By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Westborough – In 1979, Mark Silverman, a student at Northeastern University, used his credit card to buy a used truck and moved furniture to earn money during college. That student venture turned into a business that's been successful for the past 34 years.
“I began Mark's Moving & Storage with money I borrowed on my credit card,” Silverman said. “I just wanted to make money while I was in school. Some people said, “You can's do that,” and I became even more determined to do it.”
As Mark's Moving & Storage grew, Silverman moved the company west from its Brookline origins. “In 2006, I invested heavily in this building and improved the property. We'se now been here in our 90,000-sq.ft. Westborough warehouse for over six years. We also have a 60,000-sq.ft. warehouse in Norwood.” The company has a fleet of over 25 trucks and trailers.
Mark's Moving offers a wide range of moving and storage services, including local and long-distance residential and corporate moving, air freight, container shipping, record storage management, disposal, packing and unpacking services, portable storage containers and warehousing.
Mark's also supports other businesses that operate from the Westborough facility. “Many local businesses use our warehouse. They can run their own operation with a lease, or we can provide distribution services, including labor and trucking, for them.”
About half of Mark's business is residential moving and half commercial relocations, Silverman said. When residential customers need temporary storage, for example to reduce clutter when a house is for sale or to store personal belongings, furniture or kitchen appliances during new construction or remodeling, the company can provide on-site storage containers or storage in the warehouse. Both long-term and short-term storage options are available.
The company's volume of long-distance moves is growing. Mark's now has weekly trips to Florida and can arrange moves throughout the country and the world.
“We are a resource, not a commodity,” Silverman said. “We'se focused on helping people with problems. Often people store things because of a move to assisted living, fire, floor or divorce. We want to help by moving and storing their belongings safely, securely and with great care.
“For office moves, we rent plastic crates. The cost is comparable to buying boxes, and it's a green option since the crates are reusable. The crates come with a wheeled dolly, so the customer puts an empty crate on the dolly, fills it, then stacks on another empty crate. The customer does not have to lift full boxes.”
With approximately 30 employees, many with the company for a long time, Silverman takes pride in the business he has built and its relationship with both employees and customers.
“George Jacobs, vice president, has been with me since 1979. Joe Kansky, sales manager, and Pam Colpitts, office manager, have been here many years,” he said. Other key employees are Dave Brower, manager of the Marlboro Transportation division; and Damon Aronson and Andy Bower, project managers.? Justin Silverman, Mark's son and an attorney, handles the firm's legal matters.
“Each day doing this job, moving and helping people, we are focused on the quality of our work, and people are so grateful for that. We simply do our job, but people appreciate it so much.”
Silverman is a strong believer in giving back to the community.
“We'se actively involved with the Arthritis Foundation, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids, and we'se the official mover of United Way of Tri-County. If a large item, such as a piano, is donated for a charity, we'sl donate the move of that item. Individuals and companies have been so good to us; in return, we'se able to be a good neighbor. We'se much more than trucks and a warehouse.”
One of Mark's more unusual good deeds was moving and storing an 1872 pipe organ??”all 1,700 pipes and slabs of stone used to pressurize the bellows?for First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain in Boston until the church sanctuary is restored after a fire.
Mark's Moving & Storage is located at 111 Milk St., Westborough. For additional information, call 508-983-6000 or 800-966-MARK, or visit the firm's website, www.marksmoving.com.
