7 Things to Update After Relocating Your Business

Shifting to a new office space is a major milestone for a company. The move may signal business growth, or downsizing may be a practical reason to relocate. Moving a company, however, comes with many responsibilities, one of which is to make updates to keep customers and partners in the loop.

Companies relocate for many reasons. Expansion is one common cause for business relocations. The need to reduce operational costs can also spur a move. On the other hand, companies may see the value in consolidating offices and seek a lease with less surplus space.

Another good reason that companies relocate is to attract top talent. A new location may be closer to prospects, clients, and a skilled talent pool. Plus, outdated facilities will prompt any growth-oriented business to shift gears and relocate to a contemporary office that boosts employee productivity.

No matter what the reason for relocating a brick-and-mortar business, it is important that the company update existing and prospective customers, partners, and vendors. The last thing a business wants is for an outdated website to send customers to an empty storefront.

1. Update Business Address

All correspondence must be sent to the new business location. This requires that the business address be updated with the post office. Forward any mail to the new location, so that any correspondence sent to the old address will be received at the new one.

The business’ online presence should also be updated. It is a time-intensive effort to update the Chamber of Commerce, Yelp, Yahoo Local Basic Listing, Bing Places for Business and Angie’s List. If the business is travel related, like hotels, make updates to TripAdvisor.

Update online business directories on which the company is found. Examples of popular online business directories include Manta, EnrollBusiness, Hub, Find-Us-Here and The Business Journals. Listing a business on these sites is free, so unless upgrading, making updates will have no added costs.

The IRS and State Department of Revenue will need to know the new business address. It is important that company leaders receive all federal and state tax documents at the correct address. Inform government entities about updated phone numbers and information about licensing, too.

City or town governments also need to know about a new address. Local permits and certifications should be kept up to date. One way to keep these important documents updated is to notify the city or town government of the business relocation.

2. Update Social Media

The business’ social media accounts are ideal places to notify followers of an upcoming business relocation. Companies on the move are advised to update the company address and phone number (if applicable) on all their social media sites. Customers will head to social media for information.

If the business has a social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, update these sites with the new business information. A Facebook cover image may be redesigned to inform customers about the upcoming relocation and relevant new business contact information.

3. Update Marketing Materials

All marketing pieces should be updated with the new business information. Patrons of a business’ services or products hold onto physical items containing company information and reference them from time to time. Marketing collateral should not only be updated but redistributed.

Examples of common marketing materials include business cards that provide the company address, phone number and business name. Direct mail marketing reaches consumers in a specific area and needs an update. Brochures and posters are additional pieces of marketing collateral to be revised.

Businesses also communicate with consumers via newsletters. Sharing the new business address and phone in newsletters is simple and cost-effective. If using outdoor signs to reach customers, point to the new business location on updated signage. Also update email signatures.

4. Update Advertising Campaigns

Paid search campaigns that focus on a particular market should be updated to reflect the new market to which the business is advertising. Pieces of key information that require updates include the new address or location extensions. Updating ad campaigns will send customers to the right locale.

5. Update Credit Card Company and Bank

The company’s credit card company should be notified of the new business location. Banks, too, should be updated with accurate business information to prevent fraud. All financial entities should be made aware so that important financial documents will be sent to the right place.

6. Update Vendors, Clients and Customers

A new business location should prompt a call to all vendors with whom the company works. Inform existing customers of the relocation, so that they know where to find the business. It is helpful to even directly reach out to existing customers to inform them of the move.

7. Update Industry Associations

Trade associations provide useful information about the industry, such as legislation that could impact the business, so it is important to update industry associations. Industry trade groups should be able to find the business at its new location, so they can provide leads or pass along credentials.

Work with a Trusted Commercial Mover

Relocating to a new office is an exciting yet stressful time. Eliminate unnecessary stress by partnering with Chicagoland’s most trusted moving company, Chicago Office Movers. We skillfully assist large and small companies with their corporate relocation needs, whether locally, interstate and internationally.

