Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Just months after delivering her second daughter and standing at five-foot-five, some Yellowknifers might be surprised to see Cynthia Moyo arrive with her 17-foot truck to move their belongings.

Best Movers business owner Cynthia Moyo, in front of her moving truck on Jan. 2, 2011. - Thandiwe Vela/NNSL photo

But the 33-year-old entrepreneur recently established her moving company Best Movers in the city, and she wants the business to be done right.

"The thing with running your own business is you have to be able to roll up your sleeves and do anything," Moyo said, adding with an athletic past including swimming and volleyball in her native Zimbabwe, she definitely holds her weight. "We usually offer two or three guys, so I'm sometimes the second guy or the third guy," she said, although her goal is to hire enough people so she can focus more on the administrative side of the business. "What I'm getting right now is the hands-on experience to be able to quality control.

"It's given me a chance to meet my clients face-to-face and see what their needs and expectations are."

Since licensing Best Movers last May, Moyo has grown the business's client base to include residential and commercial clients, government departments, and other organizations. In addition to business from advertising, the company draws most of its clients through referrals, she said.

"Being a small town, we meet past clients in the grocery store, and other places," Moyo said, enjoying the smaller size of the city compared to Toronto, where her and her husband Randy previously partnered with another moving business. "And they have given us good referrals as far as word of mouth, which has worked really well for us."

Moyo knew there was room in the Yellowknife market for another mover when she realized most people had to book ahead for moving services, often with long wait times for bookings. Her company's niche is offering moving services across Yellowknife and surrounding areas on short-term notice, with a promise to return calls within one hour. Currently, the company, which is run out of Moyo's downtown home, offers moving services seven days a week, including holidays.

Moyo sees the company being established in Yellowknife for the long term, she said, with plans to become more involved in the community, starting with her Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce membership, effective Jan. 1.

Chamber executive director Tim Doyle expects to see a record number of members this year, with more small and medium-sized businesses starting up amid the uncertain economy.

"With the uncertain economy more people want to control their own fate and get into small business," Doyle said. "It's always great to see new businesses start up in Yellowknife."

Moyo is not anxious about the economy however, with plans to expand the business into moving supply sales and packing services this year.

The packing idea came from customers, she said, who often asked for the additional service amid busy moves. Moyo plans to introduce the service this year, with boxes, tape, wrapping paper and other supplies currently being shipped from Edmonton.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.