All of us at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® would like to take a moment and wish each and every one of our loyal customers and readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! It’s the wonderful people who have used our moving services that keep us going, and we can’t thank you enough!
2018 was another exciting year for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand, as we were able to continue expanding our footprint across the United States and finding new ways to not only move our customers forward, but to also give back to the people who live in the communities we operate in.
We also completed our 7 millionth move in May, which was yet another outstanding achievement for our brand!
If you have used any of the wide-variety of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK services over the past year, we sincerely thank you for picking and trusting the “Movers Who Care®”! If you’re looking to use us in the future, be sure to visit our website and find out how we can help you move forward in your life!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Flowers, gifts, family get-togethers, and immense appreciation are just a few things that make up Mother’s Day each year.
Unfortunately for some mothers and women, a joyous day of celebration isn’t always on option on Mother’s Day – or any day. Domestic violence is a never-ending issue nationwide, with a staggering three out of every 10 women facing some form of domestic violence in their lifetime, according to The National Domestic Violence Hotline.
It’s an issue that many try to brush to the side, but one that needs to be talked about, as women from every community around the country struggle to find safety, help, and peace. Where do these women go if they can’t find safety in their own homes, for themselves, and their kids? A major resource for women in these terrible situations comes from the help of women’s shelters, which aim to not only give them a place to seek refuge during moments of domestic violence, but also the resources to find stability in their life again and get back on track in an independent manner.
Organizations like the Genesis Women’s Shelter, based in Dallas, work diligently to be as accommodating as possible for women of domestic violence, as they try to strategically maneuver around the obstacles involved in cases like these and provide the necessary care.
“Genesis provides shelter, safety, and support for women and children who have experienced domestic violence,” said Bianca Jackson, senior director of funds and community development at Genesis. “Our goal is to remove every single road block she is going to face on her journey to this abuse-free life that she deserves, and that can be different for every woman.”
Every domestic violence case is different, and a big step for places like Genesis is figuring out each patient’s specific situation and needs to get where they need to be. Whether it is physical or emotional damage, domestic violence can take many forms, and the type of support one women may need might not work for someone else.
Genesis takes in women who have experienced what they call “intimate partner violence”, and that’s where they target their relief efforts for the women of the Dallas area.
“Basically, she’s been hurt by someone she is in a relationship with, or someone who she was in a relationship with,” Jackson said.
Outreach by the Genesis staff can take many forms, but most women inquire about coming to the shelter by reaching out to Genesis’ 24-hour emergency hotline.
“Does she need a place to stay, or does she need to talk to someone? As long as we have space to protect her, we tell her to come,” Jackson said. “She doesn’t have to bring anything with her, and in most cases, they don’t have anything because they are leaving while he’s at work, he jumped in the shower, or he’s on a business trip, and she gets out of there. When she walks in our doors, we provide food, clothing, a private room, and the immediate support that she’s going to need.”
Each woman who enters the doors at Genesis starts with counseling treatment before shifting to what specific things they might need to get out of their situation. Everything from figuring out if a change of jobs is needed to determining where their next residence will be, as the threat of the abuser going to where he thinks the woman might be is always present.
One of the biggest factors that comes into play with a domestic violence situation is financial, because according to Jackson, nearly all domestic violence relationships contain some type of financial abuse, too.
“We sustain them while they are here, and we also help them with financial planning,” Jackson said. “In 99 percent of all of these relationships, financial abuse is present, so she doesn’t have access to her money. Even if she’s working, she has to put her money in his account or he doesn’t allow her to work. So we provide financial planning to get her prepared for life after she leaves the shelter.”
Another major benefit Genesis offers – and something that would often get overlooked by someone on the outside looking in – is resources for the children she might have.
If a woman brings her children with her, they are no longer able to go to school because their father could go looking for them and he has the right to pull them out of school, putting the woman in a situation where she would have to go back home to get the kids.
