Resources to help keep your world moving

Moving offices doesn’t have to be stressful for you or your employees. If done correctly, the transition can be a powerful tool to boost employee morale. A Clutch survey found that 68% of employees said their office relocation positively impacted them, with some of the cited benefits including more space, more visual appeal and better locations. If you’re preparing for an office move, your communication strategy and moving timeline will be critical to ensuring a smooth transition for your staff. Keep employee morale and productivity high during your office move with these eight tips.  1. Provide plenty of advance notice. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, announce the move to employees at least three months in advance so they can begin planning accordingly. Share your excitement with your team by emphasizing the purpose behind the relocation and its many positive benefits. Communicate how the move will impact...

It’s a great time to be a Huntsville sports fan. For years, local leaders have been working to transform Rocket City into a hotspot for sports tourism. And Huntsville may be well on its way. In 2023, the new Huntsville City Football Club will take the field for its inaugural season with the MLS NEXT Pro soccer league. Here’s what you need to know about the team — and why it’s so perfect for Huntsville. What to Expect From Huntsville City Football Club MLS NEXT Pro launched in June 2021 in the United States and Canada as a new professional men’s soccer league. Affiliated with Major League Soccer, the minor league bridges the gap between its youth branch, MLS NEXT, and MLS. The league hopes to usher in a new era for North American soccer, bringing in players, coaches and other sports-industry professionals from around the globe with a shared vision...

The retail apocalypse may not be over just yet. Retailers have survived several years of shifting demand, excess inventory, inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions. After beginning to rebound in 2022, the retail industry is heading into 2023 with slowing momentum and disappointing holiday sales. The new year will bring new challenges that will test the industry’s resilience. For retail and wholesale companies, careful preparation and strategic planning will be critical to expanding while others contract. Here are five retail industry trends and predictions for 2023. 1. Driven by social media shopping, e-commerce will reign supreme. E-commerce has quickly grown, becoming the preferred shopping experience for the younger generations. E-commerce will continue to grow in 2023 as more consumers trade in-person shopping for online stores. According to a recent Hootsuite report, 58.4% of global internet users make an online purchase every week, and 30.6% of people make that purchase on...

Whether moving your office across the street or across the state, the process can be a time suck that quickly consumes your company dollars, time and energy. It’s easy to feel stressed or overwhelmed at the prospect of moving your people and your space while minimizing downtime for customers. But with proactive planning, your office move is sure to be a success, no matter how challenging it may seem. Ensure your move is smooth, seamless and stress-free by avoiding these six costly mistakes.  1. Hiring labor-only movers Labor-only moving companies don’t have their own vans or drivers. They can help load items into your rental truck on moving day, but you will be responsible for the rest. Though this might work well for a small residential move, office moves require more planning, assets and services. Full-service moving companies will support your move from start to finish, from the initial budgeting...

Armstrong Relocation & Companies ("Armstrong"), an industry-leading provider of moving, relocation and supply chain solutions and United Van Lines' largest U.S. hauler, has acquired MacDonald Moving Services, Inc., a Boston-based, United Van Lines agency. This addition enhances Armstrong's service capacity in the New England region. "We have been interested in the Boston market for many years and have been patiently awaiting the right business opportunity," said Todd Watson, Armstrong Relocation & Companies CEO. Watson added, "When Bruce MacDonald inquired about our interest in acquiring his business upon his retirement from the industry, the organizational synergies were apparent. This expansion will enable us to better serve our current and future customers throughout New England." Bruce MacDonald, third-generation MacDonald owner said, "The important thing for MacDonald Moving Services is that the group of employees—who have been a magnificent family for many years—continue to serve the moving of American families." Armstrong has hired New England native and industry leader Mark McEwen to serve as...

It’s never too late to make your New Year’s resolutions! As many have shifted to spending more time at home — and even working from home — resolutions to be more organized and reduce clutter in living and workspaces are more common than ever. According to Psychology Today, A cluttered living space can lead to unnecessary additional stress, and a cluttered workspace can reduce productivity, interrupt creativity and lead to poor work performance. Clutter also makes it more difficult to relax and let the mind focus, and an unnecessary constant mess can signal to the brain that work is never done, leading to anxiety and feelings of guilt. While most focus on reorganizing at the apparent times — before a move, at the beginning of a new year or new season – if you notice yourself feeling regularly stressed, clearing your space and decluttering your house or office can clear your...

Industrial machinery is the lifeblood of every manufacturing company. When it’s time to relocate, manufacturers must devote extra care and attention to moving their equipment. Industrial equipment is often heavy and bulky, making it difficult to move any pieces without a third-party partner. A successful move can result in improved efficiency and reduced downtime for a company, but any missteps can damage people, facilities, budgets and businesses. Follow these seven steps to move your industrial equipment safely and effectively. 1. Check the fine print of your owner’s manual. Before moving any equipment, check for instructions from the manufacturer. Some vendors may require a member of their teams or another specialist to prep the equipment for the move. If unsure whether you can proceed, call your vendor for more detailed instructions on prepping, uninstalling and protecting the machinery for moving. Read the owner’s manual for other best practices on moving equipment,...

Everything is bigger in Texas — including the population. The Texas Tribune estimates 5.9 million people moved to Texas from 2005 to 2013. In that timeframe, Texas grew by an average of 345 people per day. And that’s accounting for people who left the state in the same period. In 2016, Texas was home to five of the 10 fastest-growing cities in the United States, according to The Texas Comptroller’s office. Then the pandemic hit, and migration to Texas started accelerating. The growth shows no signs of stopping in the near future. So why are so many people settling in the Lone Star State? Here are six reasons. Diverse Communities Texas is one of the most diverse states in the country, only trailing behind California, according to WalletHub. In Texas, you’ll find socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household, religious, and political diversity — all of which are valuable in painting the picture of...

Urban downtowns have long revolved around office space. Soon, that may change. Before COVID-19 hit the United States, American cities were seemingly defined by the crowds of workers commuting downtown for work and by the high-rise office buildings with their seas of cubicles. Then, the pandemic came, forcing companies to abandon their offices — and leaving eerily empty downtowns in its wake. While some employers have already begun their return-to-office plans, others are closing their offices for good, instead embracing remote and hybrid working arrangements. But what does that do to the once office-heavy downtowns scattered in cities across the country? Here’s what you need to know. The Downtown ‘Stress Test’ of COVID-19 Offices account for 71% of real estate across downtowns in the 30 largest U.S. metros, according to Brookings. In some downtown neighborhoods, offices made up as much as 90% of real estate. Brookings calls COVID-19 “a profound...

Only 33.8% of C-suite executives in transportation companies are women, according to Women in Trucking. Though female representation in the industry has increased this year, transportation and logistics companies are still predominantly owned, led and managed by men. At Armstrong, we strive to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion at every level of our national supply chain, which includes elevating women’s voices in the C-suite. Armstrong – Huntsville is a woman-owned enterprise certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). For more than a decade, it has provided socially-responsible moving and logistics solutions to customers and clients across the country. In the following Q&A, we chat with Armstrong – Huntsville’s CEO Jenny Johnson about her entry into the industry, her biggest challenges, her greatest successes and her advice to the next generation of women in leadership. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q: How did you get into...