Danbury Small Business Spotlight: Trash American Style

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

• Business: Trash American Style
• Owner: Malcolm Tent
• Website: www.trashamericanstyle.us

How did you come up with the name?

It was the product of a late night brainstorming session. You should only know what some of the rejected names were.

Why choose that location?

Our Danbury brick and mortar shop stood on Mill Plain Road for 18 years. It was easily accessible from the highway yet far enough from downtown for people to seek us out. Since it was closed in 2007, we have selling online and at local record shows, flea markets and trade shows.

Why start a business in this town?

My former business partner was from the area and she said that the greater Danbury area needed what we had to offer! It appeared that she was right.

Briefly, what business are you in?

Peddling of cool underground culture and molding of eager young minds. Vinyl records are my favorite media with which to do so.

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

Keeping up with the workload! A lot of what I do is labor intensive, and when I have customers to take care of, they always come first. So the work tends to pile up. There are records to clean and price, inventory to organize, messages to answer and lots of regular work day stuff.

Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?

Never. It can be a tough row to hoe sometimes, but selling records is the life for me.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?

When I think of all my customers and former workers who have gone out on their own and made their art work for them. I’ve always tried to cultivate the DIY idea and a lot of my people have run with it. I love the fact that so many of them are self employed and self expressive.

What’s the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?

That’s almost impossible to nail down. I’ve always relied on input from my workers and customers. They bring fresh new perspectives to situations. They’ve quite often helped me see the forest and the trees.

How do you deal with difficult customers?

None of my customers are difficult. Some might require a little more care than others, but none of them are difficult.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community?

I’ve always tried to support the local music and art scene. I enjoy giving bands a venue to perform in and giving artists a platform to be seen and heard, whether it be through promoting concerts, providing radio play, or just spreading the word.

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@ patch.com.