The Merchants Moving Story

Founded in 1921 by E. W. Eastman, Merchants Delivery, as it was then known, initially operated as a delivery service for local merchants, eventually adding local and long-distance household goods moving to its roster of services.

After returning from World War II, second-generation leader A. W. Eastman diversified the family enterprise to include an IH/Navistar truck dealership as well as a truck rental and leasing company.

Jim Eastman, the third-generation Eastman to helm the company, became president in 1982, guiding the company through the era of deregulation and lending a new emphasis to corporate relocation services. The truck leasing company and truck dealership were sold, and Archives, a records storage company, as well as Taskmasters, our specialty moving service, were started.

Initially joining the operation in 1996 as company controller, Jennifer Eastman — great-granddaughter of founder E.W. Eastman — succeeds her father as president in 2014 to become the fourth generation Eastman to lead Merchants Moving & Storage. In 2015, Jennifer became majority shareholder. Jennifer is the first woman in this position of leadership for Merchants and one of the few women in this position across the industry and Merchants is certified as a state- and federal-designated woman-owned business. Under Jennifer’s direction, the company aims to carve out an industry niche distinguished by unrivaled attention to customer service.