“For the six-week period [she is here], her children can enroll in our school that is on-site with trained therapists that know what these children are experiencing, and that can provide them with a safe education while they are here,” Jackson said.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® making a difference
A company who takes this issue very seriously – and who tries to make a difference by helping every spring – is the international moving company, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.
Founded in 1985 by a mother herself, Mary Ellen Sheets, and her two sons, Jon Sorber and Brig Sorber, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK developed its own way to make a difference by helping women’s shelters i across the country with its national Movers for Moms® campaign.
Franchise locations throughout TWO MEN AND A TRUCK partner with local shelters and community organizations in their community to collect essential care items for women and children that are then delivered by the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK moving teams to various women’s shelters. It provides the company a way to not only a make a difference in the lives of these women, but also to raise awareness to the public.
“Our franchise is so into Movers for Moms, we love it,” said Shalimar Rydzik, marketing coordinator for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Waukesha, Wis., location. “Personally, I feel having a respected woman as our franchisee makes us a little more connected to the campaign and what it means to the women in our community. [This campaign] really forces [all] of us to look at the world from a wider perspective, and encourages to care more about the greater good.”
In 2017, Movers for Moms ran in all 42 of the states that TWO MEN AND A TRUCK operated in, supporting a large number of different shelters. More than 295,000 gifts were donated to these shelters, and over the 10 years the company has been running Movers for Moms, more than 1 million items have been donated.
To find out more about Movers for Moms and how you can get involved, click here.
Get involved
For Genesis and other shelters, the goal at the end of the day is to help women in these terrible situations find stability and peace. Genesis encourages anyone in the Dallas area to visit the “Be Her First Step” page on their website, which provides a detailed breakdown on the necessary steps to take for women – or people who know women – in situations of domestic violence.
For those outside of the Dallas area who are interested in helping, be sure to research shelters and organizations in your area working with this cause to find out ways you can donate to their facilities or assist with their work.
As we continue to grow here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, it’s becoming increasingly important to ensure we’re spreading brand awareness across North America showcasing our talented teams and the services available to those looking to hire professionally trained, and trustworthy movers.
That’s why in 2018, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK officially debuted a new set of commercial spots to be featured across locally, across the U.S. and Canada. This not only gets the word out about everything we are doing, but sheds a positive light on the company.
“TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is filled with local move heroes – people who go above and beyond for their customers and their communities, daily,” said Dawn Kroeger, the marketing and communication director at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. “Given 96% of our customers would refer us, the level of service provided by “The Movers Who Care” is what sets us apart from other moving companies. The new set of commercials feature these move heroes and seek to illustrate how, in days crunched for time and a need for efficiency and quality, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK delivers on all fronts.”
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK worked with Lansing, Michigan-based creative agency Harvest Creative to help with conception and production, and we were able to bring to life stories highlighting home moving, recruiting, and the newest long distance moving service, Value Flex®!
Since the point of these commercials was to highlight all the important things about TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, who would be better to feature in the commercial spots than the wonderful people who work for the brand? All of the actors featured in the spots were TWO MEN AND A TRUCK employees or their families, who put on their acting hats and portrayed a variety of different roles.
We spoke to a few of these TWO MEN AND A TRUCK heavy lifters, turned actors, to get their take on what it was like being on set, and how they felt about being put in the spotlight!
Sherry Campbell – Franchise Marketing Manager at the corporate office in Lansing, Mich.
What was it like being on set?
“It was like being on a big production shoot. They had food and refreshment stations setup throughout the day, my hair and make-up was done by professionals, and there were lights everywhere!”
Did anything happen that you weren’t expecting?
“On the morning of my shoot, which was in Atlanta, it was really cold. We had to act like it was a normal early summer day. Thank goodness for the heaters.”
How long did the process of shooting the commercial take?
“It always takes way more time than you think it should. They’re always adjusting lights and camera angles. And then, you end up doing the same thing over and over.”
How would you say the entire experience went overall?
“I’m not very patient, so sometimes I would get bored waiting for my ‘five minutes of fame’. But all in all, it was a really professional and fun experience. I am glad I was able to be part of the process!”
