Robin Sheakley of Moving For Love
How did you start your business?
I created a business plan and began putting pen to paper on process and procedure for website content. I researched available domain names and ultimately came up with the name of the company. We then interviewed and chose a company to help us with website development. At the same time, I created the legal entity “Moving For Love” as a Sibcy Cline Relocation Services company and filed our registration with the U.S. Trademark.
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
We have worked with transferees relocating for over 30 years [at Sibcy Cline]. It hit me a few years ago that with the popularity of online dating, there may be a need to help people relocate for love. I explored the idea and realized there wasn’t anyone offering all of the services and assistance needed to make a move on your own.
In today’s world, a lot of people are self-reflecting either by choice or necessity in the case of job loss. They may wake up one day and say, “The heck with (fill in the blank), I’ve always wanted to live near the beach.” They are making decisions based on personal interests and passions rather than paycheck potential.
What resources here did you take advantage of and how did they help?
I worked with local website designers and developers and employed a local attorney to help with researching our name as well as registering it. The greatest resource used was and continues to be our Sibcy Cline Relocation Services company, employees and existing vendor relationships.
What would you do differently if you started your business again?
We are still very new, but as of today, I would say that I probably would have done a more robust marketing roll-out and promotion of our company. We chose to do a soft launch and to manage the PR on our own so that we could slowly enter the market and have our process down pat before we really began any advertising. I don’t regret that decision, but may have changed my approach slightly in hindsight.
What’s next for you and your company?
After the first of the year, we will begin a marketing campaign and aggressively seek clientele, and continue to attract visitors and followers to our Facebook, Pinterest and Love Notes blog.
Interview by Robin Donovan