Advice for Moving in the Rain

This weekend is one of our busiest, and the forecast in the Greater New York area looks to be a wet one. If you are moving in the rain, you may feel extra stressed. Poor weather can put a damper on your move, but chances are, moving during a rain storm is worth the effort. Here at Moishe’s, we have experienced many stormy moving days, and with a little preparation, the moves can still go smoothly. Here are some tips for moving during bad weather:

• Cover furniture made from cloth, wood, and other untreated materials with plastic sheeting to protect it from moisture and dirt.
• Create walkways both out of your old home and into your new home by taping down either rugs or cardboard. Avoid using plastic sheeting on the floor as this is very slippery when wet.
• Don’t let carboard boxes get too wet–water will disintegrate the cardboard. If rain is heavy, protect boxes with plastic. Always carry boxes from the bottom, and watch out for any unexpected tears.
• Make your movers comfortable. Whether you have hired a professional moving service or you have some friends helping you, keep their spirits up with fresh towels and refreshing beverages. If the weather is especially cold, try to have the heat on in your new home.

August Busiest Time for Moishe’s

August is a time when many people decide to pack up and move, especially families with children entering a new school season. So it’s no surprise that the last weekend in August is one of Moishe’s busiest of the year. Are you moving at the end of the month? The best advice I can give you is to plan ahead and explore as many options that are available to you in order to save time and money. Make sure you have the necessary moving supplies, tools, and paperwork handy in advance of your moving day.

Have you decided whether you will be doing the heavy lifting yourself or choosing to hire a professional moving company? If you are on the fence, here is a helpful article on choosing a moving company wisely. A good moving company will guide you through the process, minimize any surprises or issues that arise last-minute, have local knowledge to navigate your move with ease, and have a proven track record.

Also, if you are moving in the near future, don’t forget about our video competition, which will award one lucky winner with a full refund of the cost of his/her move. Moishe’s Moving Movie Madness (M4) invites Moishe’s customers to videotape their moves and submit short films through our Facebook page. The deadline is Oct. 15. From Oct. 16 to Nov. 29, the public can vote on their favorite video, and the video with the most votes will be eligible to win. Check out the first video submitted to see what you may be up against. Good luck!

More Job Seekers Willing to Relocate

As job losses have soared during the recession, a growing number of people are packing up their lives and moving to new locations for better job opportunities. According to a recent study by Challenger, Gray & Christmas (as reported in The New York Times), 18 percent of job seekers who found employment in the second quarter relocated for their new positions. That’s up from 14 percent in the previous quarter and 11 percent in the second quarter of 2008. The overwhelming desire to get back to work has forced many families to make the difficult choice of leaving their friends, neighborhoods, and schools behind while they seek more stability.

Moving is already stressful enough, and with the added stress of changing jobs, you may feel guilty for putting your family through a major change. Encourage your family to be positive, flexible, and willing to make compromises because you are moving to a better economic climate for the greater good of their futures. The job recession is forecast to last until at least the second quarter of 2010.

Easing into Back-to-School Season & Twitter

August is the busiest month for Moishe’s, and we are enjoying moving thousands of New Yorkers into new homes. This time of year also signals the end of summer and the start of the back-to-school season. If you have moved your family to a new location this summer, chances are you also have the double duty of preparing your child for a new school. The transition can be stressful for both you and your child, but with some compassion and careful planning, you can encourage your child to embrace the change.

The important thing to remember is to include your children in the process. Show your kids around their new neighborhood and their new school, so that they feel familiar and at ease with their new surroundings. No matter how stressful the moving process gets, take time to talk to your kids about why your family is moving and how it affects them. You’ll be surprised at how taking the time to listen to your kids will not only help them feel better, but you will feel better too.

Also, I would like to invite you to follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/MoishesMoving) to see our offers for last-minute discounts and promotions. And don’t forget about our video competition, M4, which is currently underway. You can see one of the first entries here. What do you think? Do these movers deserve to win a free move?

Using the Internet and Video to Make Moving Fun

How often do you get the chance to be fully refunded for the cost of your move? Participate in our video challenge, Moishe’s Moving Movie Madness (“M4″), and the winner will receive just that. Already underway, our video competition invites Moishe’s customers to film their move, using the opportunity to have some fun with their move as well. Videos can be submitted via our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/moishesmoving) between now and Sept. 7, 2009. From Sept. 8 to Oct. 10, the public can vote on their favorite video, and the winner will receive a full refund on their move. The winning video will also be featured on Moishes.com, Facebook, Twitter, and our blogs.

And although we rarely toot our own horn, we were pleasantly surprised to be featured earlier this week as a digital case study on a blog on Internet marketing, http://illygdigital.wordpress.com. To be recognized by our peers as a company successfully using digital advertising and PR was a huge pat on the back for us. The writer also commended us for our green campaign and highlighted our Box Exchange, an important program that we are currently revamping. It is really encouraging to see that our efforts to reach out to a wider audience are making an impact, and we continue to seek new ways to highlight all of the services and benefits that we offer to meet your moving and storage needs.

Back From Hiatus

Like all moving companies, summer is our busiest season here at Moishe’s. I’ve taken a break from updating this blog to focus on many initiatives, from increasing our social networking to reassessing our Going Green campaign.

Just this week we launched Moishe’s Moving Movie Madness (M4) video competition, which invites Moishe’s customers to film their move in a fun way. Videos can be submitted via our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/moishesmoving) between now and Sept. 7, 2009. From Sept. 8 to Oct. 10, the public can vote on their favorite video, and the winner will receive a full refund on their move. The winning video will also be featured on Moishes.com, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.

And on the green front, our initiative to convert all of our moving trucks to biofuel is still on the table, however, we have some concerns. Studies have shown that the use of food crops to produce biofuels (such as corn, soybeans, and sugarcane) are causing food prices to rise and leaving more of the world’s poor hungry. Five years ago, biofuels were heralded as a cleaner and cheaper way to meet soaring energy needs than greenhouse-gas-emitting fossil fuels. However, as more farmers are diverting farmland to the production of biofuels, there is a reduced availability of food for people, such as grain. World food experts are optimistic that farmers will produce biofuel in a more sustainable way, but until then, we are watching the issue carefully. We don’t want to hurt people in order to help the environment. The Obama Administration has established a Biofuels Interagency Working Group to oversee new rules and research regarding biofuels.

Stay tuned as I let you know about more of our green initiatives and other exciting plans for Moishe’s.

Revlon Run/Walk

Tomorrow is the EIF Revlon Run/Walk, and it’s not too late to register. Late registration to walk the 5k trek is open until 6 PM tonight at the World of Disney Store in Times Square (711 Fifth Ave.). If you can’t make it in time to register, Moishe’s would love for you to make a donation to the event. It’s an extremely worthwhile cause that has raised millions of dollars for cancer research and treatment.

The Moishe’s team will be lining up bright and early tomorrow to show our support. At the end of the walk, be sure to stop by our booth just past the finish line in Central park. There will be a face painter, free lollipops and (hopefully) a lot of smiles. We look forward to seeing you there.