One Stop for all Your Business Needs written By: Karen Singer
Orange residents may recognize Joe Johnston or his truck from the town’s twice annual shredding events at High Plains Community Center. But when Johnston started his company, Affordable Solutions LLC in 2002, shredding was not a part of the business plan. Initially envisioned as a “one-stop shop” for providing medical offices with everything from furniture and discounted supplies to printing services, web development and sign design and installation; the company has grown to include on-site document shredding and building improvements for a wide range of clients.
SERVICING THE STATE
Johnston and three employees, however, run the entire shredding operation and do the property renovation work. Born in Minneapolis, Johnston came to Connecticut as an eighth grader, when his father got a job as a nurse anesthetist at the Veteran’s Hospital in West Haven. He went to West Haven High School and earned bachelor’s degrees in business administration and marketing at the University of New Haven. After graduating in 1992, he worked for a now defunct office supply company in Madison before striking out on his own.
THE ADDITION OF SHREDDING Johnston moved to Orange 12 years ago, so his three children could
WINTER 2020
Photo: Paula Severino
“I go anywhere in the state, but most customers are off I-95 between New Haven and Greenwich,” says Johnston, 49. “We are a vendor or reseller of multiple services,” he explains. “Office furniture, for example, we get directly from the manufacturer, and we install it.” Moreover, he adds, “If I don’t know how to do something, I’ll tell you who does.” Owner, Joe Johnston in front of the shredding machine on the truck.
attend the town’s highly rated school system and Amity High School. Around the same time, he became interested in shredding documents when one of his customers asked whether he provided the service. Johnston was intrigued by the idea to expand his Orange-based business. “I found my first shredding truck in New Jersey, and now I’m on my third,” he says. Shredding caught on big time, and currently accounts for around 70 percent of Affordable Solutions’ business. Among the clients are accountants, attorneys, medical
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offices, and car dealerships. The company also shreds for some big corporate headquarters. “One of the Milford car dealerships uses us for shredding and we’ve also provided them with their customer waiting room furniture,” Johnston says.
COMMUNITY SHREDDING EVENTS The shredding work includes events sponsored by churches, towns, and civic groups. “They pay us for three hours to provide and operate the truck,” Johnston says. “The organizations run the event and are
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