventory control
• And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste).

I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

MAKE BETTER TRADES WITH LESS EFFORT

Visit www.tradebuddy.io to find out how...

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Hi! I'm Stu Kagan, welcome to Born Scrappy.

My goal is to spark more industry collaboration through sharing the experiences and learnings of industry greats through my podcast.

So if you are a scrap metal exporter and you're ready to up your game by standing on the shoulders of giants - this one's for you!

SEASON 1 / EPISODE 22

FEATURING “GUEST” STU KAGAN

In this episode, you'll find me on the other side of the microphone.  The person doing the interviewing and asking the questions will be my amazing wife and business partner, Lisa. So you'll get to meet her for the first time.

In the episode, we chat about: 

·         What to look out for when dealing with a new buyer

·         Being firm but fair when trading

·         When in doubt, get on a plane

·         Having a bold vision

·         And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing…

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste). 

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm joined by Michael Goldstein. Michael is the VP of Operations at Alter Trading and is destined to one day run this huge family metal recycling business. 

Mike has also become my best online mate that I've never met. So I expect this will be quite fun! 

In the episode, we chat about: 

·         Why keeping your word is so important. 

·         Buying and selling in the same market 

·         The book you need to buy right now 

·         And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing…

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste). 

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm joined by Dawhal Shah. Dawhal runs Metco Ventures and is the previous President of the Non-Ferrous Board of the BIR. 

In the episode, we chat about: 

·        How to get better prices with less volume than your competitors

·        Losing a large deposit…and getting it back

·        How a crisis helped form the MRAI

·        Expected growth in India 

·        And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing…

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste). 

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm joined by Sebastien Perron. Sebastian is the Vice President of Recycling Procurement at Wieland and has been involved in trading at Sims, Alpert and Alpert, and American Iron and Metals.

In the episode, we chat about: 

·        Why following your gut can create the best opportunities

·        Working at the biggest companies in the industry

·        The difficulties of post-acquisition integration

·        How persistence can get you what you want

·        And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing…

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste). 

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm joined by Anshul Gupta. Anshul owns and runs PGI, a leading ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling and waste management company in the UAE.

PGI is both a processor and a global trader of recycled metal, with operations across the Middle East, Far East, South East, Europe, UK and Africa. 

In this episode we chat about:

·        Training your traders

·        Collaborating with competitors

·        Making sure there’s always an exit clause

·        Making the decision to expand during tough times

·        Working with your buyers to get preferential pricing

·        And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing…

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste). 

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

KEYWORDS:

scrap metal, metal recycling, born scrappy, stu kagan, anshul gupta, PGI, PGI Group, scrap metal trading, BIR, ISRI 

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In this episode, I'm joined by Zhenbin Han. Zhen is purchasing manager at renowned Chinese copper processor Jintian. 

Zhen got his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in China and his MBA in Germany, where he's lived for over 10 years now.  

In this episode we chat about:

·        Whether buyers prefer formula or spot pricing

·        Adapting to new rules and regulations

·        Dealing with buyers in a new market

·        Why quality consistency is key

·        And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing…

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste). 

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm joined by Siddarth Parolia. Sid has 20 years’ experience in the industry. He has helped shape and grow the intergenerational Nihon Ispat, a prolific Indian non-ferrous brokerage.

In this episode we chat about:

·        Being picky with your counterparties

·        Keeping your eyes and ears open

·        Optimising your trading strategy

·        The limitations of tech

·        And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing…

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste). 

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm joined by Natalia Zholud. Natalia is in charge of global trading at the TRM Group, a non-ferrous trading company which has had some incredible growth over the past few years. Natalia also represents Eastern Europe on the Non-Ferrous Board of the BIR.  

In this episode we chat about:

·        What to do when your buyer stops receiving material from the country you're buying from 

·        Why you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help

·        Metal marketplaces in the future

·        Independent mediation

·        And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing…

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste). 

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm joined by Elinor Feuer. Elinor is the Founder of Chilanga, a non-ferrous and dirty precious metals trading company. 

Elinor sits on the non ferrous board at BIR and currently heads up the Swedish Association for Scrap Metal. 

In this episode we chat about:

•How to reduce risk so you can sleep at night
•What it's like to have started in 2008
•What it takes to go on your own
•Why you need to have grit
•And so much more!

WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?

25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing…

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal waste). 

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/