How Relocators’ Deep Family Ties Have Helped the Brand Thrive

After Robert Espositos’ grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, his family was suddenly faced with a difficult task—they had to empty out her long-time home in Queens, New York. 

But what Esposito’s mother, Denise, quickly discovered was that there were very few options for families that had to downsize sick or elderly family members. Eager to make such challenging times a little easier, Denise decided to take matters into her own hands. So, in 2000, she founded Sisters in Charge—a company dedicated to assisting families with estate and tag sale needs. 

Esposito was only 15 at the time, and he watched closely as his mother’s grassroots company went from a desire to fulfill an unmet need, to a full-fledged business. Sisters in Charge started with nothing more than an ad in the local paper and some minor equipment including, a minivan, a few tables and a couple of clothing racks. Alongside her sister in law, Denise started booking estate sales throughout Long Island. By 2007, Esposito had become an intricate part of the business, too. He was tasked with cleaning out the homes and having them ready for new families. Word of her services quickly spread, and soon enough, families from all over the community were calling on Sisters in Charge for help. 

By watching his mother run Sisters in Charge, Esposito, a recent graduate and aspiring entrepreneur at the time, realized that there was room for something much more in his community—a full-service company that offered the very best moving, clean-out, estate sale and storage. Hungry to seize the opportunity, Esposito bought his first box truck. And with that, Relocators Service, Inc., was born. 

“Working alongside my mother at such a young age gave me a unique perspective into the world of business. I got an intimate look into the industry, and I saw what kind of competition was out there. That really opened my eyes—I saw a real need for a full-service company,” Esposito said. “The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in our family. Seeing the kind of success that can come with pure hard work and a desire to make a difference, I was motivated to follow in my mom’s footsteps and start a business of my own.” 

By 2012, the demand for Relocators’ services had increased so rapidly that Esposito added full-service moving to the ever-growing company. In just four years, Relocators had emerged as an important comprehensive solution for stressed out couples, divorced adults, families and children of aging and recently-deceased parents. Esposito had insight into a huge transition taking place in America. For the first time in history, two generations—the depression era and the boomers—are both downsizing simultaneously. 

Realizing the need for a company like Relocators throughout the country, Esposito decided it was time to expand beyond Long Island. In the summer of 2016, the Relocators franchise system was officially launched with the mission to offer a caring and comprehensive alternative to the fragmented estate sale, moving and clean out industries. The brand would accomplish this by offering the very best moving, clean-out, estate sale and storage services—offering customers a unique end-to-end solution for all of their needs.

“From the very beginning, my goal with Relocators was to make it different than the competitors. We were serving clients in Long Island with not just moving and post-sale clean outs, but also staging for estate sales and assisting clients who needed temporary storage,” Esposito said. “Death, divorce and moving are known to be some of life's biggest stressors. Going through even one of life’s biggest stressors can feel overwhelming and impossible for any family. The fact that our clients are usually going through these simultaneously makes a company they can trust and rely on paramount. By understanding this, we’re giving back the one thing that matters most to families—and that’s ease of mind.”

Esposito’s mother has since brought her estate sale expertise to Relocators, working directly with clients and handling pricing estimates. And that, Esposito says, is what makes Relocators truly unique—at its core, it’s a company inspired and built by multiple generations, and it’s rooted in family. That has given Esposito and the brand the kind of understanding, sensitivity and compassion needed when assisting strangers during these extremely difficult life events. And it’s what ultimately sets the brand apart from the competition throughout the Long Island area. 

Today, as Relocators sets out to grow by way of franchising, those same familial values will play an important role as the brand expands throughout New York and beyond. 

“When people go through these stressful life events, they’re calling Relocators—not a big, impersonal company. Or worse, multiple impersonal companies, which are needed to handle a full transition. They’re coming to us because we are streamlining an otherwise fragmented process.  They’re coming to us because we’re a family, too. We’ve been through the same things they’re going through,” Esposito said. “My mother has always been the caretaker in the business—the one to put people at ease. And I’ve been able to help execute the business model to make sure families are getting the kind of service they need and deserve. Together, we’ve built something truly special.” 

It’s been nearly nine years since Relocators emerged from its humble beginnings, and to this day, Esposito still credits his mother for helping him get to where he is today. And in the years ahead, he’s hoping to instill those same values in the generations to come. 

“I learned what to do—and what not to do—by watching my mother grow her business over the years,” Esposito said. “Having that personal bond and that emotional tie-in to this business has really helped me. Seeing her take risks with her business at such a young age is truly inspiring, and it motivated me to keep pushing forward with my own endeavors. Relocators is a true labor of love, and I’m proud of what I’ve been able to build every single day.”