Finkbiner revenue up 200 percent in three years

It's hard to find ways to im-prove a company that has been in business for 79 years. Yet Terry Hayes has done just that. Since Hayes purchased Fink-biner Transfer and Storage Co. in 1998, revenues have in-creased by more than 200 percent, according to Ken Grass, estimator, and the company already has exceeded its revenue projections for this year.

Finkbiner Transfer and Stor-age is one of the oldest moving and storage companies in southwest Missouri. The Finkbiner family founded the company in 1922 and later sold it to the Paul family. In 1998, when the Paul family decided to sell the company, Hayes and his wife, Judy, decided to purchase the business.

"There's something to be said for buying a well-established business," said Hayes, who has worked at Finkbiner Transfer and Storage since 1974. "Our motto here is, We're not good because we're old, we're old be-cause we're good.'"

Originally, the company's fleet of trucks distributed products and goods that arrived by railroad boxcar to area businesses. In the 1980s, however, the company changed its focus and began specializing in moving and storage.

Today, Finkbiner Transfer and Storage handles commercial and business moves, as well as residential local, intrastate, interstate and international moves. Although the company had been affiliated with United Van Lines, Hayes decided to affiliate with Bekins Van Lines three years ago, and Finkbiner Transfer and Storage is now the company's authorized agent in Springfield.

"Bekins just offered us a better deal," Hayes said. "They're probably the oldest moving company in the United States, and we're probably the oldest moving company in southwest Missouri. It made for a good fit."

As part of their service, Finkbiner Transfer and Storage offers free in-home estimates, free moving kits that help customers plan and organize their move, packing services, car transports and crating services. Many of the crates packed by the company are stored in one of two containerized warehouses, which span more than 30,000 square feet. According to Hayes, the warehouses are government-approved and contain burglar, fire and pest-control safeguards.

"We generally score around 98 percent on our government inspections," he said. "We're also members of the Better Business Bureau and the Mis-souri Movers Association, which is a watchdog group for the industry."

In recent years, Finkbiner Transfer and Storage has handled a number of moves for military personnel who are stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. Hayes also has seen the demand for storage increase significantly, and space in the company's warehouse is at a premium.

Demand for other services provided by the company also have increased. Within the past year, Hayes has hired five more full-time employees and purchased a new tractor-trailer rig, and Finkbiner Transfer and Storage now operates six tractor-trailer rigs and three smaller moving trucks.

"It's easy to add equipment," said Hayes. "It's a lot tougher to add good employees. We have 25 full-time employees, and we try to take good care of them. We have a job-by-job bonus system here, which rewards employees who do an excellent job."

According to Grass, a number of other factors also distinguish the company from the competition. Customers receive guaranteed pricing on estimates, in-cluding destination charges. This helps customers avoid any hidden costs.

For example, if it isn't possible to park a semi-truck directly in front of a house or apartment, a customer's household goods must be off-loaded onto a smaller truck so they can be delivered. Under Bekins Van Lines price guarantee, the cost for this extra work would be covered, according to Grass.

The company also offers customers valuation coverage on furniture that's part of a pair or set. For example, if a chair that was part of a dining room table set were destroyed during a move, Bekins Van Lines would pay to have the chair replaced. If the chair couldn't be re-placed, the company would pay to have all of the chairs replaced so the set would match.

Grass also believes competitive pricing has helped the company stay strong over the years. Grass, who has worked as an estimator for more than 19 years, said experience makes the difference when it comes to bidding on jobs.

"You have to know just how much to bid so you can offer a better value than the competition yet still make money on the job," he said. "I'd say pricing and our reputation for great service are what really make us strong. I have a stack of evaluation forms in my office filled out by customers who want to let us know how happy they are they used us."

As summer and the peak season for moving come to an end, Hayes is looking toward the future.

According to Hayes, the demand for moving and storage services increases when the economy is strong, and he's keeping a watchful eye on the stock market.

"The overall health of the economy has helped us grow these past few years," he said. "However, I'm sure the company will continue to do well because we try to be just a little bit cheaper and a little bit better than the competition."