Introduction
Do turkeys run with stallions? That’s the bold question that kicked off our recent roundtable from the Moving Titan Retreat in Florida. Hosted by Mark Hirschi, owner of Salmon’s Transfer and the voice behind the Movified Podcast, this conversation brought together movers and industry partners who are redefining how moving companies grow, Neacail Murdock from Murdock Moving and Storage and Matt Young and Zach Baz from Movingletters.ai.
If you’re a moving company owner, franchisee, or industry professional looking to scale your operations, strengthen your sales team, and build winning company culture, this recap will give you actionable insights straight from the field.
Key Takeaways
What You’ll Learn:
- Follow-up like a pro: Effective sales come from timely, personal, next-day follow-ups.
- Lead by standards: A winning culture starts with clear standards that carry from office to home.
- Empathy builds trust: When presenting bills or handling challenges, empathy keeps customer relationships strong.
- Invest in your team: Equity options, bonuses, and recognition create long-term buy-in from employees.
Table of Contents
Why the Moving Titan Retreat Matters
The Moving Titan Retreat is not your average industry conference. Instead of endless vendor pitches and surface-level networking, this event created space for raw conversations, practical advice, and motivational fire from speakers like Andy Elliott, Tommy Mello, Sean Crane, and Winston Davis.
As Mark Hirschi noted, attendees left with “ten pages minimum of inspiring, motivating material”. From leadership strategies to sales scripts, the retreat pushed moving company owners to think bigger and implement change immediately.
Follow-Up Is the Secret Sales Weapon
One of the biggest lessons discussed at the roundtable: follow-up separates the stallions from the turkeys.
Sean Crane, a speaker at the retreat, demonstrated this firsthand. His process wasn’t about hammering “buy now.” Instead, he connected personally, shared his story, and then circled back the next morning with a direct, heartfelt question: “Are you in?”
This sparked a deeper conversation among movers about their own follow-up game. Too often, salespeople drop the ball with a weak “just following up” email days later—emails that usually end up deleted. The real power lies in:
- Being descriptive in proposals (show videos, real mover photos, not stock images).
- Following up the next day, while the conversation is still fresh.
- Keeping the tone personal and connected, not transactional.
Building a Culture of Standards and Accountability
Andy Elliott’s message hit hard: success requires standards that extend beyond work and into life. At his company, standards include everything from clean desks to fitness discipline, and even spouses receive copies of these expectations.
The roundtable agreed that strong standards shape culture, and culture drives performance. As one quote from the retreat reminded everyone: “Stop being a business owner and be a coach.”
For movers, that means:
- Defining clear standards for crews (punctuality, uniform, clean equipment).
- Reinforcing those standards with recognition and accountability.
- Leading by example—owners and managers must embody the same expectations.
Empathy in Action: Handling Customers with Care
Billing moments can make or break the customer experience. As discussed in Tampa, even if crews did an excellent job, presenting a higher-than-expected bill without empathy can sour the entire move.
Key strategies shared:
- Train crews to show empathy—acknowledge customer stress and challenges.
- Have sales reps handle final billing conversations, even via phone, to reduce crew tension.
- Encourage crews to check in mid-day and offer small gestures (asking if the customer needs water, for example).
As Mark Hirschi put it: “If you haven’t built that rapport and now you’re presenting them with a bill, you’re already behind.”
Employee Buy-In and Long-Term Growth
The retreat also emphasized the importance of employee buy-in.
Tommy Mello shared strategies like equity options and investment opportunities that help employees feel like owners. The roundtable echoed this with examples:
- Bonuses for five-star reviews.
- Recognition for above-and-beyond service.
- Creating paths for growth beyond hourly wages.
Necail Murdock summarized it best: “Dig deep. Find something they can invest in. You’ll get more from the employee, and the company will be stronger.”
Why Choose Movified
At Movified, we don’t just talk about moving—we live it. With decades of combined industry experience, insider connections, and access to the brightest minds in the moving and storage world, we deliver content that’s practical, proven, and designed for movers like you.
When you read a Movified blog or listen to a podcast, you’re tapping into:
- Real stories from owners in the trenches.
- Frameworks and playbooks tailored to moving companies.
- A community of professionals committed to raising industry standards.
Conclusion
The Moving Titan Retreat wasn’t just an event—it was a turning point for many moving company owners ready to grow. From sharpening follow-up tactics to embedding standards and empathy, the lessons shared at this roundtable are tools you can apply today.
“It’s not who you are; it’s who you’re becoming.” — Andy Elliott
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.
