Nick Del Rossi is the owner and founder of NDR Pallet in Charlotte, North Carolina, a business he started seven years ago. The company offers new pallets, recycled pallets, and custom pallets. Services include pallet design and removal of surplus and scrap pallets.
Pallet Enterprise: What is the best piece of business advice that you have ever received?
Del Rossi: You can fail, but you better fail quick.
Pallet Enterprise: Have you recently started pursuing any new markets/product lines?
Del Rossi: Yes. I have started doing waste wood removal via bins and 53-foot trailers. Scrap pallets. It’s been very well received. So far, so good. I like to be part of people’s solutions. I had gotten a lot of calls from people asking me to help them get rid of surplus pallets. It kind of frustrated me at the time because I didn’t have a solution.
Pallet Enterprise: How do you decide whether or not to try a new idea in your company?
Del Rossi: The market typically guides my direction. When I spot a need, I want to help fill it.
Pallet Enterprise: What is one thing you do at your company that is different from other pallet companies?
Del Rossi: Covid taught me a lot. For one, I don’t keep much inventory on hand at my site anymore. I stock enough to meet demand, but nothing excessive. Everything is cut to order, and we scale as needed.
Pallet Enterprise: What is one of the hardest business decisions you have ever made?
Del Rossi: For me, it was walking away from low-margin customers. When pallet prices dropped to historic lows, we had to make tough calls to survive.
Pallet Enterprise: How do you go about your workday to stay productive and on target?
Del Rossi: My top priority is keeping my own books and records and working closely with my accounting team. I know exactly what’s coming in and going out, down to the penny.
I also make sure everything’s ready before the day starts. That means getting organized with my team so we’re all on the same page from the jump.
Beyond that, I’m the main point of contact for customers. I handle operations and coordinate inbound and outbound deliveries. I also take calls as needed, both incoming and outgoing.
Pallet Enterprise: Have you ever had what you thought was a great business idea completely flop?
Del Rossi: When I first started, I recycled plastic pallets as well. I’ve learned I should be a master of one rather than a jack of all trades. We stopped supplying plastic pallets.
Pallet Enterprise: What is one thing you wish the government would do right now to improve business conditions?
Del Rossi: I like where the country is headed. I think the government is doing the best they can. The reason we’re having problems in the pallet industry is the market became saturated as a result of Covid. I don’t know what more the government can do. No one is going to wave a magic wand and make the oversupply disappear.
