Dan Joyce is the new chief pallet officer and co-owner of MSP Pallet Recycling in St Paul, Minnesota. Originally founded in 1977 by Jeff and Judy Otto, MSP Pallet Recycling focuses on recycled pallets and reclaiming lumber to build combination pallets and crates of all sizes, serving customers throughout the Minneapolis-St Paul region. Dan and his business partner, Brad Paine, also co-own Viking Pallet and Gopher State Pallets in the same market area.
Pallet Enterprise: What is the best piece of business advice that you have ever received?
Joyce: I have three that guide me most. One: Be nice. Business has karma. Two: There are four basic principles of running a business – numbers, customers, employees and the future. Always be working on one. Three: Be purpose-driven. Purpose is where your talents intersect with the needs of the world.
Pallet Enterprise: Have you recently started pursuing any new markets/product lines?
Joyce: Since I am only a few months into being a co-owner in the pallet business, it is all a new market and product line to me. This is a great industry. We help our customers achieve amazing things.
Pallet Enterprise: How do you decide whether or not to try a new idea in your company?
Joyce: We just rebranded the company and introduced a cool new logo, among many other things, to position us for the future. Growth and comfort cannot co-exist. We need to constantly be open to implementing new ideas to sustain and grow. We use common sense. If it is the right thing to do and makes sense, it should make dollars, too.
Pallet Enterprise: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about customer service?
Joyce: Long term thinking. Always admit mistakes and wow the customer by going beyond to fix an issue. It is better to take a hit in the short term. You will be more likely to win in the longer term. It is harder to gain a new customer than it is to keep one. Again, business has karma.
Pallet Enterprise: Have economic changes over the past few years changed the way you manage your company? How?
Joyce: Pallet prices are down from their record highs driven by past global supply chain issues. We have to manage to that reality.
Pallet Enterprise: What is one thing you wish the government would do right now to improve business conditions?
Joyce: Our current economy is pretty good, the best in the industrial world. We are experiencing solid GDP growth. Factory growth is strong. Inflation is dropping. Unemployment is low, and we are still seeing great job applicants. I’d always welcome the Federal Reserve to responsibly lower interest rates. I also encourage our city and county government officials to drive common sense local policies and actions that help support small business success.
