Heard on the Street....Malarkey.......

I was going to be like everyone else in the world and start talking about politics, as it is that
time again, and there is no shortage of "lying," "half truths" and, of course, what we often call "the spin."

We are all used to it, by now, it is hard to tune all this noise out, and for most of us, at least, we do
not live in one of those "key battleground states" (sounds like a military term, no?), as I understand
that one can hardly come up for air in Ohio without someone using all forms of media to hammer their
message home.

I know this is all partisan, but that is not where I am coming from today.   I just think this it is ironic
that both parties feel that the economy has a good of room for improvement, but at the same time,
all of this noise as I call it, seems only to make people more cautious and less likely to engage new
purchases or spend money for fear of the unknown future.   Like a catch 22 type of thing: that everyone
wants people to go out and spend money cause they are confident about the future, but their actions to get elected or re-elected only serve--it seems to me, and other small business people--make people more likely not to spend as there is a great deal of uncertainty as to who our leaders will be both in the White House and in Congress.   Maybe it really does not matter, anyhow, but boy, these politicians can spend the money, to no end

One of the key terms used in the Vice Presidential debates last evening was "malarkey."   I understand that this word is now challenging "amazing" as the most overused word of the day--by both sides of the political
spectrum.   But at the same time, to me, it only shows that these politicians are really far away from the problems of small business and in particular, for those in the moving and shipping business.

I have heard some owners in this business describe the times today as "some of the slowest times in the
moving and shipping business that they have seen in over 30 years.   Three decades, that is a long time and
I really feel that while small business is a big issue in this campaign, most of us feel unrepresented in this large
political circus.  I often joke that I never get a chance to speak to my lobbyist, like I even know a lobbyist, in the first place.

Yes, it is true that Box Brothers is a member of California and Texas Mover Associations, as well as being
a member of the American Moving and Storage Association--who do employ lobbyists, I am told, but
every single small business person I know who puts a paycheck into their employees hands so that they can put food on their families tables, is not having the best of times and most of us feel that no matter who is elected and when the NOISE stops, nothing will change and that is our greatest fear of all.

At the same time, I have not been appointed to speak on any mover's behalf and while most of my comments are truly subjective, I am not speaking out of turn.  Like other firms, we at Box Brothers
have the greatest respect for both our customers, and for our employees, which is why times like this are so hard on all of us.  We have a great reputation for packaging, crating and for helping our customers get their
belongings or merchandise safely, anywhere in the world.   We all just wish we were busier and our issues were how to handle the flow of work, instead of how to translate the work we have into paychecks for all.

Do you think if we locked these guys in the back of a moving van, told them we would not let them out until they made things better for all, and instead of spending 2 billion dollars on ads, they decided to cure a disease and get this economy moving for all of us.....it would work?....I do not think so either.

Here is hoping things get better, no matter who you want to be elected to any office.

Small Moves

Small moves have been a Box Brothers specialty since our inception 25 years ago. As pioneers and innovators of the “small move”, we have tailored our service to those who would be at a disadvantage using a full service mover. Whether your move is personal/residential, or a small business/office move, Box Brothers’ moving experts will design a personalized service to accommodate your specific needs, budget, and time frame.

• Complete moving service, including fully guaranteed packaging of anything from dishes & books, to televisions & furniture.
• Guaranteed pick-up dates & times.
• For your convenience, our services are available seven days a week, and same day service is available upon request.
• Delivery dates as soon as 48 hours from time of pick-up!
• Don’t wait 5-7 days to find out your costs! On-site weight calculation will determine your price with certainty, on your move day.
• Various insurance options! Find one that suits your individual needs.
• Free storage for up to 10 days!
• Over 25 years experience in the industry! Box Brothers is a member of both the California Moving and Storage Association (CMSA), and the American Movers and Storage Association (AMSA).

(READ MORE)

Not all moves are large moves. If your move is of lesser volume than full service movers usually tend to, you may find yourself paying for services that you don’t need. At Box Brothers, we understand that every client has their individual needs, budget, and time frame. We work with our clients to design a personalized service plan, allowing them take advantage of the services they need, without paying for those they don’t.
Box Brothers’ professional team of packing experts is available seven days a week, providing packaging services both on and off-site. Our industry-renowned packaging service ensures maximum safety for your items, and is covered by our insurance firm. We handle items of any size and nature, including: dishes, electronics, furniture, antiques, artwork, sculptures, china, glassware, televisions, and more.
For your convenience, our on-site team will inventory all items being moved, so each item, along with the condition it’s in, is accounted for. The items are then packaged (if necessary), containerized, and moved to their final destination.
Our insurance offerings include: actual cash value, replacement cost value, no extra cost standard valuation. Third-party trip transit protection is available as well, and we maintain full liability insurance.
We work with specialized carriers, each with their own strengths and specialties. This provides the client with a multitude of transportation options, including expedited services.

Franchising Is Elusive Pot of Gold SMALL BUSINESS / JANE APPLEGATE

Franchising Is Elusive Pot of Gold
SMALL BUSINESS / JANE APPLEGATE
June 29, 1990JANE APPLEGATE
Ask entrepreneurs if they've thought of franchising their businesses and watch the gleam in their eyes. With 2,400 franchise companies and 500,000 franchises in operation across the country, cloning a successful business is tempting.

But it's not as easy as you might think, according to Mark Frydman and Robert (Goody) Goodman, principals in Box Bros., a Canoga Park packing and shipping company that is struggling to launch its franchise program.

Although their seven Southern California company-owned stores are successful and the company is registered to sell franchises in California, the state with the toughest regulations, Box Bros. has only one franchise deal pending.

In struggling to make their efforts pay off, the two entrepreneurs have learned some lessons that might apply to other would-be franchisers. For example, if yours is a good idea, the field is probably already crowded with competitors. Also, banks may balk at loaning money to people who want to buy your franchises, particularly if the franchise operation is new. Moreover, time you spend on your franchising plans is time taken away from your original business.

In two years, Frydman and Goodman have spent $50,000 and expect to spend another $50,000 before their franchising program is running smoothly.

"We have gone through two sets of consultants who said they could help us," said Goodman. "We spent $2,000 with one company that treated us like we were stupid."

Another firm offered its services for $10,000 a month with no guarantee of success. Unwilling to spend more at the expense of the core business, Box Bros. is now regrouping.

Franchise consultants said Box Bros. may be having trouble because 25 other packing and shipping franchises are glutting the market. Although Box Bros. deliberately set its franchise fee below the others, beginning at $27,900, it is still competing with larger, established companies such as Bekins Boxstore, Mail Boxes Etc., Box Works and the Packaging Store.

Goodman, who was working for a local mover before quitting to start Box Bros., said he got the idea after realizing that a large percentage of moves are coordinated by women who don't like to go into industrial areas to buy boxes. So he opened his stores on busy streets in retail shopping districts, where both men and women feel comfortable shopping for boxes and everything else.

"No matter how attractive your idea is, we have learned that franchises do not sell themselves," said Frydman.

Without a fat advertising budget, the company relies on trade show exhibits and local advertising to get the word out. But even when it collects leads, the company, with 22 employees, lacks a full-time sales and marketing staff to follow up.

Then another obstacle surfaced: Frydman and Goodman learned that there are very few financing alternatives for potential buyers of new, unproven franchises. Even bankers who prepare Small Business Administration loan guarantee applications told Goodman and Frydman it would be difficult to qualify prospective buyers for financing......BY : Jane Applegate June 29,1990 Los Angeles Times / Small Business