Business relocation is a whole other world from a small home move and comes with its own challenges and concerns. A business move is a big task and takes a lot of planning – more than we can totally cover in a blog post. For now though, here are some of our thoughts on what makes for successful business relocation.
1. Get the word out in advance. If you’ll be relocating, put signs up in your current location to warn your customers it’s coming. If you have a Facebook page, share photos of the new location before moving day and even post photos as the move is going on. Business relocation doesn’t have to cost you a penny in lost business – if your customers are aware as things are going on it can even be a source of excitement driving more visits to your new site.
2. Have a specific contact person in charge. Call them a Move Manager, a Relocation Coordinator, whatever works for you, but make sure that there is one point person that is responsible for organizing the move. That way the moving company will know who to deal with, and also your employees will know who to look for with questions. Business relocation goes much more smoothly when communication is clear and everyone knows who to talk to.
3. Help your employees. You might just be moving across town, or maybe you’re relocating across state lines. No matter what your move is, it’s going to mean change for your employees. Make it easy on them by telling them well in advance of what is coming and trying to anticipate some of the changes your business relocation is likely to bring to them – even if it just means taking a different subway when they come to work in the morning or having to find a new place to meet up for drinks at happy hour.
4. Move on an off day. It will mean a long week for the relocation manager, but by relocating over weekends or on a day you’re usually closed, you’ll be sure not to miss out on normal business hours. If you’re going to need your employees to come in and help with the move though, don’t forget point number 3 above, make sure that it’s as easy on them as possible.
5. Update everything. Business cards, websites, social network profiles, flyers, tattoos, whatever you have that has your old business address on it needs to be updated. Make a list in advance and update them all as soon as you’re done relocating. By starting the list early, you can be sure that your business relocation won’t wind up in old customers standing in front of your old address wondering where you’ve gone off to.
Business relocation can be a real headache, but it doesn’t have to be. Preparing in advance and finding the best moving company around can make a big difference. In the end, relocation is a huge opportunity, and if you handle the change well it can the beginnings of great things for your business.