Our numerous satisfied customers include prestigious universities and major corporations. Chicago Office Movers’ customer service is unparalleled in the industry, and our Chicago movers are licensed, background checked, trained, and experienced. Expect professionalism, affordability, and efficiency when you work with our crews.

Your office goods will be safe and secure in our climate-controlled moving trucks, featuring lift gates and air-ride suspensions. Our customers receive regular tracking updates via professional tracking equipment so they can follow the progress of the moving trucks during the relocation.

Whether you are moving office furniture, lab equipment, or fragile IT systems, Chicago Office Movers will take care of your possessions. Our specialists will also help your company with planning the move. As the Windy City’s most reputable moving company, choose us for your upcoming corporate relocation!

Get a Free Estimate

For a free estimate on your next business move, give us a call at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO) or fill out a form.

Packing up an office in preparation for a relocation can be a challenge, due to the fact that parts of the business must continue to remain operational even close to the moving date. But packing the office goods with minimum disruptions can be achieved with knowing what to pack first.

Pack First

1. Office Décor

Trophies, awards, plaques, statues, and certificates should be packed first. While these decorative items give the workplace a pleasant feel, they serve no purpose in the daily business functions. In the same vein, pack all wall art, such as posters, paintings, and other hanging décor.

Framed documents, like diplomas or photographs, should be wrapped in bubble wrap prior to packing them into boxes. Protect the edges and corners with firm cardboard. Tape a large “X” over the frames’ glass to prevent shards from flying in the event of damage. Label the boxes with “Fragile”.

2. Records

Contemporary offices use file cabinets to hold business records. Most often, these files are unnecessary in day-to-day functions. The records are conveniently kept in hanging files, which makes it easier to transfer them into filing boxes in preparation for moving day.

Purchase boxes or bins designed with built-in inserts for hanging files. Place the hanging files in the boxes, being careful to organize and label the boxes. In the event of an unanticipated need for the files before the scheduled relocation, office personnel will have easy access to them.

If the records are stored in non-hanging files, the papers should be packed vertically. A vertical position will prevent the papers from sliding around during transport, which can lead to chaotic disorganization at the destination point. Fill the box to maximum capacity to limit shifting.

It is highly recommended to keep important paperwork with a designated office worker during the move. The staff member should be careful to keep the records in a personal vehicle on moving day. Such paperwork includes the new lease, insurance documents, and moving contracts.

3. Books

Similar to office records, books should be packed earlier rather than later. Office personnel are unlikely to reference books around moving day, so it is safe to pack them first. Books in bulk can be heavy, so pack them in small boxes. Disassemble and pack bookshelves at the same time.

Books require careful packing. Lay books flat in the box or with their spines facing the bottom of the box. Try to pack books of the same height and width dimensions together to eliminate the need to fill excess space. Wrap expensive or old books in bubble wrap.

Pack Midpoint

4. Desk Items

While office workers’ desks and chairs will be among the last items to be packed, the contents of their desks can be packed early on. If not packed, the majority of desk items may be donated. Be sure to keep essentials, like a stapler, pens, and notepads, for use.

Pack Last

5. Technology

Computers should be among the last to be packed since office personnel will likely use the technology right up to moving day. Before packing up the computers, back up the data to a preferred storage area, such as a USB drive, external hard drive, or cloud storage.

Prepare computers and technology for packing. Once the data has been backed up, disconnect and label all cables and components. Remove ink cartridges from the printers and place tape over the contact points. Place the cartridges in plastic bags to prevent ink from leaking and damaging other items.

The ideal scenario is to pack the computers and electronic equipment in their original boxes, with the padding and protection. If the original boxes were recycled or are otherwise unavailable, consider purchasing a computer packing kit from a moving supply store.

When using moving boxes to pack the computers and technology, first wrap the equipment in protective bubble wrap. The bubble-wrapped tower, computer screen, printer and scanner should be positioned upright inside the moving boxes. Fill any empty box spaces with crumpled packing paper.

