Those old sneakers you’re about to throw out might be worth more than you think. If you’ve hung on to your old Nike shoes and are questioning whether or not to throw them out, you might want to give them a closer look.

These days, shoes can increase in value like collectibles. Because Nike shoes have had a distinct history and evolution in designs, many find it worth paying a high price for some of the classic models.

What Makes Some Shoes Valuable?

What sets Nike shoes apart from the rest is the iconic role they’ve established in popular culture. With big name sponsorships linking the company to some of the best players in the world, their shoes have become a symbol of athletic excellence.

They’ve also become a fixture in the fashion and music industries. Popular artists have worn some of the classic Nike shoes, making them even more popular than they already were.

But the shoes that are most sought after are those which are unique in design. When it comes to collectors, the quality isn’t necessarily the most important factor. Rather, the uniqueness of the object is what makes it valuable.

The shoes that made a dramatic impact are the ones that have stood the test of time. Nike shoes on eBay are being sold for thousands of dollars, underscoring the value that they still have in Toronto and worldwide.

Do You Have a Pair of These?

Not all Nike shoes are equal. Throughout the years, only a handful has reached the status that commands high dollars for those lucky enough to own them.

If you’ve got a pair of vintage Nike shoes on your hands, you might want to consider whether or not they fall into that category. The following are the most sought after vintage Nikes being sold today:

These are the most sought after Nike shoes on the market. Many premiered with new features such as air bubbles, materials including suede and silver nylon, unique logo designs, and associations with top players of the day.

Unfortunately, the chances are rare that you’ve got any of these. But if you do, you might consider putting them up for sale on eBay.

Otherwise, it’s best to get rid of your old sneakers. They might have sentimental value to you, but you’ll likely get very little if you do try to sell them. And if you’ve got a lot of them, you might as well just hand them off to the junk removal company. It gives you an opportunity to start your collection all over again. Maybe this time, you’ll know exactly which shows might become classics one day.

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is one of the most popular game consoles in the history of the industry. It arrived on the heels of what many thought was a dying industry, and revitalized video games while making history in the process.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System

As a result, many of its games are now valuable collector’s items. Some are valued in the tens of thousands of dollars. But what are the chances that your games are among them? Are your old Nintendo games junk? Or should you consider putting them up on eBay?

The Legacy of Nintendo

The NES was introduced in North America in 1985, along with Europe and Australia releases the following years. It was an 8-bit console for video games that was designed by Nintendo.

It became the highest selling console during its time. More notable was the fact that its success came about during what many considered to be a crash in the video game industry. In 1983, many considered video games to be a fad that was quickly dying out.

It revolutionized the gaming industry by giving third-party developers license to design its games. This has now become standard practice in the industry.

The NES has been named the single greatest video game console ever.

What NES Games Are Worth?

As with any collectible, not all Nintendo games are valued equally. However, some games have reached astronomical price values due to their rarity and historical significance.

For example, the game titled “Stadium Events” has been sold for the highest price ever for a video game. In 1987, this game had a limited release. It’s one of the most rare Nintendo video games, as only 200 copies are known to exist. It’s valued at over $43,000 CAD.

Another sought after game is “Nintendo World Championships Gold”. Valued at approximately $19,000 CAD, this game is considered the ultimate collectible among enthusiasts. It is a gold cartridge and was given away at Nintendo’s World Championships in 1990.

Are Your Games Junk?

Clearly, Nintendo games can be highly valuable. And if you happen to have a copy of one of the above games, or just a handful of others that are almost as popular, then you might want to hang onto it.

But more than likely, your games are of little value if they’re anything outside of a limited edition. Toronto video game enthusiasts generally throw out their old Nintendo games.

And if you no longer have a working console, they’ll do you little good. Pass them on to your local junk removal service, along with any other games that no longer hold any value for you or any collector.

