Who Is Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf ?

For as long as I can remember, the biggest and most treacherous animal out there,

in the “retail” marketplace has always been Walmart.  I think books—many of them have

been written about the “big bad wolf,” that many have labeled Walmart to be, claiming that

they have been so successful in attracting customers, they have decimated so many small and

independent businesses, that they are a “jobs killer,”, as their detractors have claimed.

As someone who has retail locations, Box Brothers has been in business for a long time, but while

everyone is entitled to their opinions, I for one, do not share this opinion, that Walmart is the “big bad

wolf out there, as if they are all of that, as some claim, how come no one complains about the marketing

tactics of Target, or even the goings on with some other large national chains, like Home Depot, for example.

My premise is that while businesses, retail and otherwise, have gotten not only larger, more complex, but

also more dominant in this society, than at any other time since the inception of the series of rules normally

referred to the Antitrust laws of the United States.   My point is that, for whatever reason, these laws are not

working as they should to protect the American consumer and the American small businessman.   Further,

it is also my contention that Walmart has other detractors, unions for example, as the national supermarkets

simply have higher costs of labor than does Walmart, or even Target.  But why Target is never the target of these

groups, is beyond me and the point of this blog.

For example, this past week, I got some emails from Home Depot, and guess what business Home Depot now wants to be

in, this week?   Flowers—yes, I was solicited from Home Depot to buy roses for Valentines Day on February

14, 2013.   From a warehouse that sells lumber, nails, and everything else under the sun, except groceries.

Leverage is not just a television show, I guess, it is what large firms do to make sure they hammer on smaller

competitors to make sure they out muscle them, out market them and convince potential customers that they

are all that.  In that vein, I also saw a story about Home Depot being the place that is going to hire so many new

employees this year, that they alone will pull this region out of its unemployment doldrums….They used an employee

from the local Home Depot, and they put on a 30 second clinic in how they were such a great place to work, etc, etc, etc.

So, why does not our media ask Home Depot what the starting salary is for these positions, how many people they let

go last year, and how many of those who they are hired are in upper management, today.   And even more telling, how

many of those employees can afford to buy a median priced home in Southern California, or even Las Vegas, for that

matter?  The answer is no one working at Home Depot can even afford to rent a median priced apartment in many parts

of Los Angeles, or Las Vegas.   The same holds true with Target, 95% of all of their employees on the floors of their stores,

make less than $12.00 per hour, with little to no benefits.

If I may, my personal experience is one I would like to offer, to show how sometimes truth can be trampled.   I went to Home Depot

to get some Poinsettias at the start of the holiday season.  I went to Home Depot per their heavy advertisements

offering them, at a good price.   So I went there an hour after the start of the sale, they were sold out.   I asked this

same woman who did the tv spot for them, and she told me that they only got a few and were sold out before the

sale even started…….this from one of the world’s largest retailers and the lady laughed at me, saying what did I

expect.   I told her, that I expected the largest hardward store in the world to make good on their offer as I saw

it as a way to simply get me to their store to buy something else… she walked away and that is the extent of the

help and customer service I have had at Home Depot, as their service stinks.   Why is bait and switch not relevant for

Home Depot, as their TV personality said it to me and called me a fool to think otherwise.   I guess it’s fair for them to

do as they please.

If you follow this line of reasoning, they are justified to go after the flower guys, as why not, the supermarkets hammered

the small independent flower guys years ago (did anyone notice, or care?), but the supermarkets did not get blamed for

hurting the small mom and pop flower stores that were hit with competition from well healed money interests, such as

Safeway and Kroger, a couple of behemoths in their own right.  But Safeway and Ralphs (and Walmart) do not presently

have any presence in the flower delivery business.

What is common among all large businesses, is that they have forgotten their humble beginnings, and moved onto

what they consider, as, greener pastures: another way of saying they can hammer competitors that are small independently

owned businesses easier and faster, than they can larger for well healed ones.   So they all hammer on the small guy, who

has no leverage and today, it is my feeling that the American consumer has simply confused price and service and forgot about

service.  How else can you understand just how large these firms have become so dominant and omnipotent?

