As gas prices continue to climb across mid-Michigan, one Lansing small business owner says the pressure at the pump is hitting his bottom line and forcing him to operate smarter just to stay afloat.
- Scott Toupin, owner of Lansing Junk Removal, says his monthly fuel bill has jumped from roughly $2,500 to $3,000 in just the past month.
- AAA data shows Lansing-area gas prices have surged more than 54 cents per gallon in the last 30 days.
- Toupin says he now carefully plans and pairs customer routes every day to reduce unnecessary mileage and keep costs down.
WATCH: ‘WE HAVE TO BE SMARTER’ — RISING GAS PRICES SQUEEZE LANSING JUNK REMOVAL’S BUSINESS
‘We have to be smarter’: Gas prices squeeze Lansing Junk Removal’s operations
Scott Toupin has been running Lansing Junk Removal for nearly 18 years a business that hauls unwanted furniture, appliances and household items from homes and businesses across Lansing, Jackson, Howell and surrounding communities, then resells the best of what they find in an on-site thrift and antique store.
It’s a business built on wheels and those wheels are getting expensive to keep spinning.
“A month ago we were spending probably about $2,500 a month,” Toupin said. “Now we’re spending probably closer to $3,000 a month.”…