How Eager Beaver Moving Scaled in Edmonton’s Cold Climate | Part 2

Introduction

Growing a moving company isn’t just about adding trucks or expanding your service area—it’s about making smarter decisions, avoiding expensive missteps, and building real brand equity. In Part 2 of our Movified Podcast interview with John Watson, owner of Eager Beaver Moving in Edmonton, Alberta, we go beyond origin stories and dive into what happens when a second-generation mover decides to grow while staying grounded.

In this post, you’ll hear how John:

Avoided opening a second location too soon
Navigated two $100,000 investment mistakes
Built a hyper-local email strategy from scratch
Maintained a 4.9-star average across 1,500+ reviews

Let this serve as your field guide for scaling smart—not fast.

Key Takeaways

What You’ll Learn:

Why newsletters can outperform social media for staying top-of-mind
What NOT to do when expanding into portable storage or containers
How to build community ties that fuel long-term marketing
Lessons from costly failures every mover should hear

How Eager Beaver Uses Local Newsletters to Stay Relevant
The $200K Mistake: A Hard Lesson in Focus
Scaling Smarter, Not Faster: Calgary on Hold
How Eager Beaver Earned 1,500+ Reviews
Why Choose Movified
Conclusion

How Eager Beaver Uses Local Newsletters to Stay Relevant

Many moving companies ignore email marketing or rely entirely on third-party tools. But after a Canadian holiday got misrepresented by a U.S.-based platform, John’s team decided to go fully custom.

Today, they run two email campaigns per month:

A personal update from John (family news, community events, etc.)
A longer newsletter featuring home services spotlights and company updates

These emails help build:

Deeper relationships with past clients
Awareness for collaborators (plumbers, designers, realtors)
Trust through transparency

Pro Tip: Use your CRM (like SmartMoving) to automatically tag leads and segment your newsletter audience. Even quote requests should go into your long-term nurture funnel.

How Eager Beaver Moving Scaled in Edmonton’s Cold Climate | Avoiding $200K Mistakes | Part 2

The $200K Mistake: A Hard Lesson in Focus

John shared two expansion mistakes that cost his company more than $200,000—and why neither of them were worth it.

🚫 Mistake #1: Flat-Pack Storage Containers

Imported from Turkey, these sleek containers seemed like an upgrade over wooden vaults. They were attractive, stackable, and cheap. But there was no real demand. They sat in his yard unused, soaking up $100,000.

“We sell storage services—not storage units. I knew better, but got talked into it.”

🚫 Mistake #2: Flatbed Truck + Forklift System

Trying to speed up portable storage delivery, John bought an old forklift that wouldn’t fit through the warehouse bay and a flat-deck truck that didn’t improve efficiency. Another $100,000 gone.

📌 Lesson: Just because it looks like innovation doesn’t mean it’s profitable. Always validate market fit before spending big.

Scaling Smarter, Not Faster: Calgary on Hold

Opening a second location in Calgary was on the company’s vision board for 2024. But John pumped the brakes after realizing the systems weren’t ready.

“It’s easy to open a second location. It’s hard to keep it running without bleeding resources.”

Instead, Eager Beaver is investing in:

Daily sales roleplay and scripting
Better objection-handling workflows
Performance-based marketing campaigns

The team is creating a system that can run in any city—not just Edmonton.

📌 Pro Tip: Before expansion, stress test your sales process. If it can’t perform in a cold market, you’re not ready.

How Eager Beaver Earned 1,500+ Reviews

With over 1,500 reviews and a 4.9-star average, Eager Beaver has one of the strongest reputations in Canada’s moving industry.

Their secret? Integration and culture.

✅ Review Process:

Crews are trained to ask for reviews at the end of every job
Review links are included in post-move follow-up emails
Office team monitors and responds to every piece of feedback

John believes in relationship-first business. His wife, although not full-time in the business, actively networks and brings in new referral partners.

📌 Stat: Only 1 in 10 customers typically leaves a review without being asked. Building the habit internally is crucial.

Why Choose Movified

Movified is the #1 podcast and content hub for ambitious moving company owners. We showcase:

Real stories from the field
Revenue-generating strategies
Insights from franchisees, independents, and industry tech leaders

About Movified | Podcast Episodes | Join the Mastermind

Conclusion

From unused containers to community-driven email wins, Eager Beaver Moving shows that smart growth is about refining—not rushing.

John Watson’s transparency is a rare gift in an industry often defined by hustle culture. Let his lessons be your filter the next time a “great idea” hits your desk.

Meet The Host

Mark Hirschi is the founder and host of Movified. With over a decade in the moving and storage industry, Mark combines real-world leadership experience with a passion for mentorship and elevating industry standards.

How Eager Beaver Moving Scaled in Edmonton’s Cold Climate | Part 1

In Part 1 of our interview with John Watson, the third-generation owner of Eager Beaver Moving, we explore the challenges and triumphs of scaling a moving company in Edmonton’s harsh climate. John shares how he took over the family business, growing it from one truck to a fleet of 14, while also navigating the complexities of portable storage in Canada’s cold weather. Eager Beaver’s success isn’t just about adding trucks—it’s about cultivating a strong team culture, building loyalty through hands-on training, and mastering the logistics of cold-weather storage. From overcoming labor shortages to refining their hiring strategy, John reveals the smart decisions that helped Eager Beaver thrive in one of the toughest markets.

How Austin Yarborough Built a Purpose-Driven Moving Brand Through Storytelling | Building a Moving Brand Part 2

If your 2025 marketing strategy still leans heavily on flyers, Google Ads, and discount codes, you’re already falling behind. Today’s consumers crave more than just a service—they want a brand they can trust, a story they can believe in, and an experience that feels personal. In Part 2 of his Movified Podcast interview, Austin Yarborough, owner of Central Coast Moving & Storage, shares how he built a brand rooted in emotion, purpose, and precision. Through his signature Golden Ticket rewards strategy, compelling storytelling, and a deep investment in sales team culture and training, Austin turned traditional marketing on its head—proving that real growth comes from connection, not coupons. This blog delivers the strategies and insights moving company owners need to elevate their marketing, build brand loyalty, and lead with authenticity in a competitive landscape.

How Austin Yarborough Built a Purpose-Driven Moving Brand Through Storytelling | Building a Moving Brand Part 1

In a world where most moving companies compete through Google Ads, cold calls, and last-minute discounts, Austin Yarborough took a different path—and it paid off. In this episode of the Movified Podcast, host Mark Hirschi interviews the founder of Central Coast Moving & Storage to explore how he built a purpose-driven moving brand rooted in storytelling, culture, and emotional connection. From launching the company as a college side hustle to scaling it through compelling origin stories, daily sales training, and social media visibility, Austin reveals the blueprint for standing out in a crowded industry. If you’re a moving company owner, franchisee, or operator looking to grow with intention—not just tactics—this blog and podcast episode are your roadmap to doing it differently and doing it right.

How Steven Mandac Built a $3M+ Moving Brand in San Francisco from the Ground Up | Part 2

In this powerful episode of the Movified Podcast, host Mark Hirschi sits down with Steven Mandac, founder of Clutch Moving Company, to explore how personal branding and social media for movers can transform a local moving business into a multi-million-dollar brand. Steven shares how he turned his smartphone into a marketing engine, his content batching system, the behind-the-scenes process of running a media operation in-house, and why authenticity outperforms traditional ads. From attracting new hires and partners to landing high-ticket moves, this episode offers a masterclass in using content to build trust, scale fast, and lead with purpose. Whether you’re a mover, marketer, or franchise owner, this is your roadmap to standing out in a competitive market.