What I do not get, is that I have yet to find any of these large firms, that dominate American Business, that are open,

accessible, fair and reasonable—but most importantly, they all would rather hire a focus group to hear what they think

their customers want, instead of simply being brave enough to simply meet their customers and ask them to their face. 

Why?

Cause these decision makers, are so far removed from their actual places of business, and their customers, they would not even

know what to ask or how to answer a question from a customer.   If you own a business, why would you not want to meet and greet

your customers, or speak to them about what is right or wrong with your firm?  Instead, you hire surrogates to come up with what you

can find out on your own, again, I ask why?

Today they make a TV show called Undercover Boss, and no one says how dumb it is that these owners/CEO’s have to

hide their own identity in their own firms, to learn what is going on….so we have now, an entertainment focus group….

how appropriate and no one has the balls to come out and say, is this the best that you can do?

Perhaps the more important question is why do we, as a people, spend our money with those firms who do not care about

them as customers, or who, are even willing to speak to their customers?  Ever try to speak to someone at American Express

who was not a $10.00 per hour employee at a phone bank in El Paso, Texas?  Ever get a letter from American Express from a

corporate officer who had no return address, phone number or a way to engage him with a question? 

How about at Home Depot?   Once I was enticed, as a customer of ADP, the world’s largest provider of processed payroll services,

and they said if anyone ever had an issue with any part of their service, I could call up their corporate offices and speak to one of

their officers.   It worked, I signed up and when I had a problem with one of their phone room people who messed up some of my

employees checks by being negligent and careless, I got put on hold, and they never called me back, they had no idea who was to speak

to me or anything.  It was a pure lie.   And they benefitted by their lies, and then like other large dominate firms, they just spend more

money on branding, trying to get all of us to believe how great and benevolent they are.

As I said earlier, the antitrust rules are not working today, as intended, as large companies are the only firms who can go do work

in China, or Mexico, or some other place with low cost labor, not small businesses, and we have seen a general lack of competition

in trucking, package shipping (only 2 national firms do all of the private transport in the United States), hardware, appliance sales,

and this discussion leaves out the large dominant online firms—that’s for another day.

What is troubling is that when these large firms get comfortable maintaining their market share, they refrain from competing as they

should, and that will lead to some stagnation in our economy, I believe, as they become allegiant to maintaining the status quo, and

not taking any competitive risks.   Since only large firms can have access to money or capital today, this is a hidden plaque on all of us

in America today.  The only new entrepreneurs we will have will be those whose family had the money to get them going, as the large

businesses out there just want to divide a market and maintain it, just like the oil companies, do, and so long as our government allows

this kind of thing to keep going on, the divide between middle class and the wealthy will only get bigger, as this last recession has clearly

shown.

By looking at this picture fairly, and I have no hope this will be done any time soon, that    

Mark S. Frydman

Box Brothers Corp.

1-800-842-6937

www.boxbros.com

Charging Moving Customers by Cubic Feet: Trick or Treat?

I recall a few years ago, Box Brothers had a few competitors who used to sell shipping and moving
services by charging customers by cubic foot rates, only.  

At first, it seemed on first glance, that these firms, seemed to offer the public lower shipping quotes
based on charging purely on the total cubic feet, that their shipment or goods, amounted to.   Sounds
fair, right?  Pay only for what you have and are shipping?...Right, by the way, what is a cube?  How
is a cube measured and charged for, anyway?   Are their cubic yardsticks or cubic measuring tapes, or
how amount a scale that measure cubic feet?

It was a blatant and rude trick to screw the customer, plain and simple, as when people speak about
cubic feet, it is not, however, an irrelevant measurement in terms of how your move or shipment is costed or charged for, by"professional movers" and that is the key.

The truth is that professional movers use per set cubic foot designations to estimate moves all the time, but the difference is that once the total cubic feet of a particular shipment or move is tabulated, it is then converted into pounds at standard conversion rates.   Today that conversion is like this: total cubic feet
times (x) 7 lbs per cubic foot.   The movers use a standard cube sheet that most movers use; they should not
differ from mover to mover, and as noted earlier, if you have greater density in your shipment (e.g. an all box shipment, no furniture or bulky articles), you can adjust to a higher factor (using a higher conversion rate.
Allow me to explain.