David Woods – Supervisor, Raleigh, N.C., franchise
What was it like being on set?
“Being on the set of the commercial was exciting. Getting to experience how a commercial is made and having your name and face associated with such a huge project is very humbling.”
Did anything happen that you weren’t expecting?
“The only thing that happened that I wasn’t expecting was when I was told I was going to be the main focus in one of the commercials. I was only expecting a couple of really quick shots, and then to be done for the day. I wasn’t expecting to have an entire commercial centered around me.”
How long did the process of shooting the commercial take?
“On the morning of the shoot, we arrived around 5:30 a.m. I met the director and the production crew, and that’s when they explained I would be the main focus of the shoot. That was a shock and I got really nervous, but they calmed me down and went through the process of getting into make-up and wardrobe, where the people were great. Then we went onto the set, which was shot all on location. The whole thing took about half a day.”
How would you say the entire experience went overall?
“This whole process was an amazing experience. If someone were to ask me if I would do it again, I would say yes without thinking twice. Everyone from the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK team to the film crew made this one of the most memorable moments in my life.”
Holly Stewart – Franchisee, Smyrna, GA
What was it like being on set?
“It was a lot of fun, actually – music, food, laughing, and a whole entourage following me around everywhere I went! I was pretty nervous the first few takes, but everyone was really great at making it a laid back environment so we didn’t come across stoic on camera. At the end of the day, I had a really great time!”
Did anything happen that you weren’t expecting?
“It takes a surprising amount of time to come up with a 15-second commercial, and they took so many takes of the same thing with slight tweaks. It was really neat to see the final product and how it all came together. I had wardrobe, make-up, and lighting all around me for touch-ups between takes, and it took way more takes than you might think. I don’t think you’d guess that small shot took so much thought and time.”
How long did the process of shooting the commercial take?
“We shot every small scene many, many, many times. Sometimes doing the exact same thing, sometimes doing it with a small tweak here or there. Way different than a recorded news segment spot, which is my most common experience on camera. This was an all-day event, and there wasn’t much downtime between scenes. There were a couple times I tried to step aside to respond to an email or speak to someone there, and was quickly called back. Others who weren’t in every scene were able to watch the screenings and relax, but for me, it was go, go, go! That being said, it was a lot of fun.”
How would you say the entire experience went overall?
“Great! It was a super cool experience. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, and what a great reward for the Move Heroes! It was really rewarding to see them get to shine, and I think the commercials turned out really sharp.”
Liza Yates –Daughter of Holly Stewart, Smyrna, GA
What is it like being on set?
“It was enjoyable and fun. All of the staff and other members were super polite. They let me help out so much, and I felt really involved!”
Did anything happen that you weren’t expecting?
“I wasn’t expecting to connect with the director so well. I wasn’t expecting for it to be so community-like and enjoyable, either. Everyone just wanted to have fun, and we did!”
How long did the process of shooting the commercial take?
“It was repetitive, but still fun and laid back. For my commercial shoot, it took about eight hours, but I wasn’t always on camera (and there was a lunch break).”
How would you say the entire experience went overall?
“I feel it went well. We all had a good time, and the commercials turned out fantastic!”
Check out all of the new commercial spots below!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
A company who takes this issue very seriously – and who tries to make a difference by helping every spring – is the international moving company, 
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK worked with Lansing, Michigan-based creative agency 
What was it like being on set?
“The only thing that happened that I wasn’t expecting was when I was told I was going to be the main focus in one of the commercials. I was only expecting a couple of really quick shots, and then to be done for the day. I wasn’t expecting to have an entire commercial centered around me.”
“It was a lot of fun, actually – music, food, laughing, and a whole entourage following me around everywhere I went! I was pretty nervous the first few takes, but everyone was really great at making it a laid back environment so we didn’t come across stoic on camera. At the end of the day, I had a really great time!”
“It was enjoyable and fun. All of the staff and other members were super polite. They let me help out so much, and I felt really involved!”
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® 