Today we’d like to introduce you to Rudy Valdez.
Hi Rudy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well, I am a born and raised Idahoan. 36 years native to Idaho. Former professional boxer, a loving husband and a father of 3, I started my own specialty moving company in the spring of 2021. Based out of Caldwell, ID, It’s a very unique-to-its-kind service, being able to exclusively move, transport, and deliver heavy, expensive, and antique specialty items. Prior to starting my own company, I worked for 5 and a half years on a moving truck for a small company out of Kuna. And 6 years prior to that, helping local music companies move pianos throughout the valley.
I got to a point in my moving career, where I suddenly found myself slaving way too long for way too little. I have a family and being able to spend time with them while my kids are still babies is very important to me. I mean I started from the bottom of the totem pole, then worked my tail off grinding my way all the way up to a foreman position and a raise but ultimately realizing, I’m not recognizing my full potential. I’m no realizing my true worth, my real value and that’s when it hit me…I need to make something happen. So I decided to go my own way and with very little in my pocket, I GOT moving! Haha, no pun intended. My favorite saying is, “The future is a deep dark canyon…jump!”
In the very beginning, it was very difficult especially when nobody knows or understands what it is you actually do. I got a ton of “Specialty Mover?! What’s that even??” and “Aren’t you just a regular mover?” It was very disheartening. Not only are you unique but you have to create your own market and compete with the 50+ new “moving” companies that start in the valley every year. At one point, I remember being so overzealous and spending 120$ on business cards, and after handing every one of them out, I only got about 5 calls from them. It was a waste of money to say the least, cause you either get people who throw the cards away or forget them. I just sat at my dinner table most nights and stared off at the wall, just trying to figure out what I could do differently that would set me apart. Suffice to say I kinda figured it out, haha.
But not without help from networking and not definitely without setbacks. The beginning of this journey was very rough starting out with nothing and renting a u-toe basically doing jobs for next to nothing but through that struggle (and mind you this was during the pandemic) the biggest challenge for me was just being seen. “Cause if I could be seen, I could get a chance. And if I could maybe get just one chance, I know I could change the world!”
So I did a ton of reading, tons of research, and through a ton of trial and error, here we are and I still feel like I’m learning every day but now that we are making big progress and now we are servicing Oregon, Washington and Utah as well as Idaho (obviously) the business is getting some buzz!
A big reason why I believe this company has grown and will continue to grow (and now having 4 helpers with me when we book jobs, a jingle and commercial in the works on its way) is the determination and belief in the good of this company and its help.
Knowledge is very powerful. Willingness is a rare commodity. And Experience is scarce.
We are not (just) a moving company. We are a specialty moving company! Have a very fragile, expensive, heavy item need moved?? Better Call Rudy! Need a mover, you know you can trust?…Better Call Rudy!
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?
Being seen. In a sea of “moving” companies, what sets me apart?? Had to figure that out without hiring SEOs and marketing reps. Everything is in-house and self-managed.
Temptation.
Not having much money when I started. It was really important to me that I trusted God, and did not take out any unnecessary debt like getting a business loan. Everything we have grown in the last year and a half is all through hard work, networking, and cash flow.
Finding help. It was very hard to move big heavy things loading and unloading by yourself but we finally got a couple of strong, genuine, good men on board to help out.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Specialty mover.
Specialize in moving, transporting, and delivering very heavy, fragile, expensive, and antique specialty items.
Outside of my humor, work ethic and easygoing personality and charm and good looks, I would have to say I am very humble. Lol just joking!
I would say I am most known for the purple (moving) truck and purple clothing. Haha, what can I say? I love purple and grew up on Prince. My favorite moving as a kid wasn’t the lion king…it was Purple Rain.
I am proud of my work and the relationships I have built in the last year and a half. Can’t be said anymore!
What sets me apart would be I care. I care about what I do, how I do it, who it affects, why I do this. So many beautiful experiences when you’re dealing with people every day. You are responsible for moving their most beloved items, and in a way, their history and their stories. That’s very important to me! I am privileged to be able to move their items for them!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am always looking to collaborate with artists and I love making business connections. If you are an artist, musician, podcaster, blogger, or fellow entrepreneur/small business owner, please Feel free to contact me on our business line or via email or on our website.
I would love to work with you!
If you wanna support, or know someone who needs help with needing a specialty item moved, please pay it forward and mention that purple truck. 😉 Better Call Rudy!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BetterCallRudy.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/rudyvaldezllc
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RudyValdezLLC
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/RudyValdezLLC
Image Credits
Rudy Valdez
