June 2025

Moving is hard work.

I asked for a little space in the newsletter to highlight the incredible work the EIK team accomplished, along with several members of the HHM team, to move $8 million of inventory from our old site to our new home.

As usual, I knew the move would be a challenge, but I still underestimated it. In April, we started planning how to move more than 10 sets of pontoons, 50+ long reach kits, three containers filled with thousands of parts, and acres worth of other track components to 249. I quickly realized that hiring a company to move everything was not financially feasible, so I brought the EIK team together and broke the news: we were going to have to tackle this challenge ourselves.

The team was supportive and ready to take it on.

Our first moving day was at the beginning of May. We decided to start with the container full of long reach pins, assuming it would be the most difficult. We spent time palletizing pins and preparing for the move. Despite a misguided attempt to use a U-Haul truck and a little rain, we got it done through determination and hard work. We even had some fun along the way. The radio was playing, there were sing-alongs, plenty of laughter, and a good workout as we moved thousands of pins and other items by hand.

Week two did not disappoint. We expected the second container to be a little easier, but I was wrong again. The parts were heavier and more difficult to move, and it rained the entire time.

Week three brought more of the same. By then, we were exhausted, sore, and trying to keep up with our regular responsibilities as work continued to pile up.

Then came the pontoons, long reaches, and large track parts. We hired outside haulers to make as many trips as possible each day. We estimated it would take about 60 truckloads and roughly 14 consecutive days to move everything to the new site. With daily rain and deteriorating yard conditions, it was difficult to manage more than four or five loads per day. But in the end, we got everything moved.

None of this would have been possible without the hard work of everyone involved. Every person pitched in and did their part. For nearly two weeks, Trey worked at the new site by himself, unloading each truck, sorting products as best he could, and fitting everything together like a giant puzzle of organized chaos. He did an incredible job and maintained a positive attitude every day.

I also have to recognize the efforts of several members of the HHM team who worked hard each day to load trucks as efficiently as possible and minimize delays. Lorenzo was a master on the forklift, moving quickly to keep things flowing. Jordan helped load his fair share of trucks and packed them tightly to maximize deck space. Sammy and Chico worked with me to palletize pontoon slewing rings on one of the hottest days of the year. Mark stepped in to help with loading as well, and Scott joined us near the end of the move, helping restack a pallet of heavy shoes that fell apart. Doug, Jordan, and Lorenzo also helped move some of the heavier items into containers at the new site when the rest of the team was worn down and tired.

A project this large could only have been accomplished through teamwork, and I was grateful to have all of these people on our side. I think it is a great testament to who we are as a company. We may be small, but we are strong because of the people we work with every day. This experience showed what we can accomplish when we combine our efforts toward a common goal.

Thank you to Angelica, Cole, Chico, David, Doug, Jordan, Lorenzo, Marcelo, Mark, Nataly, Sammy, Scott, and Trey for all of your hard work over the past month. I’m proud to work alongside you.

Thank you,

~ Matt