If you had 20 medium or 3.0 cartons, or 60 cubic feet, plus 50 book boxes (50 x 1.5 cubic feet per book box), you would have another 75 cubic feet.   If you had 20 more 4.5 or large boxes, you would have another 90 cubic feet.  Together we have, in this example, we have 225 cubic feet.   If you multiplied the cubic feet time the conversion rate, 7 lbs per cubic foot, on average, you would get 1575 pounds, but if you
used the lower dim rate factor, due to the higher density of your shipment, you would do this as follows:
225 cubic feet x 6 lbs per cubic foot, that you would have 1350 lbs.

Here is the rub; movers pack their trucks from floor to ceiling, using all available space they can, as they get
paid on the total weight they haul and handle.  The better that they use their space (their trailer), the more income they can make doing the same runs.

In the case of movers who only charge by cube, they often do not pack up to the ceiling and when you calculate total cubic feet used, they could all space whether you use it or not.   It is just a trick to get you
to think their price is less, but if this were true, why would they not just offer you the lower of the two calculated costs: weight or cube, whichever is lower--but they don't, as their intent is to take advantage
of what the customer does not know.   To say this is wrong, is being nice, as these carriers intent is clear,
and it is not to give the customer the benefit of any lower price, but to increase the cost to the customer
based on a phony ploy.

I wanted to bring this subject up, as we are starting to see this means of cheating the customer coming back
to the market again.   I have no idea why, except that all the leaders of the moving industry would rather
just talk about rogue movers than do anything about them, as they are all operating in the open, with no fear
of repercussions.   To me, this purely and clearly suggests that whoever's job it is to regulate this industry, they are not doing it.

My suggestion is to find out the facts when you move; do your homework, your due diligence and make
sure you have an understanding of the costs and terms involved, as a little bit of knowledge goes a long way
in making sure you choose the right vendor and not the best price (initially) for your relocation.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

What does a box and transportation firm have to do with reminding people that October is

Breast Cancer Awareness Month?   Not much, but today, as they say, anything goes and

Box Brothers is proud to announce that, in recognition of those who have been assaulted

by this terrible disease and for the countless survivors who have fought the good fight to be able

to tell all of us--that with help, assistance and support, as well as determination, beating

back breast cancer (and other cancers too) is now not only possible, but probable.

But the fight is not over, not by a long shot, and we still need to make sure the message of

how difficult and how trying, this battle actually is, still needs everyones recognition and efforts to

eradicate it and make it a long ago memory, as we did with the terrible polio disease, when I was

a child.

I still remember, my late immigrant mother (she was a survivor of the Holocaust in Europe), she was

not only devoted to her family, but she retained some of her old ways, including some interesting

superstitious acts, that I will never ever forget.

One of those was if someone mentioned that they knew someone who had cancer, she would turn

away and act like she spat two or three times.  Almost like she would be mouth spitting, but not

actually doing it.   In her day, cancer was a death sentence, no one thought it could be overcome

or that one could get treatment for it and survive.

I recall my father having a bad pain in his neck and shoulder and I asked why he did not go to the doctor

and my mother told me he was afraid it might be cancer.   So when he went to the doctor later that day,

he did not have cancer, he was having a myocardial infarction (heart attack).  This just illustrates the

long term fear they had of having cancer.

I also remember as a young child, my mother taking me to get my polio vaccine.  The sugar cube.

They had friends, a next door neighbor, whose son was afflicted.   I heard stories of iron lungs and

how this friend of my brother's lived in one until he passed, as age 14.  I heard the stories of how they

heard his mother cry and sob all night about her son getting afflicted with this terrible deadly disease.

I personally have not had anyone in my immediate family who has had breast cancer, but I understand

how difficult and debilitating the treatment process is.   So as a company, we at Box Brothers, decided,

to do our part.

From today on, and until the end of October, we have changed the imprint on the three main moving

boxes from our blue print to pink print, and we have put a pint ribbon on each and everyone of these

moving boxes, so that we can bring more and more awareness to this cause.

