A well-established Powell River moving company is under new ownership.
Powell River businessperson Keith Allen bought TMS Moving from Rob Tremblay last month and has been working to put his shine on the company. Keith also owns the residential cleaning company Great Canadian Carpet Cleaning.
Keith, who has years of experience managing businesses, says he has been open to other opportunities but wasn’t actively searching anything out.
"I wanted to do more than just one thing,” says Keith. “I just want to keep busy. I used to run a couple of companies for other people in Vancouver so I like managing, but I wasn't looking for it; it just fell on me."
One of the first changes Keith made to his newly acquired company was to rename it. Formerly known as Tremblay Moving Services, TMS now stands for Tommy Moving Services in honour of Keith’s grandfather Tommy Greer, who owned East Vancouver’s Cedar Cottage Pharmacy between 1940 and the mid-1980s. Keith says his grandfather knew everyone in the neighbourhood.
Keith strives to run his companies in the same way his grandfather ran his store and provide great customer service by listening carefully to what his customers need.
“We aim to provide prompt, reliable service,” says Keith. “We want to be the moving company that can move you locally or long distance.”
The majority of jobs the company takes on are helping families move their households and TMS has the equipment to get the job done efficiently. The company has an enclosed moving van with an 8’x16’ capacity, an 8’x12’ flat-deck trailer, and an 8’x10’ enclosed trailer. TMS operates a crew of two experienced professional movers.
"They've been doing it for six years apiece. We are the only company that has the equipment to move pianos in town," says Keith. "We are fully insured with moving insurance, liability insurance and WCB."
In addition to full household moves, Keith says his company also does item moves. He adds that since taking on the business his crew has moved eight pianos in the past few weeks alone.
TMS provides free estimates and Keith encourages the public to contact him to take a look at what they need to be moved. He adds that the company is not restricted to providing traditional moving services, but will help customers declutter their homes by taking items to the transfer station or somewhere for reuse.
TMS Moving does not only help clients move house, but also assists with commercial and industrial moving. TMS has been hired to help setup for community events, such as the annual high school graduation ceremony, adds Keith.
Recently, the company won three jobs moving families to Powell River where they could have selected a larger, corporate moving company but did not.
“Our customers see value in the services we are able to provide,” he says. “That tells me we are competitively priced.”
Keith says in the future he is looking to partner with a Vancouver-based moving company so he can offer international moving services as well as continue to increase the number of his clients who are looking to move to Powell River from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
For his clients who are moving locally, Keith says he can offer package deals for moving and cleaning that help simplify what sometimes can be a stressful time.
"We work closely with Great Canadian Cleaning, so we're able to provide some great deals for moving and cleaning. You make one phone call and we can cover it all," he says. "My movers pack your belongings into the truck, they drive away and my cleaning crew goes in. It works really well."
For more information on how TMS Moving can assist in a move, call Keith at 604.223.1002, or send email inquiries to [email protected].
TMS Moving is located at 4583 Fernwood Avenue.