Prevent tangled cables and components by folding them together and wrapping with a cord. Place the cords in the same box with the electronic equipment to which they belong. Also consider adhering colored tape to the cords labeled with their corresponding devices.

Labeling the boxes is key to stress-free unpacking. Mark the boxes with the technology they contain, which direction is “up” and the rooms into which the boxes belong in the new office space. Be sure to use a dark marker to label the boxes containing electronics with the word “Fragile.”

6. Office Furniture

Disassemble office desks and chairs last. Keep the parts together by placing them in the same box. If the disassembled furniture pieces are too large, either tape them together or clearly label them. Place small parts in plastic bags, label them and tape the bags to their larger, corresponding parts.

Work with a Professional Office Mover

Relocating to a new office space is an exciting endeavor. You’ll want a qualified and experienced team to help make the office move successful. When plans to relocate are on the horizon, choose the most trusted name in office relocation, Chicago Office Movers.

Chicago Office Movers is a local commercial moving company with years of professional experience. We’ve earned our stellar reputation by moving prestigious companies, like Lucent and Lake Forest College. We will bring the same dedication and professionalism to moving your business.

Our moving crews are licensed, background checked and trained to handle every aspect of an office move. Your business belongings remain secure during the move. Plus, our moving trucks are climate controlled and feature air-ride suspensions, so your delicate electronic equipment stays safe.

The experience and care Chicago Office Movers bring to each office move is unparalleled. Our countless satisfied customers can attest to our safe handling of business equipment, competitive pricing, and comprehensive commercial moving services.

Contact Us

When you plan to move your business into or out of the Windy City, give us a call at 312-244-2246 or fill out a form. We proudly provide free estimates.

Summer in Chicago promises to be just-ducky! Residents and tourists can expect to see 25 brilliant yellow duck sculptures throughout downtown and in surrounding communities. But positioning these large sculptures takes muscle power—a job professional movers handle with expertise.

What is Ducks on the Mag Mile?

The city’s special showcase is known as Ducks on the Mag Mile. The public art is commissioned by local and national artists, many with disabilities. The giant duck sculptures are on display along North Michigan Avenue and nearby areas from June 15 through August 9, 2020.

Massive duck sculptures feature multi-colored hues and extravagant designs. Visitors to the event can expect to see a range of spectacularly painted ducks, including those with titles, like Doodle Duck, We are Better Together, Together We Rise, We Are All Special and Stronger, Happier Together.

Special Olympics Illinois is behind this illustrious project. The Make Corporation, the Magnificent Mile Association, businesses and individuals also support this unique and artistic Chicagoland endeavor. The Ducks on the Mag Mile serve two important purposes: one celebratory and one promotional.

Firstly, the Ducks on the Mag Mile is intended to celebrate inclusivity. Those with disabilities are especially celebrated and recognized through the project. Secondly, Special Olympics Illinois’ August 6^th fundraiser, Chi Ducky Derby, is promoted via the organizers’ collaborative efforts.

The Special Olympics is a familiar, global movement that aims to celebrate people’s various abilities—rather than their disabilities. Sports, leadership, community building, health and education are all pathways through which Special Olympics participants empower themselves and grow in confidence.

Once the Ducks on the Mag Mile event ends on August 9, the picture-perfect duck sculptures will be sold on public auction. Proceeds from the sales will go to the 23,000 Special Olympics Illinois athletes; 80 percent of raised funds go to Special Olympics Illinois programs.

How Does Chicago Office Movers Help?

The duck sculptures—being three-to-four-feet wide and tall—are bulky and weighty. Professional handling is required to ensure these delicate yet enormous works of art remain intact from their original locations in the artists’ studios to each designated spot on the Magnificent Mile and nearby areas.

1. Coordination Services

Chicago Office Movers crews use professional moving equipment and trucks when relocating large items, including delicate artwork. Our team coordinates the relocation of the ducks by first creating a customized moving plan and then following through to make sure each duck stays stunning and intact.