One thing I can tell you for sure, that our moving boxes go all over the place, just like our customers,

to all parts of America, to all parts of Europe, Asia and in garages everywhere.  We are more than happy

to do this, as this message of caring, and of hope, is a message we are proud to be a part of this very

important and serious cause.   After all, the victims of this terrible disease and the future victims, deserve

Please join with us and do your part, whatever that is, in the ongoing battle to overcome cancer.   I know both of my parents would be proud that we have changed the outcome from impossible to promising, in one

generation.   And we will not rest until there is only a story to tell, just like in cases of polio.  We shall overcome.

Snowflakes And Moving, No Two Are The Same !!!!

I have been in the transportation (Moving) business for about three decades and what always impressed
me about Professional Moving Services was that they were always based on matching the needs of the customer with the capability of the mover and his equipment.

For example, in moving interstate, all professional movers or the legitimate ones, all charge by actual
weight.   So if a mover comes to your home and does a survey of what is actually moving from the old
location to the new location, he or she can offer a price based on the weight of what is actually moving.
Not for more or less, but based on the items that are moving.   The mover is to get a "light weight" or a weight of his van before he loads your shipment, then after the shipment is loaded, the mover returns to the public scale site to get a "heavy" weight afterwards.   The difference between the two is the actual weight
of your shipment.

Likewise, when the moving firm arranges for the actual mover to show up to do your move to another state, the carrier matches the space in the van with the load that is being picked up, as usually, a mover van or trailer accommodates multiple loads going to the same general area.  So, in essence, if the estimate is correct and the mover has the right amount of space, the system not only works well, but the overall service the customer receives is generally, very, very good.

Why, cause the interstate mover, is his/her own businessman, who owns the truck, employs the help and the mover receives the highest portion of the moving cost, as he is the one doing the move.   If he has a claim, it comes out of his pocket and his earnings, dollar for dollar, up to a certain amount.  What better incentive
could there be for the customer?

The problem with less than adequate service, or a poor move,  is usually, ask me, that a lot of customers tend to confuse purchasing a product vs a service.   Or put another way, a low price may have to do more
with getting a bargain, that does not always materialize into a good deal--sometimes you get what you pay for.

This entire discussion then, leads to the question of why are so many moving customers desiring to move
in a 20 foot container like those being rented to customers by both container firms and movers alike?  For the life of me, I simply do not understand why any person would want to take their own liability for moving
when they do not have to.   When you do it yourself, who else can you blame when something goes wrong?

I know, I know, movers are not that smart and if they can do it, so can I.....goes the mantra.  But this is not
even a fair or intelligent fight.   To move with a container and do it yourself, simply costs as much as having a mover do the whole thing for you.  Yes, it does. 

Just like moving today with a rented truck and you are going over 1000 miles away.   Anyone see the price
of fuel and how many miles per gallon trucks get, especially those in a rental fleet?   I still cannot figure out this "new new math" as I am old enough to have learned the "new math" but I cannot figure out why anyone
would want to move themselves, take full liability on themselves and the risk of injury to themselves, NOT TO OBTAIN ANY SAVINGS.   Besides, there is no one I know that can do a move better than some of the interstate owner operators I have seen in my life.

The older I get, the less things in life make sense to me.  For example, today, there are firms that want you
to rent plastic bins to move with, instead of using cardboard boxes.   Their proponents argue that this is a
"more green approach" to moving......cause you return the bins after you use them....so they are greener than
boxes made of 50% recycled cardboard and paper........and that you only need 20 bins, instead of 60 cardboard boxes.....(get this).....cause you can reuse the bins......lets just think this out.

Say you are moving 10 miles away to your new place and you have a economy car like a Chevy or a Ford
and you pack up 5 bins.   Then you have to carry those bins to your car, and load them into your car, drive
them over there (20 miles total) bring each bin up to the new place and then unpack them, and then load
them back into the car and do it again 5 or 6 times.   How long will this take to move this way and is this not harder on the customer to shlep these containers back and forth and do all the work, not to save any money?  

