Moving on. It’s a phrase we are all familiar with, a part of every individual’s life. Whether it is relocating for a new job, upgrading to a new apartment, or simply looking for a change of location, moving can appear in our lives in many shapes and sizes. But, moving sheds light on a whole different set of challenges because when a person has to move, so do all their belongings. While moving for an individual or a family is as simple as getting into a car and driving off, safely moving all our possessions, becomes a daunting yet indispensable part of the entire moving process.
While there are scores of moving companies in the market today, only a handful have been able to keep up with changing times and the evolving needs of their consumers. Most of them either charge steep prices or offer only do-it-yourself options leaving the customer to deal with truck rental companies and storage facilities all by themselves.
To every mover’s delight Zippy Shell Inc and 1-800-PACK-RAT have redefined the entire moving experience by providing safe, secure, and portable storage containers that can be used for on-site storage, warehouse storage, local moving, and long-distance moving, or any custom combination required. Creating a personalized moving experience for each of their clients, Chief Executive Officer, Mark Kuhns, shares, “We are focused on transforming how people think about moving & storage by delivering an excellent consumer experience through listening, caring, and exceeding expectations.”
Personalized Moving & Storage Solutions
Zippy Shell Inc operates two independent brands in the portable moving and storage industry. Through its brands, 1-800-PACK-RAT and Zippy Shell, this organization operates out of 76 locations across the continental US, making it one of the easiest to access no matter what part of the country you are in.
Guided by its motto, Moving & Storage Made Simple, and owing to an inventive approach, Zippy Shell and 1-800-PACK-RAT have emerged as premier service providers in the commercial and residential moving and storage industry. “What makes us unique is that we allow customers to customize their moving and storage experience. Customers have control and visibility throughout their move and can use their online account to schedule deliveries, pickups, pay invoices, and communicate with the company,” shares Kuhns.
On the ground, both Zippy Shell and 1-800-PACK-RAT provide an array of moving and storage solutions. To begin with, they deliver a storage container to a customer’s home or business address, so that they can pack the container at their own pace and convenience. The customer has the option to keep the container for as long as they like, after which the container can either be stored at one of the company’s many climate-controlled warehouses or transported across town or country, depending on the requirement.
“Our containers are of the highest quality on the market, and our team provides best-in-class customer service,” mentions Mark. What’s more is that while a typical moving company is known to take up to 30 days or more to move a customer’s belongings across the country, Zippy Shell and its vast fleet of vehicles can do the same in 5 to 10 business days while keeping their costs at some of the most competitive in the country. “We strive to make the process of moving and storage simple and easy,” says Kuhns.
Thanks to Zippy Shell and 1-800-PACK-RAT, customers have the option to make their packing schedule and move plans at their own convenience. You can even make changes while in transit. For example, if someone is moving to a new state but there has been some delay in the completion of construction of their home, the customer can easily adjust and store their belongings at one of their secure locations and have them delivered at a later date.
"Moving is extremely stressful, and many different things happen simultaneously; we want to help customers by making things easier and giving them more control."
Making Businesses Unique and Successful
Over the last 30 years, Kuhns has helped lead high-growth businesses, driven by large network operations requiring significant capital investment. During this time, he has helped drive the performance of several top brands, including United Parcel Service, TACA International Airlines, US Airways, Under Armour, and private equity backed On Campus Marketing.
Before that, and prior to attending college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and business school at Vanderbilt University, Mark started his professional journey working for a family construction business. Slowly and diligently, he eventually worked his way up to manager where he was responsible for overseeing entire projects, from planning jobs to ordering materials to managing entire construction crews. “This experience taught me two valuable lessons — first, planning, and second hiring great people. Ultimately, every successful business is about having a good plan and great people working together as a team to deliver on promises,” he states.
After joining Zippy Shell in 2017, Mark worked closely with the founders and franchise owners to transform the company by introducing several key initiatives focused on driving sales, reducing costs, and enhancing service capabilities. In 2018 he led the acquisition of 1-800-PACK-RAT, where he drove the company’s success by investing in modern systems and technology, capacity expansion, and customer service.
Apart from evolving with changing technologies and marketing trends, Mark strongly believes that a customer-first approach has always been the biggest contributor to his success. Even within the organization, he ensures a positive work culture, often going to extensive lengths to ensure that all his employees feel valued and appreciated.
“Throughout the years, we have had countless positive stories where customers have told us how we have helped their families transition to their new homes. Additionally, we have a lot of tenured employees who have spent most of their careers with our company, and they have told us how proud they are to be here because of our positive company culture. Hearing these stories are the best part of my job!” Due to his consistent dedication to his employees and customers, a focus on technological innovation, and superior project management skills, Mark has been recognized by The CEO Publication’s list as one of the Top 20 Dynamic CEOs in the United States.
In his free time, Mark enjoys camping, hiking, and visiting new places with his wife of 30 years and his 5 kids who are all successful in their respective fields. Looking back, Kuhns feels fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to live, work and travel to some great places, including most of Central America and several major cities in the USA.
"Our relentless focus on customer experience, including our technology offering, allows us to compete aggressively in this large and fragmented industry."
Moving Ahead
Looking ahead, the moving and storage industry is bound to undergo further transformations. From customers demanding tech-enabled solutions where they spend less time talking to people and more time customizing their needs, to an overall reduction in the amount of stuff being moved, the moving and storage industry is fast evolving.
As for Mark, he stands confident that his company is perfectly positioned to capitalize on these megatrends. Excited to welcome and embrace industry changes and consumer expectations, Kuhns is determined to stay ahead of the curve by maintaining his relentless focus on tech-enabled customer experiences, team building, and location growth. “We plan to aggressively invest in each of these to build our company into a household brand,” he shares.
As a leader, Mark looks forward to continuing to use his strategic oversight and focused vision to better the lives of people, be it his employees or customers. “The more successful our company becomes, the more opportunities we can create for people. Our endgame is to become the biggest and best we can be at what we do each and every day,” concludes Mark Kuhns
