Attitude is everything. Whoever originally said that must have known Robert Eckert, general manager of Eckert's Moving and Storage. Despite several economic recessions, and in the face a staggering increase in competition from myriad start-ups, Eckert's has continued to successfully stay its course of personal service and careful professionalism. Since 1953, Eckert's has seen steady growth in an industry that, according to Eckert, is built on repeat customers and referrals.
Eckert's seems to embody the protestant work ethic that dictates diligent work as a key to prosperity. In this company's case, scrupulous attention to exemplary service has proved the key to longevity as well as prosperity.
Eckert's Moving and Storage was established in 1953 by Robert's grandfather, Paul Eckert Sr. The senior Eckert's experience in the industry goes back to the days before North American Van Lines was a company, when he worked for an agent in Cleveland, Ohio.
Eckert's Moving and Storage opened for business in Vista in 1953 and had approximately 3000 square feet of open storage and 3000 square feet of palletized storage space. It was the first moving company to store household goods in enclosed pallets and stack them. A full-service fleet of moving trucks and vans was also assembled.
Several years later Robert's father, Paul Eckert Jr., took over the moving business and with his younger brother Norman built the current location in San Marcos in 1969, increasing the company's space to 6000 square feet of palletized storage. Over the years they have steadily grown their operation to its current 31,500 square feet of warehouse space.
Robert Eckert took over as general manager five years ago, having spent many years in the family business as operations manager and director of sales. Asked how his family's business has managed to survive and grow for so many years, Eckert simply asserts the company's enduring modus operandi, Eckert's provides truly exceptional service at a fair price.
He agrees that the moving business is inextricably tied to the real estate and jobs markets, both of which have been mercurial for the past year or so.
“The real estate market has impacted the ability for clients to relocate either locally or long distance, which in turn has slowed our business a bit,” Eckert said. “But we rely heavily on repeat business and word-of-mouth advertising.”
That word-of-mouth must surely be positive because Eckert's is standing strong where the competition has struggled. Being so steeped in a family business definitely affects how Eckert's looks at its customers.
“We move families. Not furniture,” Eckert said.
There are other challenges to success, he admits. Finding a qualified work force can be a challenge, especially when the company mission statement includes words such as 'courteous' and 'timely.' But Eckert's has eight full-time employees, and according to Robert Eckert, each of them is willing to take the time to find out what the customers' needs are and to help them accomplish their move in the most efficient and economical way possible.
Eckert is proud of what his family business has achieved, and remains optimistic that the company's award-winning commitment to excellence will see it through many years to come. Eckert's Moving and Storage recently received North American Van Lines 4-Star Quality Award for the fifth year in a row and a Best in Class Award at North American's 75th Anniversary Convention. The company also received the Small Business of the Year Award from the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce for 2009.
But it's not the accolades or the family legacy that make Eckert work so hard. “Just waking up every day knowing your doing the best you can for your employees and customers is great to me,” he said.
Eckert's seems to embody the protestant work ethic that dictates diligent work as a key to prosperity. In this company's case, scrupulous attention to exemplary service has proved the key to longevity as well as prosperity.
Eckert's Moving and Storage was established in 1953 by Robert's grandfather, Paul Eckert Sr. The senior Eckert's experience in the industry goes back to the days before North American Van Lines was a company, when he worked for an agent in Cleveland, Ohio.
Eckert's Moving and Storage opened for business in Vista in 1953 and had approximately 3000 square feet of open storage and 3000 square feet of palletized storage space. It was the first moving company to store household goods in enclosed pallets and stack them. A full-service fleet of moving trucks and vans was also assembled.
Several years later Robert's father, Paul Eckert Jr., took over the moving business and with his younger brother Norman built the current location in San Marcos in 1969, increasing the company's space to 6000 square feet of palletized storage. Over the years they have steadily grown their operation to its current 31,500 square feet of warehouse space.
Robert Eckert took over as general manager five years ago, having spent many years in the family business as operations manager and director of sales. Asked how his family's business has managed to survive and grow for so many years, Eckert simply asserts the company's enduring modus operandi, Eckert's provides truly exceptional service at a fair price.
He agrees that the moving business is inextricably tied to the real estate and jobs markets, both of which have been mercurial for the past year or so.
“The real estate market has impacted the ability for clients to relocate either locally or long distance, which in turn has slowed our business a bit,” Eckert said. “But we rely heavily on repeat business and word-of-mouth advertising.”
That word-of-mouth must surely be positive because Eckert's is standing strong where the competition has struggled. Being so steeped in a family business definitely affects how Eckert's looks at its customers.
“We move families. Not furniture,” Eckert said.
There are other challenges to success, he admits. Finding a qualified work force can be a challenge, especially when the company mission statement includes words such as 'courteous' and 'timely.' But Eckert's has eight full-time employees, and according to Robert Eckert, each of them is willing to take the time to find out what the customers' needs are and to help them accomplish their move in the most efficient and economical way possible.
Eckert is proud of what his family business has achieved, and remains optimistic that the company's award-winning commitment to excellence will see it through many years to come. Eckert's Moving and Storage recently received North American Van Lines 4-Star Quality Award for the fifth year in a row and a Best in Class Award at North American's 75th Anniversary Convention. The company also received the Small Business of the Year Award from the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce for 2009.
But it's not the accolades or the family legacy that make Eckert work so hard. “Just waking up every day knowing your doing the best you can for your employees and customers is great to me,” he said.