Unpacking Success with OneShotMove’s Alexander Shvetz

In this interview, we sit down with Alexander Shvetz, the dynamic owner of OneShotMove. This Los Angeles-based company has carved a niche in the moving industry with its commitment to hassle-free, quality moving services.

Shvetz, a visionary entrepreneur, shares his insights and experiences in building a customer-focused business in one of the most bustling cities in America. His journey provides valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners in the service sector, highlighting the balance between quality service and competitive pricing.

Join us as we explore the strategies and stories behind OneShotMove’s success.

Origins of OneShotMove

SBS – What inspired you to start OneShotMove, and how did you identify a need in the Los Angeles moving market?

Alexander – While going through college, I was working as a mover for U-Haul’s moving helper service, and I understood that there is a really large demand for skilled movers. Working for the MovingHelp platform, I had to manage my own account, meaning that I had to hire and maintain a team that was capable of driving a 26-foot truck, assembling complicated pieces of furniture, and often keeping a panicking client at ease. Coupled with the fact that I was competing with other accounts on their platform while U-Haul kept very large margins, I decided to break out and begin an independent brand, OneShotMove. 

Early Challenges

SBS – Can you describe the initial challenges you faced when establishing your business and how you overcame them?

Alexander – The most challenging part was maintaining a team that could consistently deliver a five-star service. Since I relied on U-Haul to provide me with customers before, I did not foresee how difficult and expensive it would be to keep my calendar booked. When there are jobs every day, it is easy to maintain employees who know they have work. The best movers and drivers need to have job security, and if they are used to working four to five days a week and suddenly have just three days or less, they look for employment elsewhere. I lost many great team members this way because I was not skilled in running advertisements efficiently.

Mastering Local Moves

SBS – What strategies have you implemented to ensure smooth and stress-free moving services in a bustling city like Los Angeles?

Alexander – Hiring the right team members and contractors was the foundation of OneShotMove. Building and implementing autoQuote software on the oneshotmove.com website which takes the details of the move and instantly generates a price was a major leap. We always had an all-inclusive hourly rate which means that things like shrink wrap, furniture blankets, tape and wardrobe boxes are part of the price. Having the hourly rate include everythings a client might need makes things really simple. Moving is already stressful so providing clients with a clear pricing structure and not being cheap goes a long way.

Pricing vs. Quality

SBS – How do you maintain a balance between offering competitive prices and ensuring high-quality moving services?

Alexander – Keeping up with competitors is a must in any industry. There are thousands of movers but only a handful of companies offer the level of service that clients are constantly happy with. There are hundreds of companies in Los Angeles but only about twenty to thirty of them consistently provide a five-star service. So, I positioned OneShotMove to have the median price of the top thirty brands. Additionally, having the prices generated instantly online gives clients the confidence to book with us knowing that we will not nickel and dime them. 

Team Excellence

SBS – What is your approach to training and managing your moving staff to maintain high service standards?

Alexander – Hiring crew members who have experience guarantees that we are not experimenting with our clients’ furniture. Also, if someone is new, they need to be incorporated into crews where they are the only new mover. After the job is completed we receive feedback from the team and the client to see how we could improve.

Evolving Demands

SBS – How has the demand for moving services in Los Angeles evolved over the years, and how has your company adapted?

Alexander – Demand for movers has not really changed. Finding clients is something that evolves and is sometimes difficult to predict. Platforms for advertising and promotions from major directories and review platforms often mess up plans but it is all about keeping up with the times and knowing where to focus ad spend. 

Technological Innovation

SBS – In what ways do you leverage technology or innovative methods to enhance your moving services?

Alexander – Developing software which could take the details of a moving order and instantly calculate a price was revolutionary. Besides making things really clear for our clients it allows the team to focus on our services. Whereas before most of the office was focused on manually building out quotes, now we have time to do much more. 

Customer Satisfaction

SBS – Can you discuss the importance of customer service in the moving industry and how you ensure customer satisfaction?

Alexander – Communication and transparency are the cornerstones of our brand. When clients and movers know what to expect, there are no surprises. Ensuring that a project moves forward as everyone imagined it would is how we ensure satisfaction. Unexpected and unique situations do come up and knowing how to deal with them comes with experience.

Marketing Strategies

SBS – What are your strategies for marketing and building a strong brand presence in a competitive market?

Alexander – Just trying to be the best all the time. Being the BEST, I think, is a state of mind. Analyzing competitors and listening to client feedback allows me to see any shortcomings. Mapping how OneShotMove could improve is very important. Most improvements are just about learning a new skill or how to better use the tools that we have. Other things like creating larger and more comprehensive software comes down to financing and reinvestment. We are currently working on incorporating our existing tech with AI, ensuring that OneShotMove stays ahead of competition. Developing a tech centric company has served us well, keeping us miles ahead of “a man with a truck” type companies. These are things that add up to what I believe allows OneShotMove to enjoy great word of mouth advertisement. 

Commercial Moving Expertise

SBS – How do you handle the logistics and challenges of commercial and office moving, which may involve delicate equipment and tight timelines?

Alexander – Office moves are the easiest and most fun to complete. Unless there is very specialized heavy equipment, wrapping up an office suite is super easy. The most challenging spaces are warehouses and restaurants where we need to disassemble custom furniture and heavy expensive machinery. It is all about experience, when we begin moving I often enjoy watching the team without saying a word to each other, taking apart and moving the most complicated setups. Most moves are between 4–7 hours, however even with fifteen crewmembers, sometimes a large project with narrow walkways needs two or more days to complete safely. 

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

SBS – What advice would you give to someone looking to start a business in the moving industry or a similar service sector?

Alexander – I would ask them to shop around and see if they could invest in something easier to build up and manage. Moving is heavy and not the easiest way to make a profit. However, if someone is determined, they need to understand the service area they want to cover. Los Angeles has many up and coming districts and it would be smart to focus on one area before expanding. Also, there must be something that a new brand is offering that sets it apart from the thousands of other movers; this way they could grow and not be stuck doing what most operators are doing. 

Future Vision

SBS – How do you envision the future of OneShotMove, and are there any expansion plans or new services in the pipeline?

Alexander – Yes, it is all about technology and we are currently working on a platform to integrate our autoQuote software with AI. This will allow us to oversee moves nationally, I am super excited about it.

Entrepreneurial Lessons

SBS – What lessons have you learned as an entrepreneur in the service industry that you think are crucial for business success?

Alexander – Understanding who clients are and learning to target clients that are more pleasant and worthwhile. Trying to be the cheapest or most expensive provider has its nuances and I learned to accept reality as it is. Before opening up or expanding into a new service area, I recommend running a market study. See how much business you could expect and if competitors are hostile. Often running ads for a new area will destroy ROI and having a programmer on 24/7 to protect servers and ad spend from hostie competitors makes it not worth it.