Toys have long been highly collectible items. In recent years, the Super Soaker has become highly sought after among collectors, and rare models have begun to appear on eBay and around the Toronto area for hundreds of dollars.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Soaker

If you’re wondering what to do with your old Super Soaker, the following will help you decide if you need to hand it off to the junk removal service, or hang on to it for an interested buyer.

What is the Super Soaker?

The original Super Soaker water gun appeared in 1990. It was invented by Lonnie Johnson, and used air pressure to allow it to reach longer distances with greater accuracy. It also produced a level of power that had yet to be reached with traditional water guns.

Its popularity grew, and the toy ultimately received the “Outdoor Toy of the Year” award in 2011. It’s still one of the most popular toys today, with enthusiasts around the world building their own collections.

The Value of Your Super Soaker

The Super Soaker has increased in value over time. Much like other collectibles, Super Soakers can be found in a variety of conditions, which impact its value to buyers.

Because many of the terms used to describe the condition of a given item can be subjective, it’s difficult to know how your Super Soaker can be classified. Many sellers offer Super Soakers that are still in their original package.

This can be misleading, as even those that have been stored over time may not be fully functional. Issues with the gun’s valve trigger have been seen with such models, and exposure to heat or sunlight can compromise the gun’s performance.

What to Look For

Knowing what to look for in your Super Soaker will help you decide to keep it or add it to your junk removal.

If you’ve got a Super Soaker, you most likely have already used it. If so, chances are that it’s got some wear or damage. If this is the case, then there’s little reason to try and sell it. Only those that are fully functioning, and have original packaging and labels can demand high prices.

Your Super Soaker has surely brought you plenty of value and enjoyment. But if you no longer use it, and its condition doesn’t warrant your selling it, it’s better off going out the door. Your local Toronto junk removal service will gladly take it, along with any other items that need to go.

One of the most famous and loved toys is the Easy Bake oven. It has been on the market for over 50 years and has been a part of the lives of generations of children.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy-Bake_Oven

If you’ve got an Easy Bake Oven you’d like to get rid of, but aren’t sure if it belongs in your junk removal pile or in your home, the following information will help you make the right choice.

The Easy Bake Oven

The Easy Bake oven first appeared in 1963. It was originally manufactured by the Kenner toy company, and is currently a product of Hasbro. The oven has evolved over the years as a result of technological advances, leading to a number of existing models.

The oven used an incandescent bulb as a heat source in its original model. It includes pans and a cake mix used to give children their first experience with baking. Over 16 million units were sold by the year 1997, making it one of the most popular toys in history.

Although its original design resembled a conventional oven, newer models resemble today’s microwave ovens.

Safety Issues

The Easy Bake oven has had its share of problems with defects. A recall was put in place in 2007 as a result of an issue causing children to get their hands and fingers stuck in the opening compartment.

In addition, serious burns were reported, raising the concerns of both Hasbro and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The result was a recall of just under 1 million units. All Easy Bake ovens that were sold from May 2006 are included in the recall.

Junk or Not Junk?

As beloved as the Easy Bake oven is for generations of children, vintage units generally sell for anywhere between $16 and $26 CAD. This is not a significant increase from its original price, and therefore makes it unlikely that you’ll want to keep it around.

Toronto junk removal services see a wide range of toys make their way out of homes. If you have an Easy Bake oven, you’ve likely used it, and the unit might show some wear and tear. This is all the more reason to put it in the junk pile.

Although there are sources available where you can find manuals and parts for vintage models, only ovens that are in their original package have been able to demand higher prices on eBay and other places. In that case you might want to keep it for your own personal use if you still can’t bear to part with it.

Recently Chris and Jamie (Founders of Junk It!) were interviewed by John Moore from 1010 CFRB about junk removal in Toronto and hoarding.

For Father’s Day 2012, my wife and kids bought me a home brewing kit. I thought it was the perfect gift. I loved beer and the technical aspects of making it. I was going to make it my hobby and spend lots of time experimenting with various styles.  Sharing it with my friends and family would make me a popular guy.

