Moving a parts store

Let me first preface this article by saying one thing: “Circum-navigating the globe using a tricycle and a sexton compass is easier than moving a parts store.” That being said, we recently moved our parts store to a new location. If any of you reading this and have never been involved in such a move you may not fully understand the pain and suffering endured. If you would like to experience this pain, without the move, try sticking a red-hot, iron poker in your left ear and you’ll be close.

The ‘pain’ is usually worth it, in the end, but preparation is the key. You can never plan on the things that will go wrong, but you can plan on what you absolutely, positively need to go right. I treated this move as an opportunity to remedy some problems, invigorate my staff, and re-introduce our parts store to the community. Below are what I feel are the most important things to make a move successful.

Shelving: If you can, erect new shelving in the new location before the move. If you have to remove parts, tear apart old shelving, move shelving, assemble shelving, move parts, and arrange parts …..well, you will go insane. It’s a lot easier and faster (limits employee overtime also) to simply move parts from old shelves to new shelves. The same thing for your gondolas, get new ones, but this time put caster wheels on the bottom so you can move them around. I had gondolas at the old location that were in the same place for so long that we found wheat pennies, buffalo nickels and confederate silver certificates under them.

Manufacturer Reps: Call all of them, and let them know the date of the move. They will come, especially if you let them know about the new shelving.
Warehouse Reps: Call all of them also. Be sure to let them know about all of the manufacturer reps that you invited as this will ensure their participation. Why, you ponder? Warehouse reps hate for you to be left alone with manufacturer reps and feel the need to run interference when we complain about the warehouse not having a good inventory of a certain line or two.

Phone Company(s): I cannot emphasize this point enough. Give the phone company six weeks notice, be precise on your new address, indicate clearly the date of your move, and the date you need your phones at the new location to work. Call them back 1 week prior, 4 days prior, and 2 days prior to the move. Keep the move order # safe, and handy at all times. You will be referring to this, I promise you. It may be a good idea to record all phone conversations with the phone company before the move date, and have a witness. Sworn affidavits may be necessary to actually get your phone line installed anywhere near the date you originally requested. Reserve your best curse words for use when dealing with the phone company, and practice them prior to the move to make sure they roll off your tongue with the proper inflection and tone.
Employees: Let them be involved in the decision making. They will have some good ideas about product placement, and merchandising. Also, an added bonus will be happier employees. Be sure to warn them of your fears and try to give them an idea of what it will really be like before, during, and after the move. My employees appreciate honest assessments of any situation I am about to put them through. They will still hate you, just not any more than they did before the move.

Advertising: About a month before the move, try to budget some extra to inform your client base concerning your move. It will generate a lot of interest, ‘word –or-mouth’ free press, rumors, gossip, and general talk concerning you and your business. Let your community know what you are doing, do it, and then tell them what you did after the move is complete. If successful, you and your business will be the talk of the town.

Of course there are a lot of other things to concern yourself with, but these areas are crucial to the organization, implementation, and success of moving. The importance of each by itself may seem only somewhat relevant, but when added together, they overshadow any other decisions you will make during this transition. Moving a parts store is like eating an elephant. To finish, take one bite at a time, chew thoroughly, and get the early seating for dinner.