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Episode 302: Liz Picarazzi – The Trashwoman, CITIBIN Founder

Liz Picarazzi, the Founder and CEO of CITIBIN, joins the show to share her journey from feeling trapped as an entrepreneur in the corporate world to creating the award-winning brand of trash enclosures and package lockers. Hear how to start a side hustle, how to know when it’s time to close your business, Liz’s quest for the rat-proof trash enclosure, how to work with your significant other, and fun facts about trash. This episode covers everything from Oscar the Grouch to Master Splinter. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• W2 vs. 1099
• How did Liz become an entrepreneur
• Where did the idea for CITIBIN come from
• What hurdles has Liz had to go through with NYC laws and regulations
• So many meatballs
• What marketing strategy has been most effective for CITIBIN
• Bear-Resistant CITIBIN
• What’s the biggest thing Liz misses about Madison, Wisconsin

Connect with Liz at CITIBIN.com, on Instagram @CITIBIN, and on LinkedIn.

Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail. You can also find the full transcript here.

Show Notes

• Intro & Checklist Home Services
  • [0:26] Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
  • [0:36] Connect with Liz at CITIBIN.com, on Instagram @CITIBIN, and on LinkedIn
  • [1:52] Oscar the Grouch
  • [2:32] Why did Liz start Checklist Home Services
  • [4:38] Shoutout, Midwest!
  • [4:54] American Express (AMEX)
  • [5:41] CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
  • [5:48] W2 vs. 1099
  • [6:19] craigslist
  • [6:28] Shoutout, Ash!
  • [7:12] How did Liz become an entrepreneur
  • [9:08] Shoutout, Frank! COO (Chief Operating Officer)

• The CITIBIN Story
  • [10:59] Where did the idea for CITIBIN come from
  • [12:22] Social Media
  • [13:12] Whatever
  • [13:31] How do you know it’s time to close your business
  • [14:42] Why should you start a side hustle
  • [14:59] WeWork
  • [15:21] Business Plan
  • [16:16] How did Liz perfect the trash enclosures for CITIBIN
  • [16:33] Trex (fun Google Image), The Home Depot
  • [18:13] How did CITIBIN become rat-proof
  • [19:20] Has there been any backlash from Master Splinter or the NYC rats
  • [19:31] “How New York City Hopes to Win Its Long, Losing War on Trash“
  • [20:58] What hurdles has Liz had to go through with NYC laws and regulations
  • [21:40] Department of Sanitation, Department of Transportation
  • [21:45] Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
  • [22:04] Times Square
  • [23:12] So many meatballs. Delicious
  • [23:31] What marketing strategy has been most effective for CITIBIN
  • [24:00] Rats!
  • [24:52] Design Awards
  • [28:05] What’s driven the growth of CITIBIN
  • [28:19] CITIBIN Sizes
  • [28:52] Amazon, Wayfair
  • [31:02] CITIBIN Website
  • [31:12] Bear-Resistant CITIBIN
  • [31:43] CITIBIN Package Lockers
  • [30:27] The Wild Business Growth podcast is on YouTube! Subscribe @MaxBranstetter to watch full video interviews with Wild entrepreneurs like Liz
  • [30:29] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity. It’s where podcasting meets entrepreneurship – and terrible puns
  • [33:20] Such an honor speaking at Podcast Movement ’23 in Denver! Sign up to grab the slides from my session at MaxPodcasting.com/PM23

• Rapid-Fire Q&A
  • [33:58] How do you work with your significant other
  • [34:45] Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren
  • [35:30] QuickBooks
  • [36:28] What’s a fun fact about trash
  • [37:57] What’s the biggest thing Liz misses about Madison, Wisconsin
  • [39:06] Connect with Liz at CITIBIN.com, on Instagram @CITIBIN, and on LinkedIn
  • [40:00] What are Liz’s Final Thoughts
  • [40:41] Follow the Wild Business Growth podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And show love (or roast me) by leaving 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify
  • [40:51] The Wild Business Growth podcast is on YouTube! Subscribe @MaxBranstetter to watch full video interviews with Wild entrepreneurs like Liz
  • [40:58] Check out the Wild Business Growth podcast on Goodpods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
  • [40:59] Connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (aka X), and Threads @MaxBranstetter and TikTok @WildBusinessGrowth
  • [41:00] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
  • [41:05] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity. It’s where podcasting meets entrepreneurship – and terrible puns
  • Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo

What is the Wild Business Growth podcast?

Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, NFL RedZone, Big Mouth Billy Bass, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more Wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.

How do you start a podcast?

Interested in starting a professional-sounding and professional-looking podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.

Thanks for listening to Liz Picarazzi on the Wild Business Growth podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth podcast and tell a friend about it. And never fear rats again with them. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!