Mover’s Edge, September, 2012

The Canadian Mover – CAM’s Magazine and Directory

Your Association’s magazine and directory – The Canadian Mover – is at the printer and will be in the mail shortly. You’ll find lots of great contact information, good stories and the Annual Conference flyer! Watch for it and let us know what you think!

Government of Canada — Moving Contract

CAM was contacted by several members who expressed their frustration with the content of the Government of Canada’s Letter of Interest for Household Goods Removal for DND, RCMP and PWGSC. This is the opening step in the RFP bidding process for the Government’s moving contract scheduled to take effect in April 2013.

The Government’s proposal simplified the fee structure to a point that many knowledgeable movers believe that it’s not workable. The average accessorial charge would put them at risk of undercharging on some moves and overcharging on others based on the way in which the Government decided who would be moving and their origins and destinations. Some movers would show a profit on some moves and some would show a loss on others. It places the business risk of moving squarely on the moving industry. It would reduce the Government’s administrative costs and together with a new penalty system, make significant reductions to a mover’s revenue from a move.

While other interested parties had already done so, CAM wrote an email to the Minister of National Defence, several senior members of Government, Public Works and Government Services Canada and the members of the Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) expressing the moving industry’s concern with the direction the Government is taking. This is not only a problem for the moving industry, but it will also ensure that government employees will not be well-served by the process.

The email that was sent is posted to CAM’s website. You should consider forwarding it to your member of parliament. You would be helping yourself, your industry and the Canadians who defend us.

CAM’s 2012 Annual Conference

It’s titled NETWORKING: If You’re not Networking, You’re not Working! Your conference committee has spent several months assembling a conference that will provide you with the value you are looking for. They listened to your suggestions and ideas:

• More relevant sessions – more ideas and information you can use
• More time for networking both with fellow movers and industry suppliers
• A shorter conference ending after lunch on Tuesday
• Reduced conference fees
• An early-bird discount

It’s a business conference for movers with lots of great ideas, concepts and information on sales, networking, social media, and diversification. And, of course, our supplier members will be there showing the latest in products and services to make your business more efficient, your life easier and your bottom line improved.

CAM’s Annual Golf Tournament

We’re just two weeks away from tee-off!

CAM’s Annual Golf Tournament is going to be held at noon on Monday, September 17, 2012, at Granite Ridge Golf Club in Milton. We’re going to have a great turnout this year with over 50 golfers already registered.

And a big thanks goes out to the sponsors of our event so far: Livingston Freight-Searail, Ogilvy & Ogilvy Insurance Brokers, Mover’s Equipment & Supplies Ltd., Moore-McLean Insurance Group Ltd., Blue Bins Unlimited Corp, Intact Insurance and Economical Insurance®.

CAM’s Consumer Flyer

CAM’s new flyer – CHOOSING A MOVER – Who Will You Trust? – has now been printed. This is the flyer that many of our members’ salespeople leave with prospective customers to assist them in validating a mover’s reputation. It’s been rewritten with a much stronger message that should help to direct consumers who are searching for professional services to CAM members. These new flyers are available in English (pdf) and French (pdf). They are only $25 per hundred including tax and shipping. Call us to place your order.

Firemen Movers on 2012 Profit Hot 50 List

PROFIT magazine just ranked Firemen Movers Inc. #36 on its 13th annual PROFIT HOT 50 list of Canada’s top new growth companies with its two-year revenue growth of 223%. Firemen Movers is owned and operated by off-duty professional firefighters in the Greater Toronto Area. It was formed in 2009 with one rental truck and a cell phone and has grown to operate 19,000 square feet of warehouse space and a fleet of trucks. Congratulations to Firemen Movers!

IF YOU HAVE NEWS THAT CANADA’S MOVING INDUSTRY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT, please let CAM know and we will include it in upcoming issues of this newsletter.