I researched for hours on the web about the various methods of making styles of beer. I found a Youtube channel created by a Hamilton Ontario gentlemen called Craig Farraway. He was an interesting cat. Stay at home Dad, gourmet cook, avid home brewer and musician. He has quite a following and posted a video on how to make home-brew easy. I started my first batch using this video.

I brought my iPad down to the basement and started the process. I decided to make a Czech styled Pilsner. I was surprised that it was quite easy. I had a 5 gallon pail that I used to ferment the beer. I then waited for about a month to bootle all the delicious beer. I remember tasting it for the first time. It was heaven. I always loved beer but making my own was almost a spiritual experience.

I loved it so much that my beer consumption went up and so did the size of my belly. I never abused the stuff but I was drinking more beer than I usually did. The pounds started packing on and I made a decision: I need to stop home brewing or choose a healthier hobby. I know many of you are going to say that I should just practice restraint, but I couldn’t. It was just darn good.

One day I was surfing the web and came across a website called Breadtopia.  I thought it would be cool to make my own healthy, organic, artisan bread. We had a bread maker that we bought some time ago gathering dust in the basement. I pulled it out and started the process. I was going to use yeast for a different purpose this time.

My first recipe was organic spelt bread. It was delicious hardy and healthy. My kids and wife went nuts over it. The house smelled so good. It was healthier then beer. There was no downside! This would be my new hobby.

Running Junk It can be stressful. We have lots of customers, employees and logistics involved with providing junk removal in Toronto. I need a hobby to decompress and reduce my stress. Bread making fits the bill and my wife thinks it’s pretty cool that she has a husband who is a bread baker.

By Christopher Luciano, CEO of Junk It!

I love non-fiction and reading is my passion. Check out some of the books I read for 2013. Love to hear your reading list.

Stillness Speaks – Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle understands the spiritual needs of our time. He draws from the essence of all spiritual traditions, expressing these truths in startlingly fresh new ways. The result is a book that is paradoxically both ancient and contemporary, filled with timely and powerful messages. Each chapter is a mosaic of individual entries, concise and complete in themselves, but profoundly transformative when read as a whole.

Junkyard Plant – Adam Minter

When you drop your Diet Coke can or yesterday’s newspaper in the recycling bin, where does it go? Probably halfway around the world, to people and places that clean up what you don’t want and turn it into something you can’t wait to buy. In Junkyard Planet, Adam Minter—veteran journalist and son of an American junkyard owner—travels deeply into a vast, often hidden, multibillion-dollar industry that’s transforming our economy and environment.

Minter takes us from back-alley Chinese computer recycling operations to high-tech facilities capable of processing a jumbo jet’s worth of recyclable trash every day. Along the way, we meet an unforgettable cast of characters who’ve figured out how to build fortunes from what we throw away: Leonard Fritz, a young boy “grubbing” in Detroit’s city dumps in the 1930s; Johnson Zeng, a former plastics engineer roaming America in search of scrap; and Homer Lai, an unassuming barber turned scrap titan in Qingyuan, China. Junkyard Planet reveals how “going green” usually means making money—and why that’s often the most sustainable choice, even when the recycling methods aren’t pretty.

How to Train A Wild Elephant – Jan Chozen Bays, M.D.

A growing body of research is showing that mindfulness can reduce stress, improve physical health, and improve one’s overall quality of life. Jan Chozen Bays, MD—physician and Zen teacher—has developed a series of simple practices to help us cultivate mindfulness as we go about our ordinary, daily lives. Exercises include: taking three deep breaths before answering the phone, noticing and adjusting your posture throughout the day, eating mindfully, and leaving no trace of yourself after using the kitchen or bathroom. Each exercise is presented with tips on how to remind yourself and a short life lesson connected with it.

