We have no illusions in terms of where we are placed in the market. We are definitely local specialists when it comes to home and office moves, although we do long distance moves for clients who insist on using us. There are movers who specialize in packing and moving for international relocations, and the large, international movers are also best suited for inter-provincial moves, because it’s easier to get a part-load to reduce costs.
It also goes without saying that finding a ‘man with a van’ (or bakkie) is best suited when you’re looking to move only a few pieces of furniture that may not hold high value, and can take a little rough handling (or rain).
International vs. local
The market has, in recent years, been relatively flooded with new companies. There are a few reasons for this, one of which being the gap identified by investors after the pandemic left the market more open to new entrants. Another, is the need to find self-employment opportunities, but not everyone has the skills or experience, and these enterprises tend to be cheaper at first, but don’t last in the market.
A lot of movers enjoy international funding, and it’s important to check whether this is the case if you are wanting to support the local economy. In fact, it’s interesting to see just how many of these companies are in fact funded internationally, and observing the ownership of these entities, in some cases, the ownership reveals more than one competing enterprise, focusing on different market segments.
The pandemic made a real dent in the sector, even when it was possible to use a moving company, many chose to move themselves rather than face the risks of cross-contamination between households. We were forced to do only one move per vehicle per day, and supported our people throughout this time, even transporting them ourselves, to prevent the use of public transport.
The importance of people
It’s also important to note whether you are amongst the growing proportion of clients who want to understand how labour is treated in the market. We have seen a spate of vehicle attacks, trucks being burnt, etc. The unrest in the market is sparked by movers who hire casual (and largely inexperienced) labour at lowest cost, without considering the job crunch we’re facing.
Even large movers are able to obtain dispensation on wages, and therefore don’t need to pay the rates specified by the bargaining council. Some will also find ‘hidden costs’ to charge on the day, such as the use of blankets and ropes to secure their loads (your valued items).
Where we operate
We sit right in the middle of the market, with the expertise of the large companies, but the hands-on service of a small player. We are a second-generation family business, fully female owned and proudly South African. We serve our local market because we have a deep understanding of the needs and wants of our communities, in Gauteng and the North West.
We are an extension of our teams, who average twenty years’ service with us, some of whom are second-generation members with us. We believe in paying our people what they’re worth, because they are the backbone of the service we offer. As much as we are on site to offer technical support, this is often not required, but a service we offer free of charge, nonetheless. We can’t be everywhere at once, so we ensure that we are on site at least once at each move on the day, and are telephonically available to clients and crews alike, throughout the process.
We started in the home move market and expanded into furniture distribution for manufacturers, for specific routes that the large organisations don’t service. We’ve also been successful in the office move sector, thanks to our hands-on approach, carpentry and business consulting skillsets.