Please tell me so I can understand this logic as it makes no sense to me and I suggest that every person
who is moving should ask the right questions as none of these modern ways to move are less expensive
or are advantageous to the customer, ask me.

How Box Brothers Networks with Property Managers

One of the original marketing methods we utilized in growing our business, was to reach out to property management firms and to resident apartment managers, to help us ascertain just how much moving activity
there is within their properties and developments.

While our pursuit was originally for the sale of moving related cartons for those who are moving, we soon found out that many property management firms and resident managers have rules for how a firm loads
and unloads on their property.   Further, elevator management in some complexes are limited, and management as well as fellow tenants, do not appreciate not having access to their elevators, when delivery
firms and movers monopolize their use.

We have made tremendous relationships just by making sure that when we deliver moving boxes, that we
do not block entrances, restrict use of the elevators, and we are courteous and we notify the customer to
expect us prior to making the delivery.

Many firms understand extra needs when delivering to, or servicing clients out of commercial buildings
due to requirements for proof of insurance, and dock access, as well as freight elevator access, but those
same firms, do not always show the same degree of due diligence in residential settings, but I believe that
is both a mistake and a tactical error on the sales side of the equation.

While this blog is not the place to take about other firms mistakes or errors, it is not a secret that a good
firm will always give the very best service, to its smallest customers and to its largest customers.  I have
never understood how someone regulates heart, concern and commitment to do it right and how respect
are things you can dish out like condiments.  

Successful firms are full of quality people who care about their customers and about the people they service
as they tend to understand that their customers are not numbers on a balance sheet, but the people who put
food on their families table.   This is a very hard lesson to learn for a lot of workers and heads of firms, but
today, in a difficult if not impossibly competitive economy, what is the point of doing it half way, as I have one question for those who think effort and the best possible service is something to only talk about in the
class room or board room......"how is that working out for you....giving bad service....?"

There are those in sales who say that I am of base to speak about property managers in this way as they are
not our customers.   Their tenants, who are the ones who are buying the boxes, are our customers, focus on
them, not the people who collect the rent.   Maybe they are correct, but we have received so many referrals
from property managers to their tenants over the years--for moving boxes, that I would have to disagree with this opinion, no matter how successful they are.

You just have to expand your definition of what a customer is, as anyone in sales will agree, that you take care of your referral sources and they will take care of you.   Like I said, it is just a question of definition.

Self Service vs Full Service Moving; Who Stole the Savings?

For many years, consumers have always seemed to understand their choices when confronted with having to relocate or move their home. The thought process usually runs as follows:

"If I do it myself, and rent my own vehicle, and not use a mover, then I can savee some money..."
or
"If I hire a mover, it will cost a lot more than if I do it myself..."

Obviously, if someone does not have the means to hire a mover to move all of their possessions,
they really have little choice as moving options.

Today, with fuel prices so very high, it is our belief that each situation is different and should be
evaluated on its own merits. For example, there is a huge difference in moving locally vs moving
a longer distance, usually over 100 miles, as the farther away you move from your current residence, in both full service and self service moving, costs will rise the longer the distance between locations.

But what is most telling is that longer moves, over 1000 miles, I just do not believe that the savings in self service moving are great or compelling, if you have a choice. Consider these issues:
1) Fuel at $4.50 per gallon and YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT MOVING TRUCKS
DO NOT GET MORE THAN 10-12 MILES PER GALLON, ON THE ROAD. Going
Los Angeles to Chicago would easily cost over $1000.00 in fuel costs, or more
depending on the quantity of goods and how much weight is in the truck itself

Consider these additional factors:
You have to load the truck yourself or pay others to do it;
You are self insuring all of your goods for damage or loss and
there is no insurance carrier that will cover your own packing
moving negligence that leads to loss or damage; You are self
insuring your move;
You are not at all trained how to load a truck, with weight
distribution and making sure the load is packed correctly and
safely, as if the load is not secured properly, it can shift while
on the road and could lead to an accident;
Are you an experienced truck driver, used to stopping at truck
inspection stations, border crossings and you know all the roads
that are subject to flooding, or are not safe? Do you know where
the mandatory fire extinquisher is in the truck;
How about the toll lanes and bridge fees.....
HOw about the loading equipment and pads, they are extra...