The Longest Way Home – Andrew McCarthy

WITH ABSORBING HONESTY AND AN IRREPRESSIBLE TASTE for adventure, award-winning travel writer and actor Andrew McCarthy takes us on a deeply personal journey played out amid some of the world’s most evocative locales. Unable to commit to his fiancée of nearly four years—and with no clear understanding of what’s holding him back— McCarthy finds himself at a crossroads, plagued by doubts that have clung to him for a lifetime. Though he ventures from the treacherous slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro to an Amazonian riverboat and the dense Costa Rican rain forests, McCarthy’s real journey is one of the spirit. Disarmingly likable, McCarthy isn’t afraid to bare his soul on the page, and what emerges is an intimate memoir of self-discovery and an unforgettable love song to the woman who would be his wife.

The Buddha Walks into A Bar – Lodro Rinzler

The Buddha Walks into a Bar is a book for those who are spiritual but not religious, who are disillusioned by the state of the world, who are sick of their jobs (and just started last Tuesday), who like drinking beer and having sex and hate being preached at, who are striving to deepen their social interactions beyond the digital realms of Twitter and Facebook. This is Buddhism presented to a generation leaving the safe growth spurts of college and entering a turbulent and uncertain work force.

The Buddha Walks into a Bar is Buddhist teacher Lodro Rinzler’s introduction to Buddhism for anyone who wants to ride the waves of life with mindfulness and compassion. You’ll learn how to use meditation techniques to work with your own mind, how to manage the pervasive “Incredible Hulk Syndrome,” how to relax into your life despite external pressures, and ultimately how you can start to bring light to a dark world.

A Cook’s Tour – Anthony Bourdain

The only thing “gonzo gastronome” and internationally bestselling author Anthony Bourdain loves as much as cooking is traveling. Inspired by the question, “What would be the perfect meal?,” Tony sets out on a quest for his culinary holy grail, and in the process turns the notion of “perfection” inside out. From California to Cambodia, A Cooks’ Tour chronicles the unpredictable adventures of America’s boldest and bravest chef.

Revive – Dr. Frank Lipman

Fatigue, unexplained back and joint pain, distractibility, irritability, insomnia, and digestive problems leave many of us running on empty. But these symptoms are not part of the normal aging process; they point to a pervasive syndrome Dr. Frank Lipman calls Spent. In this revolutionary book, “the country’s most prominent holistic M.D. after Andrew Weil” (W ) shares the solution that has helped thousands of his patients replenish their energy and regain their youth. Featuring a nutrition plan of tasty recipes, research-based exercises and stretches, and Daily Beats to nourish body and mind, Revive is a proven day-by-day wellness program that will prepare you for a lifetime of good health.

The World Until Yesterday – Jared Diamond

Most of us take for granted the features of our modern society, from air travel and telecommunications to literacy and obesity. Yet for nearly all of its six million years of existence, human society had none of these things. While the gulf that divides us from our primitive ancestors may seem unbridgeably wide, we can glimpse much of our former lifestyle in those largely traditional societies still or recently in existence. Societies like those of the New Guinea Highlanders remind us that it was only yesterday—in evolutionary time—when everything changed and that we moderns still possess bodies and social practices often better adapted to traditional than to modern conditions.The World Until Yesterday provides a mesmerizing firsthand picture of the human past as it had been for millions of years—a past that has mostly vanished—and considers what the differences between that past and our present mean for our lives today.

This is Jared Diamond’s most personal book to date, as he draws extensively from his decades of field work in the Pacific islands, as well as evidence from Inuit, Amazonian Indians, Kalahari San people, and others. Diamond doesn’t romanticize traditional societies—after all, we are shocked by some of their practices—but he finds that their solutions to universal human problems such as child rearing, elder care, dispute resolution, risk, and physical fitness have much to teach us. Provocative, enlightening, and entertaining, The World Until Yesterday is an essential and fascinating read.

