Jan. 20, 2026

Ep 321 A Lesson in the Circular Economy in Electronics with Christopher Hale, founder and CEO of SmartphonesPLUS; Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

Show Notes

What started as a small side hustle in a basement has become a renowned success story, transforming the tech industry and the way we handle e-waste.

In this episode, Christopher Hale, founder and CEO of SmartphonesPLUS, takes us behind the scenes of his company’s rapid growth. What started as a small operation buying and selling electronics has grown into a multimillion-dollar business that’s helping tackle the global e-waste crisis. Christopher shares insights on scaling a business, managing partnerships, and the power of the circular economy in today’s tech-driven world.

Here are the highlights:

-From Side Hustle to Business Success: Christopher's journey from working a full-time job to turning a passion for electronics into a thriving business.

-The Importance of Sustainability: How SmartphonesPLUS keeps electronics out of landfills by refurbishing and reselling old tech.

-Building Strong Partnerships: Christopher discusses the role of affiliates and partnerships in driving business growth and sustainability.

-Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned: The hard lessons of hiring, creating effective SOPs, and managing staff while scaling.

-The Circular Economy in Action: How the reuse of old tech not only benefits consumers but also plays a key role in reducing global e-waste.

About the guest: Christopher Hale is the founder and CEO of SmartphonesPLUS, a rapidly growing company that specializes in electronics recycling and refurbishment. What started as a side hustle in 2017 has transformed into a multi-million-dollar business, fueled by Christopher’s passion for sustainability and innovative tech solutions. Under his leadership, SmartphonesPLUS has become a leader in the industry, offering businesses and consumers an eco-friendly way to sell or recycle old electronics while giving tech products a second life. With a sharp entrepreneurial mindset, Christopher's success story showcases the power of perseverance, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to building a more sustainable future.

Connect with Christopher:

Website: smartphonesplus.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smartphonesplusllc/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartphonesplus/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartphonesplus

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartphonesplus

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartphonesplus7660

Connect with Allison:

Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/

#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast