With the rate at which tech devices become broken or obsolete, one Grand Valley State University student has made it his personal goal to serve those in the community who are either looking to sell or buy new and used technology.
Dan VanderMeer is a statistics major who has dedicated himself to a startup business called GR Tech Swap.
His goals are simple: help everyday people buy or sell their tech devices without the price gouging of pawn shops or awkward blind-date meetups through Facebook Marketplace. For VanderMeer, putting a friendly and well-informed face at one end of these tech deals is the niche of his business model.
“When I came into GVSU, I intended to do a business major,” VanderMeer said. “I’m kind of good at math. I don’t love it, but it is a skillset. I planned on using statistics somehow in business. Here I am, halfway through school with my own business.”
The idea of starting GR Tech Swap focused heavily on retaining a virtual business model while giving local community members the opportunity to meet with someone with experience in technology dealing.
“It’s pretty simple — I have a buy, sell and trade tech swap,” VanderMeer said. “I buy locally and sell online, (and) intend to grow the wholesale aspect of my business. I would like to have a storefront so I can do more local sales as well.”
VanderMeer’s entrepreneur origin story began before his time at GVSU when he was just a kid.
“I have been a buyer-seller for a long time,” VanderMeer said. “My best friend and I would sell soda on the side of the road when we were kids, (and we) used to sell fidget-spinners in school. We would buy them in bulk off Amazon, and would show up at school, leaving at the end of the day with wads of cash. The teachers tried to ban it (our resale venture).”
VanderMeer worked a number of side jobs when GR Tech Swap was in its infancy. However, he eventually made the leap and took a chance on being his own boss.
“I went full-time on this about six months ago,” VanderMeer said. “I realized that for me to really grow the business, I had to go all in on it. I put all my focus on GR Tech Swap.”
As far as what’s next for GR Tech Swap, the hiring of employees may be happening soon. VanderMeer recognizes that the business’ growth may necessitate the hiring of a manager for his operations.
“I’m looking into getting an independent contractor agreement set up with the same friend from the fidget-spinner business,” VanderMeer said. “I intend on leading from the front. I don’t want to outsource the work and then start slacking.”
Though the business is now profitable enough for VanderMeer to put all of his time and energy into it without supplemental income, it wasn’t always that way. There are specific items he credits with helping him ride the wave of tech buy-back.
“I was in this side-hustle phase of the business for about a year,” VanderMeer said. “I got into PS5s and I was making like $1,000-$2,000 per month. I just kept growing after that.”
Still, there was a learning curve to the business. VanderMeer admits he did not know everything about tech when he started his firm, but believes his experiences have earned him a broad and comprehensive understanding of the devices available on the market today.
“I try to be as responsible and take accountability whenever I can,” VanderMeer said. “I have bought a fake phone (and) iCloud-locked devices. I have not made those mistakes a second time. I see these learning experiences as the tuition costs to learn the skills I have today.”
In terms of what the future holds, VanderMeer is realistic, yet focused more on the day-to-day than anything else. He believes this short-term thinking has put him on the path to success and he does not plan to abandon it now.
“I had a big mindset shift when I turned 20,” VanderMeer said. “Nothing is ever going to be given to me. I have to make things happen for myself. There are too many variables in the long term and I can only control the individual days.”