Collapse – Jared Diamond

In Jared Diamond’s follow-up to the Pulitzer-Prize winning Guns, Germs and Steel, the author explores how climate change, the population explosion and political discord create the conditions for the collapse of civilization

Environmental damage, climate change, globalization, rapid population growth, and unwise political choices were all factors in the demise of societies around the world, but some found solutions and persisted. As in Guns, Germs, and Steel, Diamond traces the fundamental pattern of catastrophe, and weaves an all-encompassing global thesis through a series of fascinating historical-cultural narratives. Collapse moves from the Polynesian cultures on Easter Island to the flourishing American civilizations of the Anasazi and the Maya and finally to the doomed Viking colony on Greenland. Similar problems face us today and have already brought disaster to Rwanda and Haiti, even as China and Australia are trying to cope in innovative ways. Despite our own society’s apparently inexhaustible wealth and unrivaled political power, ominous warning signs have begun to emerge even in ecologically robust areas like Montana.

Brilliant, illuminating, and immensely absorbing, Collapse is destined to take its place as one of the essential books of our time, raising the urgent question: How can our world best avoid committing ecological suicide?

Let Me Off At The Top – Ron Burgundy

The autobiography every true American has been waiting for: a shockingly candid and raw confessional from a national treasure.
From his humble beginnings in a desolate Iowa coal mining town, his years at Our Lady Queen of Chewbacca High School to his odds-defying climb to the dizzying heights of becoming America’s most trusted and beloved television News Anchor, Ron Burgundy pulls no punches in Let Me Off at the Top!

In his very own words Burgundy reveals his most private thoughts, his triumphs and his disappointments. His life reads like an adventure story complete with knock down fights, beautiful women and double-fisted excitement on every page. He has hunted jackalopes with Bobby Kennedy and Peter Lawford, had more than his share of his amorous exploits, and formed the greatest on-air team in the history of televised news. Along the way, he hobnobbed with people you wish you knew and some you honestly wish you didn’t — celebrities, presidents, presidents’ wives, celebrities’ wives, dogs, and, of course Veronica Corningstone, the love of his life. Walter Cronkite, Barbra Streisand, Katie Couric, the list goes on. Who didn’t Mr. Burgundy, or “Ron” as he is known to his friends, rub elbows with in the course of his colorful and often criminal life?

This may well be the most thrilling book ever written, by a man of great physical, moral and spiritual strength and not surprisingly a great literary talent as well. This book deserves a real shot at a Pulitzer Prize. In fact if it doesn’t win one then we will finally have proof that the Pulitzer is rigged.

Our first entry in the series of JuNK iT! profiles shines a light on one of our office staff. Heather has been with the company since the summer and has been a valued member of the team, working every Saturday. That’s right folks, EVERY SATURDAY. She balances that along with a full time school work load. She’s quite the employee to have. Here is a quick look into Heathers life:

Name:  Heather Thurlow

Q. What’s your favourite part of the job?

Very relaxed, casual atmosphere

Everyone is really helpful whenever I have questions

Getting to talk with the customers

Q. What’s your most memorable Job that you’ve been a part of here at Junk iT!

Just this one!

Q. What  do you like to do in your spare time? Hobbies?, Interests?

Read
Go shopping
Bake
Watch movies
Play Volleyball

Q. Do you have any pets?

My family has a sheltie named Maggie that I love more than anything!

Q. What hidden talents do you have?

I can play the Piano and Flute.

I’m also a good Kickboxer!

Q. Do you have a nickname? If so what is it?

No

Q. Favorite colour?

Purple

Q. Favorite food?

Anything Italian: pasta, pizza…

Q. What is your favorite music band/artist?

I can’t just pick 1! But a few would be Coldplay, John Mayer, Florence & the Machine

Q. Favorite tv show?

Dexter and Breaking Bad

Q. Favourite Movie?

The Holiday

Q. Favourite  City?

Montreal

Q. Favourite landmark in Toronto / Ontario?

Niagara Falls

Hey the Junk It! team is getting ready for Movember. Check out our company page and please donate!

What is Movember?

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives.

On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

The Movember Effect: Awareness & Education, Survivorship, Research

The funds raised in Canada support men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives.

