The Corporate Takeover of Moving: How Big Chains Are Swallowing Local Long Island Moving Companies and What It Means for Your Next Move

The moving industry is experiencing a dramatic shift that could fundamentally change how Long Island residents relocate. Large corporate chains are actively acquiring smaller moving companies to reach more downstream markets, while the intentional consolidation of fragmented industries through small, “serial acquisitions” has become endemic to American commerce, with local businesses normally thought of as independent being swept up in serial acquisition sprees.

The Consolidation Wave Hitting the Moving Industry

The moving services industry represents a prime target for corporate consolidation. The relatively low barriers to entry keep the industry fragmented, making it an attractive opportunity for larger companies seeking growth through acquisition. Industries full of small or regional players exist in fragmented markets ripe for consolidation, often suffering from inefficiencies, inconsistent service, and cutthroat pricing, with private equity firms and strategic buyers snapping up small and mid-sized businesses to build national or multi-state regional platforms.

The rise of private equity is a significant contributor to the rise of serial acquisitions, with cheap debt from the Federal Reserve following the 2008 financial crisis helping balloon the private equity industry while large institutional investors dramatically increased their allocations to private equity. This influx of capital has created a perfect storm for industry consolidation.

What Drives Corporate Chains to Buy Local Movers

Corporate consolidation in the moving industry is driven by several key factors. The goal is often to eliminate competition, expand market share and achieve economies of scale. More market share tends to create economies of scale that just aren’t available to smaller players in a market, including increased visibility, increased buying power, and lower customer acquisition costs, while the ‘economies of scale’ usually referred to in M&A transactions is a common motive for consolidation.

Industry consolidation in wholesale distribution is being led by consolidators that use sequential buy-and-build acquisition strategies to replace small mom-and-pop companies with a large corporation, following a standard strategy to build a national network, leverage buying power with manufacturers, and reinvest profits to meet the emerging requirements of larger customers.

The Long Island Moving Landscape

Long Island’s moving market exemplifies the challenges facing local companies in this consolidation wave. Companies like Dunbar Moving, a full-service, fully licensed and insured moving company located in Stony Brook, New York in Suffolk County, Long Island, represent the local movers who know the island and care about their clients. Established in 1982, Dunbar Moving is a full-service, fully licensed and insured moving company located in Stony Brook, New York in Suffolk County, Long Island.

Local companies like Dunbar Moving offer distinct advantages that corporate chains struggle to replicate. They understand Long Island’s unique housing challenges, having moved families out of tight co-ops in Nassau County and knowing how to handle the logistics of waterfront properties in Suffolk, with experience that translates directly into efficiency during moves, having dealt with narrow staircases in older homes, elevator restrictions in high-rises, and the logistical challenges of moving during Long Island’s busy summer season.

What Consolidation Means for Consumers

The impact of corporate consolidation on consumers presents a mixed picture with significant concerns. Consolidation undermines worker and consumer power, eliminating competition for both, with 75 percent of US industries experiencing an increase in concentration, meaning fewer and larger firms control more market share over time, leading to increased profits for dominant firms arising from increased markups rather than greater efficiency.

Consumers are purchasing fewer products and purchasing from fewer companies that provide a similar product or service, with only two large companies able to dominate the market, leaving consumers with fewer choices which can lead to higher prices and less innovation.

The Local Advantage Under Threat

Local moving companies consistently provide superior value and service compared to their corporate counterparts. Local moving companies consistently offer better value than national chains, having lower overhead costs without expensive corporate structures, national advertising budgets, or franchise fees eating into their margins, with this efficiency passed directly to customers through competitive pricing and fewer surprise charges, while being more willing to negotiate rates and work within budgets because they depend on word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied customers in their community.

The accountability factor represents a crucial difference. Local companies know their reputation in the community depends on every single move they complete, unable to hide behind corporate policies or blame problems on subcontractors, wanting neighbors to hear positive things about the local company they might hire next month.

When choosing a reliable moving company, consumers should consider how consolidation affects service quality and pricing. This personal stake in the outcome shows up in the details, with local companies taking extra care with fragile items, cleaning up after themselves, and often going beyond what’s technically required because they understand that exceptional service leads to referrals, while national companies focus on completing moves quickly to maximize profit per hour, and local companies focus on completing moves right to build their reputation.

The Future of Moving Services

The moving services industry is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.1% in revenue from 2023 to 2028, reaching $22.9 billion in 2028, with profit projected to be 7.9% of industry revenue, driven by increased demand from the corporate sector and surge in urban population. This growth will likely accelerate consolidation efforts.

High market fragmentation and the prevalence of informal movers limit organized sector penetration, presenting long-term consolidation opportunities. However, the biggest companies comprise a relatively small revenue share, indicating fragmentation among moving companies, with moderate barriers to entry and the lack of differentiation continuing to provide opportunities for local companies that can differentiate themselves through superior service.

For Long Island consumers, the consolidation trend represents both challenges and opportunities. While corporate chains may offer standardized processes and broader networks, local companies like Dunbar Moving continue to provide the personalized service, local expertise, and community accountability that make the difference between a stressful ordeal and a smooth transition. As this industry transformation unfolds, consumers who value quality service and fair pricing should carefully consider the benefits of supporting local moving companies that understand their community’s unique needs and challenges.