Introduction
Most moving company owners juggle too many ideas but struggle to scale. You want growth, more trucks on the road, and higher margins—but without a clear system, execution stalls. In this Movified Podcast episode, Mark Hirschi sat down with Harry from Last Stop Moving (Edmonton, Alberta) at the Movers & Shakers event hosted at Andy Elliott’s Lion’s Den Studio.
Harry shared practical moving company growth strategies that helped him grow from a single pickup truck to six trucks in three years—all through organic expansion, not debt.
This blog is written for moving company owners, franchise operators, and industry leaders who want to take real steps toward growth. Whether you manage one truck or a fleet of twenty, these lessons show you how to execute better, win more jobs, and build a culture that lasts.
Key Takeaways
What You’ll Learn:
- Ideas only matter when executed. Perfection is the enemy of progress.
- Direct mail works—but only with consistent design, targeting, and cadence.
- Affiliate relationships with realtors and local businesses drive warm leads.
- Set standards early. Don’t hire friends—hire for fit and train for quality.
- Your culture is your growth engine. A team-first focus creates retention, reviews, and referrals.
Table of Contents
The Playbook at a Glance
Many moving company growth strategies sound impressive in theory, but most owners never execute them. Harry learned this early. Instead of waiting for the “perfect plan,” he leaned into fast action.
His growth came from:
- Direct mail campaigns that he refined after early failures
- Affiliate partnerships with realtors and local professionals
- Hiring standards that ensured the right people were behind the wheel
- Team-first culture, where success was measured by employee progress as much as revenue
“Ideas don’t mean anything until you work on them.” — Harry, Last Stop Moving
Direct Mail Done Right
Direct mail is often dismissed as outdated. But for movers, it can still outperform digital ads when executed with consistency. Harry initially failed with postcards, but once he refined his lists, creative, and cadence, results followed.
Why direct mail still matters
- Targets homeowners actively preparing to move
- Creates physical touchpoints customers can hold
- Builds brand familiarity with repeated touches
Harry’s 4-step framework
- List accuracy
- Target new listings, FSBO, and under-contract homes
- Update lists every 30 days
- Compelling offers
- “Guaranteed arrival window.”
- “Local mover with 4.9-star average from 1,500 reviews.”
- Clean design
- Bold headline
- One CTA
- Proof elements (reviews, years in service)
- Multi-touch cadence
- Three postcards in 30 days
- QR code or phone line for tracking
Win with Affiliates and Local Partnerships
When advertising costs rise, affiliate relationships are a lifeline. Harry leaned on his commercial real estate background to cold call, visit offices, and offer value first.
Who to target
- Realtors with active listings
- Property managers and storage facilities
- Senior living centers
- Contractors and interior designers
How to structure the partnership
- Priority scheduling for referred clients
- Co-branded materials (flyers, PDFs, microsites)
- Regular feedback loops (share reviews from their clients)
Why it works
Affiliate leads are warm, often already trusting the referrer. This means higher close rates, happier customers, and better long-term retention.
Standards, Hiring, and the “Domino Effect” Culture
Growth stalls when standards slip. Early in his business, Harry made the mistake of hiring friends. They lacked the discipline needed to drive safely or represent the brand.
Building culture with accountability
Harry uses a domino token system. If someone is late, they’re given a domino to symbolize how one delay can knock over the rest of the day’s schedule. This visual accountability keeps the team aware of the ripple effect of their actions.
Practical steps to set standards
- Define role scorecards for movers, drivers, foremen
- Create ride-along checklists for training consistency
- Celebrate wins in daily huddles (reviews, safety records, referrals)
From Idea to Execution: Your 30-Day Sprint
You don’t need a one-year roadmap to grow. You need 30 days of consistent action.
Week 1
- Pick two neighborhoods for postcards
- Build a partner list of five local offices
- Create a landing page for quote requests
Week 2
- Send first postcard batch
- Host one realtor lunch-and-learn
- Launch daily team huddles
Week 3
- Send second postcard
- Follow up with all warm leads
- Track reviews and close rates
Week 4
- Send third postcard
- Lock in systems that worked
- Capture SOPs in a shared document
This sprint keeps you moving and builds momentum fast.
A Real Story: How One Mover Earned the Keys
Harry’s most powerful story wasn’t about trucks or revenue—it was about people.
One mover joined with no English skills but worked harder than anyone else. Over time, he became a driver, then a foreman, and is now on track to buy his first home.
This transformation reflects the deeper mission of moving companies: creating opportunity, not just moving boxes. Customers feel that pride, and partners notice too.
Why Choose Movified
Movified provides insider access to moving industry strategies straight from the people doing the work. With hosts and guests who run trucks, warehouses, and sales teams daily, you get proven tactics—not theory.
- 100+ years of moving heritage through Salmon’s Moving & Storage
- Conversations with industry leaders like Harry from Last Stop Moving
Practical playbooks for direct mail, affiliates, and culture building
Conclusion
Scaling a moving company isn’t about flashy ideas—it’s about execution, standards, and culture. From direct mail campaigns to realtor affiliates, from domino accountability to a team-first mindset, Harry’s journey with Last Stop Moving shows exactly how to grow smart.
Next steps for you:
- Launch a three-touch postcard campaign in your service area.
- Set five affiliate meetings with local partners.
- Start daily huddles with clear role standards.
“Ideas are a dime a dozen. Execution is everything.” — Harry, Last Stop Moving
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.