I could go on and on, but my point is that if you carefully shop for your relocation and open your
search to a broader spectrum of choices, both the self service moving market and the newer containerized moving (i.e Pods) options are all very expensive in my opinion and the best approach in making a choice is to make sure you compare "apples to apples"

People need to become aware of how they are going to be charged: for full service movers, local moving is by the hour. End of story. But for long distance moves, it is usally by weight in the U.S. One needs to be wary of other means by which some firms charge, as in all cases, one needs to know what they are buying or paying for. So your move is based necessarily on what you have to move, not what you want to move, but what you actually take with you. Professional relocation firms, movers and firms like Box Brothers, always price their services on weight and iprice accordingly. What I see most often is that firms can under estimate the weight and make you feel that your cost will be x, when in fact, you are going to pay for every pound on that truck, no matter what. IT IS JUST LIKE BUYING BANANAS OR TOMATOES AT THE MARKET, WHAT YOU BUY IS WEIGHED AND YOU ARE CHARGED FOR THAT WEIGHT.

No mystery, no guessing, no fun and games. If you have 5000 lbs of goods, you will pay for 5000 pounds of goods. So you have to make sure when you compare services, you are comparing correctly to ensure that you are getting the best price per pound and the service
requirements you need, to start your new home, your new job, your new schoooling or whatever.

So many times, we find that our prices that we provide to our customers might seem higer than some of our competitors, as most people are confused by moving by weight as who would have any idea how much a bookcase weighs or how much their dining room table, 6 chairs and hutch weigh.....no one really does until is is weighed but I have competitors who ask their customers to guess how much it weighs, as it does not matter how they quote or how much you guess, you are paying for the whole enchilada, with cheese....

So please look at all your options, never be afraid to ask questions and you can ask any of us who
are professional to bind their estimate or guarantee their rates and services, so that you can get the best value and the best service, but you have to be willing to invest the time to obtain an understanding as most consumers just go for the thinking spelled out above, that one is always cheaper than the other and the other one is more expensive, but that analysis is so shallow, it will not be persuasive and correct for most moving consumers.

Has the Economy Really Turned a Corner? A Small Business Perspective....A Mixed Bag In an Election Year

I have written before that I, myself, a small business person of many years, would actually see
the recession weary economy--would actually get stronger as the months before the next national election, this coming November, 2012.

For most small businesses, with retail and online offerings, it is no secret that sales fell off a cliff
when the recession started and no matter what anyone says, or reports (unless you are in the oil
or insurance business), business has not come back to the level it was prior to the recession.

Many of us have been holding on, figuring that business had to improve at some point, but for many, I have found, they have lost their ability to even be optimistic. That is one of the reasons, I believe, that there is so much emotion built into this coming election. People are tired
of this suffering and they somehow think that electing a new leader will change that, or that staying the course is the best option.

I really do not care, and many of those who know me might now believe me, but I simply want my business and my employees to be better off than they were a month ago, a year ago or even
two years ago--but that is not the case and I am right there with them.

Those hopes of better times and more business due to the election, due to the improved job numbers, and monthly governmental reports--all seemed to indicate, especially with today's jobs report, that times are actually getting better. Allow me to indulge some of what I saw and heard in the last week.

I was visiting Las Vegas on business last week. A giant concrete show was just ending, but when I was there midweek, the town was pretty empty, no gambling tables were full and most if not all of the casinos were at less than 60% capacity. Then I saw two to three construction sites half done, work abandoned, like a giant sculpture of our times: incredible promise and beauty, unfulfilled. Then I heard that some homes actually went up a little.......when I returned to one of our retail stores, I was helping a customer who had come in looking for a box and some packing supplies. He was shipping an auto part. I asked him if this was for his business, and he told me
that it was not; that he was picking parts off his car to be able to pay the rent, selling them on eBay. I gave him some free materials for his shipment.

