Exploring Life & Business with Mike Joudeh of Athens Moving Experts

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Joudeh.

Hi Mike, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
After quitting my previous job at a moving company in 2016, I decided that I didn’t want to work for anyone else. I wanted to be self-employed and I was willing to do anything to make that happen.

I was tired of employers who didn’t care about their employees. I decided to take a leap of faith and put my skills to use. I put ads up all over the internet for moving, junk removal, and even landscaping. Clients (mainly from my neighborhood) began reaching out and I kept myself fairly busy doing odd jobs.

My strength was mainly in moving. I had plenty of experience from my previous jobs, on the field, and in the office. I knew the ins and outs of the industry, I had a gift for sales and marketing, and I was determined.

In November of 2016, I proposed the idea of starting a moving business to my brother and he agreed. We came up with the name ‘Athens Moving Experts’, registered it with the Secretary of State, set up the necessary accounts, and spent months researching all the legalities involved.

In June of 2017, we got our first job. When I started it was out of my parents’ garage. I had an old GMC box truck and a bunch of used supplies. My dad would find me cheap or free moving supplies on Craigslist and I would go get them. I would practically pick up people’s moving trash and reuse it.

Boxes, wrapping paper, bubble wrap. Anything that I was able to get for free and reuse, I did. The office was my iPhone. I would keep track of all my customers using my notes and my calendar. Customers were a top priority; I would drop anything to take a call.

I did everything I can to build a name for myself, but it wasn’t easy. There were times I didn’t know how I would afford a truck rental for the next day. We made way, kept going, and never stopped. With time, hard work, and determination; we developed better systems.

We are now fully staffed with managers, office employees, warehouse staff, and movers; a fully operable warehouse and 6 trucks.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey of starting and owning a business has been a roller coaster ride. There have been times when everything was smooth sailing and other times there were major bumps along the way. In the beginning, we didn’t have much capital to start with, so finances were one of the struggles we faced.

We had to pay to advertise and generate leads. We needed employees, trucks, fuel, and supplies to do the jobs. Owning a moving company requires 4 types of insurance policies with high premiums. Overall, there are a lot of expenses involved in operating a moving company. We also faced difficulties in hiring and retaining employees. Moving is a tough job and it requires a tremendous amount of strenuous work.

Moving is also a higher risk industry to be in, so we are prone to claims, accidents, and damages. We use every mistake and every obstacle that comes our way as a learning experience, and we have developed systems to minimize those mistakes and overcome any obstacle.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our incredible staff of moving professionals take pride in not only providing the highest level & quality moving services, but also the most enjoyable moving experience a customer can have.

Our unique, customer-driven approach to moving has allowed us to grow throughout Raleigh, NC, and surrounding areas, ultimately leading us to serve residents from across all of North Carolina.

Some of the services we offer include but are not limited to: Residential and commercial moves; piano, gun safe, hot tub, and specialty item moves; packing; interior arrangement; load and unload only services; disassembly, reassembly, and servicing of appliances.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I utilize social media for my personal and business life.

Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have all helped me reach new audiences and expand in ways I never imagined. Notes, calculator, and calendar are also some of the apps I utilize frequently in my day-to-day routine.

I am not currently reading any books, but I do find myself reading the news and random articles online with my morning coffee.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://athensmovingexperts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athensmovingexperts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athensmovingexperts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/athensmovingexp
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpUbYlqlQvn8r1pRVPIcOjA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/athens-moving-experts-raleigh
• Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Athens+Moving+Experts/@35.7880987,-78.7441232,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x4a0291005d50888e!8m2!3d35.7880987!4d-78.7419345?hl=en-US