Introduction
Every moving company faces challenges—unreliable crews, pressure to fill the schedule, and the stress of staying profitable. But for some, those challenges come alongside even bigger life hurdles. On this episode of the Movified Podcast, host Mark Hirschi sits down with Traci Gerckens, president of Big G Movers New Jersey, to discuss how resilience, community connections, and industry masterminds built one of the most respected local moving brands on the East Coast.
This blog post will walk moving company owners, franchisees, and industry professionals through the key lessons from Traci’s journey—covering business growth, leadership partnerships, building community relationships, and the importance of peer masterminds.
Key Takeaways
What You’ll Learn:
- Learn how Big G Movers New Jersey grew from one truck into a top-rated hometown brand.
- Discover why clear partnership roles between Traci and Gary fueled success.
- See how community collaborations (including an ice cream flavor!) built local loyalty.
- Understand the power of women’s masterminds for moving industry leadership and growth.
Table of Contents
- From Rock Bottom to Big G Movers New Jersey
- Partnership and Clear Roles: Why Defined Lanes Matter
- Building Resilience in Business and Family
- Launching a Women’s Mastermind in the Moving Industry
- Community Collaborations That Built Big G Movers’ Legacy
- Lessons for Moving Company Owners
- Why Choose Movified for Moving Industry Insights
- Conclusion
From Rock Bottom to Big G Movers New Jersey
Not all moving companies begin with a business plan and capital investment. For Traci Gerckens and her husband Gary (“Big G”), the path started with sobriety and second chances. Gary had battled addiction, lost everything, and was rebuilding his life through odd jobs—carrying furniture, helping load trucks, and running Craigslist gigs.
One day, they unknowingly took on a sting job from New Jersey regulators cracking down on unlicensed movers. Suddenly, they faced a $10,000 fine or the requirement to get licensed in six months. With Traci still working full-time as a school counselor, they decided to roll the dice—borrowing money, buying a 15-foot U-Haul, and launching Big G Movers New Jersey.
“There was no plan B. Failure was not an option.” — Traci Gerckens
Thirteen years later, the company had grown to nine trucks (currently seven active), dozens of employees, and recognition as the #1-rated mover in New Jersey on Google.
Partnership and Clear Roles: Why Defined Lanes Matter
Partnerships often fail because responsibilities overlap. At Big G Movers, Traci and Gary thrive because they respect their lanes:
- Traci Gerckens: Visionary, strategist, counselor, training, back-end operations, online communications.
- Gary (“Big G”): Sales, in-person customer service, day-to-day crew operations, phone closings.
Gary never touches the computer; Traci doesn’t micromanage the crews. This division allows both to lean into their strengths. For moving company owners, it’s a reminder that documenting responsibilities early is as vital as documenting SOPs.
Building Resilience in Business and Family
Resilience is the theme of Traci’s story. While building Big G Movers New Jersey, she stayed in the school system for five extra years just to lock in lifetime health benefits. She balanced:
- Raising a blended family of six kids.
- Supporting Gary through early sobriety.
- Running the business at night and on weekends.
“You can’t stay in panic mode. Gather the information, do the homework, make a plan—and then execute.” — Traci Gerckens
Her resilience also extended to leadership style. Traci brought her background in counseling into the moving business, running trainings, educational meetings, and even crew conflict resolution.
Launching a Women’s Mastermind in the Moving Industry
One of Traci’s most impactful contributions has been the Women’s Mastermind Group in the moving industry. She realized women often face unique challenges—balancing family, business, and being taken seriously in a male-dominated space.
The group meets twice a month with two formats:
- Issue Processing Calls — members drop current challenges into a shared “parking lot” document. Each call, they work through the list with peer feedback.
- Special Topic Calls — focusing on practical issues like mover bonuses, pay structures, or how to survive slow seasons.
“I’ve never experienced so much intelligence in one room, all eager to help each other.” — Traci Gerckens
The mastermind has become a safe space for collaboration and growth, with 15–20 regular attendees every session.
Community Collaborations That Built Big G Movers’ Legacy
Marketing doesn’t always mean digital ads. For Big G Movers, their most memorable branding came from local collaborations.
When What’s the Scoop, a beloved ice cream shop, nearly closed during COVID, Big G Movers stepped in. They moved the equipment, supported a GoFundMe, and launched a shop takeover night. From it came the Big G Movers Ice Cream Flavor, with proceeds going to the local food pantry and Move for Hunger.
Every month since, kids line up for the flavor, families share photos of their “blue tongues,” and the brand remains cemented in local culture.
Lessons for Moving Company Owners
From Traci’s journey, here are actionable lessons:
- Document early: Start writing SOPs, scripts, and checklists before chaos grows.
- Hire faster: Don’t let perfectionism block delegation. Train, support, and be patient.
- Be visible: Community presence trumps expensive advertising.
- Stay resilient: Discomfort signals growth—don’t shy from it.
- Define roles: Whether with a spouse, partner, or manager, clarity prevents conflict.
- Use your story: Share openly—people buy from people, not faceless companies.
Why Choose Movified for Industry Insights
Movified isn’t just another podcast—it’s the premier hub for movers and industry professionals. With decades of combined experience, host Mark Hirschi and co-hosts like Steven Reed bring authentic, unfiltered conversations with movers across North America.
From small business owners to franchise leaders, every episode delivers strategies you can use immediately. Guests like Traci Gerckens of Big G Movers New Jersey prove that resilience, leadership, and creativity can transform even the toughest beginnings into market-dominating businesses.
Conclusion
The story of Big G Movers New Jersey is one of grit, creativity, and community. From rolling the dice with a single truck to launching women’s masterminds and turning ice cream into branding, Traci Gerckens shows how movers can build a legacy that lasts.
“Failure is not an option. There is no Plan B.” — Traci Gerckens
If you want to grow your moving company with strategies from leaders who’ve lived it, listen to this episode of Movified and start putting these lessons into action today.
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.
