A Story Of Entrepreneurial Resilience With Avi Cohen
Avi Cohen, the founder of Avi Cohen Moving, is a quintessential self-made entrepreneur. Starting in 1985 in Queens, New York, with just one truck, he built his company into a reputable moving service with a fleet of 20 trucks, specializing in both local and long-distance moves. Remarkably, Avi achieved this growth without traditional advertising, relying solely on word-of-mouth, a testament to his commitment to customer satisfaction and service excellence. Overcoming early financial challenges and working tirelessly, Avi established a trusted brand known for its long-standing, experienced crew, and a family-like company culture, making Avi Cohen Moving a preferred choice in its industry.
Q&A With Avi Cohen
Avi, how did you manage to grow Avi Cohen Moving from a single truck to a fleet of 20?
Avi Cohen: It was a journey marked by relentless effort and dedication. Starting in 1985 with just one truck in Queens, New York, I focused on delivering exceptional service. This dedication to quality and customer satisfaction naturally led to an expansion, allowing us to grow to 20 trucks, catering to both local and long-distance moves. It’s been a story of consistent, customer-focused growth.
What strategies have you implemented to differentiate Avi Cohen Moving in the market?
Avi Cohen: Our strategy has been simple yet powerful: prioritize customer trust over conventional advertising. For the past 20 years, we haven’t spent on advertising; instead, we’ve invested in building relationships. Our range of services, including specialized moves like piano relocations, coupled with our long-term, experienced crew, has earned us a reputation that keeps customers returning and referring.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for Avi Cohen Moving?
Avi Cohen: Our vision is to cement our reputation as a trusted, fair, and professional moving service. We aim to be the go-to company for generations of families, ensuring that every customer experience is so positive that they choose us for all their future moving needs. Our commitment is unwavering: customer satisfaction is our ultimate pursuit.
Can you share some significant challenges you’ve faced in your business journey?
Avi Cohen: Absolutely. The early days were tough, starting with minimal funding and no external support. The 1990s brought a period of rapid growth, but also significant financial challenges. My approach was hands-on, often involving 80-hour work weeks, and focusing on turning every customer into a vocal advocate for our business.
How do you approach and resolve customer complaints or issues?
Avi Cohen: Our approach is always to prioritize the customer’s perspective. For instance, when a customer felt our service was overpriced, I asked them to pay what they felt was fair. They ended up paying the full amount, reinforcing our commitment to customer satisfaction. It’s about building trust and understanding.
Any words of wisdom you’d like to share with emerging entrepreneurs?
Avi Cohen: My advice is to be clear about your goals and relentlessly pursue them, no matter how long it takes. Set both short-term and long-term objectives, continuously reassess them, and aim high. Adaptability, risk management, and a forward-looking approach are crucial. Remember, your team and your customers are your greatest assets – treat them well, lead by example, and integrity and persistence will guide you to success.
Finally, what does success look like to you?
For me, success can be defined as the ability I have had to build a business that operates largely on the strength of word-of-mouth referrals. Creating a company like Avi Cohen Moving, which started with very little money and faced significant challenges, yet grew to a fleet of 20 trucks, all without traditional advertising. It’s about having a business that not only survives but thrives on the quality of its service and the trust it builds with its customers.
Key Takeaways
- Growing With Customer Satisfaction: Avi Cohen emphasizes the importance of organic growth, achieved by focusing on providing exceptional service rather than traditional advertising. His strategy of building Avi Cohen Moving from a single truck to a fleet of 20, mainly through customer referrals, highlights the power of trust and quality in business expansion.
- Facing and Overcoming Challenges: Avi’s journey was marked by significant financial and operational challenges, particularly in the 1990s. His approach to these challenges – hands-on management, long work hours, and converting every customer into an advocate – underlines his resilience and dedication to his business.
- Leadership and Customer-Centric Philosophy: Avi’s leadership style is deeply rooted in valuing and prioritizing customer satisfaction and treating employees like family. His approach to resolving customer disputes by prioritizing their perspective and his advice to emerging entrepreneurs about the importance of goal-setting, adaptability, and treating people well reflect his customer-centric and employee-focused business philosophy.