Two Auburn graduates started "Move Auburn," while in school, and have Auburn to thank for it.
Whit Mitchell and Will Forbes were just sophomores at Auburn when the idea of Move Auburn started to take shape.
Mitchell, a co-owner of Move Auburn, said he recalls noticing all of the sweaty and unhappy dads moving their child in during his freshman year, but it wasn't until his sophomore year that he thought of the idea to do something about it.
"I knew some sorority girls that needed help with moving, and I had some guys that could do it," Mitchell said. "About 30 or 40 parents got in touch with us after that saying that they needed help. It was then that I realized how many people actually do need help with moving."
Forbes, the other co-owner of Move Auburn, gives credit of the initial idea to Mitchell, but said he immediately jumped on board.
"All of our friends needed help moving, so it was a solution to all of our friends' struggles," Forbes said.
The company formally started the next year, in 2011.
From the beginning, and still today, all of the workers for Move Auburn are students enrolled in the university. Since 2011, Move has grown to 8 different locations across the southeast. What started out as just moving some girls out of their dorms has turned into something much bigger.
"Move Auburn has grown into being an all inclusive moving and storage provider from the time the students show up on campus to the time that they leave the campus after graduation, and we also can help them with everything in-between, as well as storing things for them," Mitchell said.
Mitchell also added that they aren't through growing yet.
"Our vision is to continue growing," Mitchell said. "We want to add schools every year. We don't want to just serve the Southeast, we want this to be a nationwide moving and storing service."
Forbes said the success of the company means a lot.
"This company is our baby," Forbes said. "It started in our fraternity house, just talking about the idea. It's neat to see it come to life not only in Auburn, but in all of the other universities we've been able to plug into as well."
Despite the hopes of becoming a nationwide moving service, Mitchell said Auburn is special to him.
"I would be lying if I said Auburn didn't have a special place in our hearts," Mitchell said. "We remember where we came from."
Mitchell and Forbes both encouraged any college students who have ideas to start businesses to get out here and do it.
"If you have an idea for something, don't be afraid to do it," Forbes said. "Ask people their opinions, and ask successful people and entrepreneurs for all the advice you can get."
Mitchell also agreed that so much of their success with starting their business as college students came from asking others for advice.
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