I then dealt with a customer who sold an old beer sign to someone on eBay, and it broke in transit and the buyer nixed the sale through Pay pal, so the customer was out $250.00.
She called us screaming, like we had assaulted her, as Pay pal took her food money, apparently.
She blamed us and then I asked her for a little time to put the facts together and do an investigation on her behalf, as the service we provided to her was from another one of our
local Las Vegas outlets.

I spoke to the manager who handled the transaction and recalled the details and had put together a file, just in case something happened. He told me that he informed the customer
that in order to prevent damage, she had to protectively pack this item with cushioning on all
six (6) of its sides, as just wrapping the item with Bubble Warp or Paper, would not ensure its
safe arrival. After, we do this for a living, we always inform the customer so they can decide
if they want to take the risk or pay the cost of doing it right.

This customer chose not to do it right, for two reasons: one, today, the package carriers charge for size and packing this sign right meant that she would be charged more for shipping it, due to the enlarged size, and two, she did not want to spend the money to have us guarantee pack the sign.

This was not about fairness, equity or what she did not do or if she got what she bargained for,
as all of that was true, but she was just going crazy cause she had no money to feed her children
because Pay pal took her money unilaterally.

I hope that the jobs numbers are actually true, as help needs to come quick to those who need it most, and the problem from my perspective, is that these recoveries are often uneven and unfair as sometimes, the rich get richer before the poor or middle class gets better, but I am not
talking about politics here, it is just that housing, which got hit hard in this recession, affects those in California, Nevada and Arizona more, as that was our economic core driver in the past, since we do not make or manufacture anything in the west anymore.

I have seen signs, as some might suggest that our business--selling moving boxes, helping people move, small loads, packaging and crating, stock boxes, packaging aid, shipping, moving, etc., are all activities that lead to more activity. If a customer buys a few moving boxes, and moves, he engages all kind of services, from alarms, furniture, carpet cleaning, maid service, painting, plumbing, remodeling, construction, water bottle service, not to mention a new customer for the dry cleaning, the hear salon, the restaurant, etc. They used to say that one move results in 7 other moves as a domino effect, but I really am not sure how that number was obtained.

I do know that we are seeing more activity in some of our stores on the west side of Los Angeles,
our locations in the bay area have seen more improvement too. I am hopeful that these are signs of improvement, but I definitely do not want to do a forecast as I have been hopeful before, too. But I am hopeful that with this election and with the hope for better times a head, considering how long we have been under this recession, one can't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, better times are really on the way. For all of our sakes, lets hope so.

Box Brothers San Leandro

Well here we are, all settled in in San Leandro. We have some small improvements to make, but our retail face is almost complete with a crate-style countertop ready for a retail scale and plenty of flashy signs and displays.
A big improvement from the old West Oakland location, the new San Leandro facility has a sizeable warehouse, office spaces for all our hard working paper pushers, a nice kitchen and washrooms, and rooms for art and high value storage. We also have ample parking and a real loading dock! More to come as we build up this retail space into the pride of the North Bay.

Jonathan Knight from NKOTB

New Kids meets New Boxes. This was forwarded to us from one of our friends, who follows Jonathan on twitter. And knew we would love to see the photos .And we do, Jonathan was in the all boys band New Kids on The Block,in the 80s. he's leaving Los Angeles and is all boxed up. http://lockerz.com/s/117463791

http://lockerz.com/s/117473337

Did you know Jonathan has over 100,000 flowers on Twitter ? For more on the NKOTB check out wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Kids_on_the_Block

Why do I need new Moving Boxes?

Bed Bugs Moving Box Warning

by Ben
(Los Angeles, CA) http://boxbros.com
800.842.6937




We manage a box store. Some years ago, people who were moving would often go looking for used boxes behind super markets and grocery stores. Nowadays, there are several companies who actually sell used boxes.

Many consumers are unaware of the hazards that come with moving your belongings in used moving boxes.

Pre-used boxes come with a host of other hazards, such as:

Lack of cleanliness.
Insects or insect eggs may reside within the boxes. Furthermore, damaging parasites or insects such as bed bugs, termites, lice, scabies, and others may have come in contact with the boxes.

Even one bed bug could result in a total infestation of your new home. Rodent droppings could reside in the box, which may be extremely harmful to you and your families health.

