Innovation

The used car industry is underrated due to the creation of new innovations that address future ways of doing things better. But what about the material that exists from previous production and still function for future usage? Mr. Curmi discusses the ways that his business repurposes vehicles and salvages parts and material from the car that can be utilized in the maintenance or repurposing of other vehicles.

Within their day to day operations, they obtain and inspect older vehicles that can properly be refurbished or repurposed for the usage in other vehicles that can be resold. The utilization of quality materials from older vehicles drives down expenses for the dealership. These cheaper prices are then passed down to the consumers. Excess material that cannot be used by Curmsons Auto Sales is passed on for further usage by another automotive company that can utilize the material. If the material is not needed, there are protocols for proper recycling and disposal of the material. Furthermore, the day to day materials are reused whenever possible to limit the waste created.

In accordance with UN Sustainable goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, resource efficiency is a major component of the operations of Curmsons Auto Sales. Additionally, the business provides opportunity to its consumers by transferring the low costs of operations to the actual low prices in resale. These lower prices, targeted towards startups, allow for the resources needed by these startups to be available so they can move on to tackle opportunities and create their own success.

Inspiration

Curmi was inspired by other businesses trying to make a difference in our world. Today the reducing, reusing and recycling of material is very important, but 20 or 30 years ago people didn’t pay as much attention as is paid in the present. People didn’t concern themselves much with pollution because they didn’t see how much it actually affects our planet. Today we can see the major affects of pollution and we are closer than ever to destroying our planet. The planet could do better without us but as long as we use it's resources we must take care of it as best as we can.

Curmi was inspired by how other businesses started to take part in saving our planet and of course, began his contribution with his love of automobiles. It is currently a major issue that Mr. Curmi and his father wanted to take part in to help and do their part. “We recycle things such as used paper, oils, tires and I also buy older vehicles to refurbish them,” says Mr. Curmi. The company made a policy to make sure that as many of the things used can be reused, recycled and overall aim to reduce product waste in their operations. Things such as metals, batteries, oil, paper, tires, etc. are recycled correctly to help limit the waste generated. They also use and salvage old parts instead of simply discarding the material. They take parts from older vehicles, refurbish them and reuse them in their production after a proper inspection. Every little thing helps and the reuse of good material is Mr. Curmi's contribution. This business leader is proud to do his part in trying to help save our planet.

Overall impact

The short term effects of the innovation are prevalent through the usage of used parts. The end of a vehicle's life does not necessarily mean the end of all the parts that comprise that vehicle. Each part is evaluated for further usage. By reducing the need for consumption of newer materials, there is lesser need for the production of newer material. Instead, a vehicle can be given a new life through the use of a few parts and resold as an asset to businesses.

Additionally, the usage of already produced materials keep prices of vehicles low for resale. In turn, this provides opportunities to lower - middle class individuals to obtain resources at affordable prices. The used car industry provides these resources that these individuals can use to create their own success. While the innovation primarily services white collar workers, startup businesses benefit from the resources that become available to push their businesses even further.

The strategies of the business create long term effects in which they aim to reduce material consumption which therefore assists in the decrease of air, water and soil pollution. Done on a larger scale, the impact would grow exponentially. A first step however, is always necessary to begin change.

Business benefit

The business is benefited since the overall concept of the business is to buy broken down, old or used vehicles at low prices. While this helps the individual that has no need for broken down equipment it also assists in the profit making of the business. By obtaining a vehicle that overall may be deemed "useless" or "valueless" the Curmsons Auto Sales finds use in many parts through their inspections. Generally, this cuts down costs by using material that is no longer deemed acceptable, when in reality, it can be repurposed and reused for their benefit in the form of maintenance and update of another vehicle that is meant for resale.

Aside from the profit-making, Curmsons Auto Sales directly benefits ten families from the ten workers employed. The continuation of business and low expenses allows for employees to maintain jobs and receive proper compensation in the form of salaries for their labor. While profits may not be skyrocketing, the business does well in the financial and moral sense of the term which aligns with the family goals from the time the business began nearly 40 years ago.

Social and environmental benefit

The Curmsons Auto Sales business is a business run for profit, however, the goal of co-owner, Mr. Curmi is clear. When his father started the business, he took his appreciation of cars and mechanics and wanted to create a business that would provide opportunities and benefits for individuals and startup businesses, alike, by giving them a chance to create their own success. Subsequently, the organization's business strategies, have allowed not just a benefit to individuals looking to expand their businesses but to do whatever they can to minimize it's effect on the environment. By creating a policy that would maintain waste, the company provides a strategic way of reducing waste by ensuring that material that can be reused in their operations is not discarded but actually reused.

As a business of nearly 40 years, the company makes as big of an impact as it can in New York City for the local families and businesses involved. On a larger scale, appreciation and the policy of using materials that remains to be good and usable will benefit the environment. In a society, especially those living in a city as large as New York, we see that humanity can be very wasteful with the constant production or newer material that is only slightly better than the previous version produced. This obsession with obtaining newer material will not change, however, Curmsons Auto Sales remains true to the appreciation, usage and sale of material that is still salvageable for production usage and consumption.

Interview

David Curmi, Co-Owner