Why Do Businesses in Aiken Thrive?

Courtesy of Dumpster Depot

Thanks to local leadership, loyal customers, affordability and supportive organizations, entrepreneurs and small businesses in Aiken and Western South Carolina can find success.

This supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs helped Norman Dunagan, founder and CEO of Dumpster Depot, get his Aiken-based business off the ground. The company offers removal and recycling of construction, commercial and residential waste with the goal of reducing landfill dumping and achieving zero waste. 

Though the picture of success now, at the start, Dunagan was just a guy who wanted to provide for his family after being let go from a 16-year corporate gig. Today, he has 11 entities to his name, with Dumpster Depot ranking as a top employer within the city and a midsize employer in Aiken County. 

What was the inspiration behind Dumpster Depot? 
I come from a long line of hard workers. My grandparents were coal miners. My father was a factory worker. From them, I learned diligence, but I also knew at a young age that I wanted to own a business. Dumpster Depot began the very day I lost my corporate job. Prompted by the memory of once hearing the waste removal business was a good business to be in, I bought four Dumpsters before I got home. Fueled to provide for my family, I vowed never to rely on others for income. 

What made you want to do business in Aiken? 
Dumpster Depot started in 2003 in Augusta, about 30 minutes from here. We quickly saw the market opportunity in Aiken and expanded, which then led to moving our headquarters and the family to Aiken. The welcoming, supportive community makes this place home. 

What kind of success have you seen since you launched your business? 
I’m living the American dream. We’re blessed to see tremendous growth year over year. We started with construction removal and grew from there. Dumpster Depot’s success has led me to open more businesses in Aiken, ranging from porta-potty rentals to a marketing firm to casual and fine dining restaurants. 

How would you describe the local business scene? 
I’ve been here for 18 years. The business environment is the best it’s ever been, and there’s no end to that in sight. Downtown is unique and thriving, with a new brewery, whiskey bar and pickleball court on the way. Our leadership has us on a great trajectory. The biggest opportunity for our continued growth is to provide more amenities and activities for young people and families. They’re our future. 

What resources did you garner to succeed in Aiken? 
Hands down, the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, Aiken’s BNI group, and a personal mentor who listened, then pointed me in the right direction. 

How supportive was the community when you opened? 
Incredibly. People in Aiken love choosing local. Established manufacturers took a chance on us as a new business. Today, the joke about town is “Aikeners” eat at their trash guy’s restaurants. I believe that no matter what I do, I will have support here. 

Why should other entrepreneurs launch their businesses here? 
Here, anyone with a solution and the mindset to put the customer first will succeed. With its nostalgia of a simpler time, it’s a great place to be. 

What’s one piece of advice you’d give entrepreneurs opening a business? 
There are no unrealistic goals, only unrealistic timelines. Dumpster Depot was 8 years old before I was able to truly pay myself. Today, we employ over 100 people, or, as I like to think of it, provide for over 100 local families.