2. Assembly Services

Safely transporting 25 immense ducks from point A to point B takes more than planning. Chicago Office Movers also provides assembly services. Each duck sits on a large, wooden base, which we move separately and then install onsite on the Mag Mile.

3. Installation Services

Our crews have years of installation experience, so moving the ducks and assembling them onsite in the city will be as seamless as can be. Chicago Office Movers specialists also work closely with organizers to help make the relocation of the ducks as efficient as possible.

4. Tracking and Inspection

Twenty-five large-scale art pieces should be tracked. At Chicago Office Movers, our team creates a detailed inventory list to keep track of every duck included in this major, citywide project. A careful inspection of each item is also included to ensure all 25 ducks are ready for public display.

5. Decommissioning Artwork

Once the Ducks on the Mag Mile event comes to a close, Chicago Office Movers crews will be prepared to decommission the artwork. Moving crews will carefully disassemble the duck sculptures from the wooden bases and safely transport them out of the city limits.

6. Secure Storage Space

Since the duck sculptures will be sold on public auction, organizers will need storage space to house the ducks until they are ready to be presented at auction. Our dedicated storage facility is ideal for temporarily housing large objects, like the Ducks on the Mag Mile.

Chicago Office Movers' storage facilities take the guesswork and stress out of knowing where to securely house the ducks once the event is over. Our 60,000 square foot climate-controlled storage facilities temporarily store a wide variety of large equipment, furniture as well as artwork.

Event organizers can be confident that the ducks will remain secure and in good condition while housed in our storage facilities. Once the ducks are sold on auction, our moving crews are available to pack, load and transport the ducks from the storage facilities to their final destinations.

7. Licensed Movers

Working with professional movers is key to a successful move, especially when transporting delicate works of art. Each Chicago Office Movers team member is licensed, bonded, insured and certified, which gives our customers extra peace of mind. We also have years of professional relocation experience.

Working with Chicago Office Movers

Plus, working with a local mover, like Chicago Office Movers, on relocations within city limits helps to sustain our economy. Located in Chicago, our moving company is available to quickly respond to our customers’ moving and relocation needs. We are dedicated to serving the Windy City.

Chicago Office Movers has assisted and continues to assist countless area businesses with reliable relocation services. Our experience ranges from moving commercial businesses, educational institutions, government agencies and the hospitality industry. We are no strangers to moving delicate equipment or artwork.

When organizers look to Chicago Office Movers to help with moving the Ducks on the Mag Mile, they have the advantage of working with one company throughout the whole process. Our crews will assemble, install, disassemble and store the ducks efficiently and swiftly.

Every aspect of the relocation is coordinated by our experienced Chicago Office Movers team. Whether your moving needs involve delicate artwork, high-end office equipment, heavy machinery or bulky furniture, you can count on Chicago Office Movers to deliver high-quality moving services.

If your business is located in Chicagoland and you have a plan to relocate anywhere within the city, consult Chicago Office Movers. We offer a free estimate to businesses interested in our professional relocation services.

Contact Us

Contact us at 847-593-7201 for the best in local moving services.

The instances of fraudulent movers across the country are rampant, making it especially important that offices and companies seeking to relocate hire a trusted office mover.

Beware of Rogue Movers

Recognizing a rogue mover is just as key as knowing the characteristics of a reputable one. Spotting a dishonest mover at first glance may be a challenge, since some moving companies rack up hundreds of poor reviews and still manage to attract unwitting customers.

Bad experiences with incompetent movers include losing thousands of dollars during the moving process as movers arbitrarily hike up the moving costs after they load customer possessions, holding items hostage until additional funds are supplied and simply failing to deliver.

Given that 38 percent of corporations use professional moving companies to relocate, it is crucial to recognize an honest commercial mover. Here are a few characteristics that point the way to an ethical moving company.

1. Good Reviews

Online review sites are a treasure trove of information that could lead to doing business with a reputable moving company. Most moving companies will have a handful of negative reviews, some deserved, and others based on petty matters. Red flags should fly up when the majority of reviews are poor.