The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and our men’s health partner, Prostate Cancer Canada. Together, these two channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with our strategic goals.

For more information on the programs Movember is funding please visit the following:
Prostate Cancer Canada
Awareness & Education
Global Action Plan
Canadian Male Health Network

Thanks for everyone’s support!

The JuNK iT! team would like to wish everyone a Happy Victoria Day! Here’s to hoping you had a great relaxing weekend with your loved ones.

*Photo credit: 123 Greetings

We all lead busy lives and finding the time to clean our house is a real pain. Most of us wait until the weekends to do one big, exhausting clean of the entire house, but what if there was a simpler way? Streamline your chores by cleaning as you go!

Instead of leaving everything until the last minute, slowly clean as you go. If you splash some sauce while cooking, clean it up. Soak the dishes in some soapy water before you sit down, and wipe down the counters. Throw everything in the dishwasher afterwards and give everything a quick wipe. By the time the weekend comes, your house won’t look like you had a party for 100.

As far as the washrooms go, no one enjoys cleaning the toilet and weekly build up is enough to make anyone feel sick. But by leaving disposable wipes within reach that you and even the kids can use to whip down areas can minimize the dreaded end of the week clean. For showers, spritz cleaner into it after every use to maintain it and keep it clean in between uses.

Cleaning as you go will help free your weekends for more fun activities like major clean ups that involve a junk removal services!

Keeping up-to-date with the latest social media networks is something JuNK iT! prides itself in doing. We love keeping social and interacting with our customers on as many possible sites. The latest sites that are causing quite a buzz around them are Pinterest and Gentlemint. Both have similar concepts in that they are somewhere between visual social bookmarking and scrap booking. Pinterest seems to have a larger female audience while Gentlemint has a larger male audience. With the appearance of these new social networks we might be witnessing a slight change in social networking where smaller communities centered around similar interests are beginning to develop. It appears people are no longer caring that there are 850 million users on Facebook (other than advertisers) and appear to be shifting to these smaller sites that add value to their interests. Businesses have a new challenge ahead of them by recognizing this shift and participating where possible. Do you have any plans of participating on these sites? If so, what approach will you be taking?

I will admit that up until last weekend my Christmas tree still decorated my living room. I also found out that I wasn’t the only one reluctant to put it away. Sure it makes your living room look wonderful and festive. It has this warm glow that you wished you could have all year round. But although we love our Christmas decorations and the happiness they provide us, in reality we don’t want to take them down because it’s too much of a hassle. There isn’t enough space in the closet, garage or furnace room to shove all the decorations because they are already over-flowing with boxes. What to do? First of all I found that getting rid of some of those old boxes is the best way to start. It’s not the most motivating idea I have ever had but getting rid of stuff you don’t use and making space for stuff that you do use is rewarding in itself. I was browsing styleathome.com one day and came across some wonderful ideas on how to organize your Christmas decorations and store them away properly. I cleared out the mess that was my closet, put up some shelving, bought some clear storage containers with dividers for every single ornament and got to work. The end result was fantastic. My closet was organized and because the containers were clear I knew what the contents of each one was. This even inspired me to make the rest of my house look the same way. So if you end up cleaning out your closets, furnace rooms or garage and find you need a junk removal company be sure to check out our prices at junkit.ca where we can help you make this process a hassle free one.

It’s getting colder outside and I’m losing my will to dress up warm like a Michelin man so instead I laze around on my couch on the weekends and flick through YouTube videos. So it was really only a matter of time before I discovered an amazing demolition video that shows the best building implosions of 2002. It’s incredible how they place the explosives at the right points in order for the building to collapse in on itself without wrecking anything next to it. Most of the buildings are in populated areas and it’s mind blowing (no pun intended) to witness such perfection. Has anyone witnessed a demolition? How do they perform the clean up? I’m thinking it would probably take about 100 JuNK iT trucks to even make a dent! I hope you enjoy the video. The Best of 2002 Explosive Demolitions