Lack of knowledge about what was previously in the box (i.e. Packing your toothbrush in a box that once held a floor mat, or hazardous chemicals and cleaning materials). The strength and durability of the box has been compromised.
The box may contain odor and Bed Bugs from previous contents.

The average person who doesn’t move very often is likely to overlook these facts in the interest of saving a few cents. However, upon reviewing the (very real) hazards that come with using used boxes, it becomes apparent that the potential damage that could be caused would be expensive to repair.

Imagine bringing a box to your new home that not long before held a comforter that contained bed bug eggs. A potential infestation in your new home would be disastrous and very difficult and expensive to remedy. Furthermore, the value of safety is priceless, and your safety and sanitation can be compromised by packing with used boxes. Imagine packing your toiletries in a box that once held household cleaners. What if those cleaners leaked in the box? That is, without a doubt, a potential safety hazard.


We manage a box store. Some years ago, people who were moving would often go looking for used boxes behind super markets and grocery stores. Nowadays, there are several companies who actually sell used boxes.

Many consumers are unaware of the hazards that come with moving your belongings in used moving boxes.

Pre-used boxes come with a host of other hazards, such as:

Lack of cleanliness.
Insects or insect eggs may reside within the boxes. Furthermore, damaging parasites or insects such as bed bugs, termites, lice, scabies, and others may have come in contact with the boxes.

Even one bed bug could result in a total infestation of your new home. Rodent droppings could reside in the box, which may be extremely harmful to you and your families health.

Lack of knowledge about what was previously in the box (i.e. Packing your toothbrush in a box that once held a floor mat, or hazardous chemicals and cleaning materials). The strength and durability of the box has been compromised.
The box may contain odor and Bed Bugs from previous contents.

The average person who doesn’t move very often is likely to overlook these facts in the interest of saving a few cents. However, upon reviewing the (very real) hazards that come with using used boxes, it becomes apparent that the potential damage that could be caused would be expensive to repair.

Imagine bringing a box to your new home that not long before held a comforter that contained bed bug eggs. A potential infestation in your new home would be disastrous and very difficult and expensive to remedy. Furthermore, the value of safety is priceless, and your safety and sanitation can be compromised by packing with used boxes. Imagine packing your toiletries in a box that once held household cleaners. What if those cleaners leaked in the box? That is, without a doubt, a potential safety hazards

EXTRA TIP: Be sure to place your mattress in a box or mattress bag before moving! You never know what bugs and critters may reside in the moving truck and it’s moving blankets/pads!

Nevertheless, re-using boxes does go a long way as far as being “green” is concerned. The act of recycling, many believe, makes using used boxes worthwhile. HOWEVER, as far as environmental friendliness is concerned, there is NO difference between re-using a box, and using New boxes.

Why use an old and hazardous box, when you could use a new box made of 100% recycled materials?
A new box made of post-consumer recycled products is: stronger and cleaner, And above all, environmentally friendly and Bed Bug free.

Editor Comment Bed Bugs Moving Box Warning

Thank you for sharing this important advice. There is no question that bed bugs can be hiding in used moving boxes. I'd advise anyone that is moving to not only use new boxes, but to ask if the moving truck was inspected for bed bugs.

Remember, people who used the truck to move their belongings may have had bed bugs. Because of this problem, many moving companies are treating their trucks for bed bugs. Be sure to ask as there have been reports of bed bug infestations caused by moving.

Used Moving Boxes - A Health Hazard

Check out our new article about the hazards of used moving boxes. This is very useful information to someone who is moving or about to move, and is exploring the various moving box options.

Ever have a customer ask you if we carry used moving boxes? Maybe refer them to this article!

http://blog.boxbros.com/hazards-of-used-boxes/

New eZine Article - Open Me First Boxes

Check out our new moving/packing tips article on eZine Articles! http://ezinearticles.com/?Efficient-Packing-With-Open-Me-First-Boxes&id=5838970

look what i found today in an old file

this is a few years old but it's still good.Box Brothers services ......

Specializing in small shipments. Artwork,Electronics,furniture and Antiques