Today we’d like to introduce you to J.P. Specht.
Thanks for sharing your story with us J.P. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
While in college, I started working as a laborer moving furniture and boxes in 1977 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, The moving business helped me pay for my education at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, Upon graduation, I went to work for North American Van Lines world headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana and held a variety of office positions including fleet registration, dispatch and contract negotiations. In 1986, I accepted a marketing position with Bekins Van Lines headquartered in Hillside, Illinois. I quickly became involved in corporate sales and worked for several other major van lines including Graebel Van Lines and Allied Van Lines. In 1993, I accepted a position with Boyer-Rosene Moving and Storage in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Boyer-Rosene was Bekins’ largest agent and I was a corporate household goods salesperson.
As a salesperson, I saw many moving companies do really good work with local moving and interstate moving. But I also saw a lot of incompetence and confusion with international relocations. Dealing with foreign currencies, different time zones and languages, customs clearance variations for every country, etc. was just too much for many moving companies. Yet the expansion of global trading pointed toward growth in the international moving sector. I set up my company, Laser International Moving in 1996 and incorporated in Illinois in 1999. I continued to be employed at Boyer-Rosene Moving until early 2004 when I pursued Laser International Moving full time.
Has it been a smooth road?
There have certainly been a few rough patches. In 2004, I was a one man show….and my first floor study was adequate. I quickly outgrew the space and moved my office to the basement that seemed more than adequate space. Another employee and the space got crowded but workable. As we continued to grow, the basement was no longer working and a commercial property was necessary. In July, 2008 I purchased a new construction warehouse space. It was just a shell. I wanted to be the general contractor for this project. What was I thinking!!
Architectural plans, building permits, all electrical, plumbing, framing, sprinkler system revisions, fire escape and lights, and drywall and paint schemes had to be coordinated for a full office with mezzanine level with multiple bathrooms, showers and kitchens. Selection and installation of granite counter tops, doors with hardware, oak trim selections, tile, carpet and hardwood flooring, decisions on all fixtures and cabinets, new office furniture, telephone systems, networked computers and printers, server and office decorations. What was I thinking…I had a company that needed my attention and this was 2008 and the economy was not in great shape. Somehow, someway, it spite of extensive cost over runs and delays, we managed to relocate our office from my home basement to our new facility on Internationale Parkway In Woodridge, Illinois in June 2009! It would take the rest of 2009 to find stability and balance with the work load and create a positive financial direction. The toughest part of this was the realization that these wounds and battle scars were self-inflicted! In hindsight, I should have hired a general contractor.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Laser International Transportation, Inc. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Laser International Moving sells moving or relocation services (household goods and personal effects and autos) exclusively to customers relocating to international locations only. We coordinate the packing of boxes, international wrapping of furniture, inventory of goods, insurance, transportation, customs clearance and final delivery to all worldwide locations. Storage is also available on an as needed basis. Our customers are very diverse and represent every race, nationality, and religions in the world. Daily, we deal with all the currencies, languages and time zones in the world. We relocate the household goods for retirees, corporate employees and CEO’s, foreign consulate employees, private individuals and even foreign exchange students and missionaries. This is definitely a niche market in that only 5-10% of all relocations in the U.S. involve an international destination. And this is 100% of our business. We have a substantial presence in the Chicago and New York marketplaces. We hope to expand in the near future.
As a company, we pride ourselves in transparency, honesty, integrity and competitive pricing when dealing with our customers. But the one thing I am most proud of and that sets us apart from our competition is our knowledge and our ability to explain that knowledge to our customers. We are in a unique position to advise potential customers regarding selecting a relocation company that best meets their international relocation objectives.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Best – Chicago is a very diverse city with people living here who were born and raised in locations around the globe. Getting to know these people creates a more global perspective of the world in which we all share. Foreign nationals are overwhelmingly positive regarding the time spent in Chicago. 90%+ tell me the city is clean and friendly and beautiful. And this perspective is shared by people from all corners of the world that are living in Chicago.
Least – Taxes upon taxes upon taxes. Property taxes, sales taxes, fuel taxes, Illinois State income taxes, hotel taxes, road taxes (tolls) …you got the idea.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1940 Internationae Parkway
unit 300
Woodridge, IL 60517 - Website: www.lasermoving.com
- Phone: 6309721300
- Email: jp@lasermoving.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=laser%20international%20-%20worldwide%20moving%20%26%20storage
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaserIntl?lang=en
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/laser-international-woodridge-2
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