A reputable commercial mover will feature mostly positive reviews. Potential customers should actually read the full reviews, rather than merely glance at low or high grades or stars, to determine if the information is applicable to their situation or can be judiciously disregarded.

Various social media sites also offer a wealth of opinions from actual customers who willingly voice their experiences with the commercial mover in their service. Dig through the reviews to paint a clearer picture of the company you are considering dealing with.

In addition to online review sites and social media reviews, investigate further by having staff ask their friends and family members about any experiences they had with commercial movers. Responses from employees’ contacts can lead to hiring the right commercial mover.

2. Professional Sales Representatives

The first point-of-contact with a commercial moving company should be indicative of future interactions. Did the sales representative arrive on time? Was the individual appropriately dressed? Trivial as they seem, these signs can hugely relay the company’s level of professionalism to potential customers.

Interview administrative personnel thoroughly. Honest commercial movers will have no qualms about confidently answering any and all questions to your satisfaction. Their livelihood, after all, depends on good customers. Sketchy and unsure answers are likely to point to a fraudulent mover.

3. Fair Prices

Lowball quotes are a solid indicator of subpar service. As with any industry, customers receive what they pay for. Obtain several written estimates when hunting for a legitimate commercial mover. The idea is to compare several quotes to properly gauge the market average.

4. Accurate Quotes

In order to receive a correct estimate, representatives from ethical moving companies will visit the commercial space and assess the weight of the goods to be shipped. If you receive a quote over the phone without an onsite assessment, an incorrect quote is likely to be presented.

A mover who attempts to persuade a customer to sign a blank or incomplete estimate, especially on the scheduled move date, is a definite sign of an unethical company. Such a deceitful practice is utilized to add surplus charges and extract more money than initially agreed to.

5. Professional Gear

Safely transporting sensitive machinery and office equipment, like computers and other electronics, is essential to any relocation process. An experienced and reputable company moves items with care, using professional equipment, like dollies, padding to wrap and protect goods as well as clean moving trucks.

When the moving van arrives, it should clearly display the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) number. The lack of a DMV number on the moving vehicle should raise a red flag. The moving truck should also feature the company’s name; an unmarked truck is a sign of an illegitimate mover.

6. Dedicated Crew

Quality commercial movers wear company uniforms. Honest professionals will be fully engaged with their customers while loading the goods onto the truck. Rogue movers are likely to waste time texting or wandering away from the truck when they should be invested in preserving the security of its contents.

7. Licensed and Insured

Licensed, legitimate commercial movers provide insurance for the goods being relocated. Moving office equipment is risky and can lead to high financial losses if items are damaged during the process or while belongings are held in storage. The written estimate spells out the type of insurance offered.

8. Inventory Checklist

Commercial movers with a solid reputation provide a full inventory list of the office equipment being moved. Before the relocation, be sure to review a copy of this cube sheet for accuracy. The list should also include the quantity of boxes being moved.

Work with a Reputable Commercial Mover

Hiring a trusted commercial mover is as easy as contracting Chicago Office Movers to relocate your office equipment. With a professional team of licensed union movers, our staff will ensure a seamless commercial move, whether it is across the country or to the other end of town.

Chicago Office Movers is experienced in securely moving a wide range of office equipment, including lab equipment, electronics, HVAC equipment, assembly lines, machinery, and libraries. We also specialize in office decommissioning of all sizes in the event of remodeling.

A distinct feature that separates us from the competition is our dedication to the environment. As a green company, we utilize recycled packaging and employ best practices to significantly reduce energy consumption—all while ensuring peak performance from start to finish.

When an office relocation is on the horizon, consult Chicago Office Movers. Our commercial moving services include help with planning, guidance throughout the move and assistance with identifying contents of packed boxes once the move is complete.

Contact Us for a Free Estimate

Reasonable prices, industry expertise and assistance with every step of the journey are just a few of the benefits when you work with Chicago Office Movers. Contact Chicago Office Movers at 312-244-2246 for a free estimate and the Windy City’s most efficient office relocation service.