Gentle Giant Moving Company Helps Consumers 'Pack Like the Pros' with Live Summer Packing Seminar

Somerville, MA (PRWEB) July 9, 2007

Gentle Giant Moving Company (http://www.gentlegiant.com), the premier residential mover in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Virginia, today announced the return of the popular "Pack Like the Pros" summer season packing seminar on July 21, 2007. The company also published an updated advisory on common packing pitfalls and offered tips for anyone planning to pack their own belongings for an upcoming residential move.

This year's free "Pack Like the Pros" seminar will be held on Saturday, July 21st from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Gentle Giant headquarters in Somerville, MA. A complimentary sampling of professional packing materials will be provided to each guest at the seminar, where veteran Giants will demonstrate hands-on packing techniques, offer helpful time-and-money saving tips, and provide advice on preventing damage during a move. A brief Q & A period will follow the packing demonstration, and coffee and light refreshments will be served.

The "Pack Like the Pros" seminar will focus mainly on the following topics:

• Preparing and protecting all types of personal possessions, including kitchen and dining items such as china, stemware and small appliances; home electronics such as flat panel TVs; and art and collectibles.
• Guiding loved ones through a transition between homes, including children and seniors, as well as family pets.
• Protecting one's self from injury during a move through proper packing and lifting techniques.

"We want to share important information that many people may not know about safe and effective packing," said Larry O'Toole President and founder of Gentle Giant Moving Company. "Based on years of experience with common moving challenges as well as the knowledge we have regarding how to pack newer electronics and high-tech equipment, we feel that we have the ability to help people, whether they move with us or not. Our goal is to improve the process of moving for everyone by reducing packing stress."

According to Gentle Giant's Quality Control Director Ayanna McKinnon, "Customers are often surprised when we show them how to pack certain items or tell them which items are most susceptible to damage while moving." McKinnon offers the following advice on preparing for a move:

• Wrap mattresses and box springs, and never drag them. "Many people end up with dirty or ripped mattresses because they leave them unprotected, or they drag them on the floor and they become snagged," said McKinnon. She urges everyone to carefully wrap mattresses and box springs in special plastic bags. "If you use a mover, make sure they use a new mattress bag because bed bugs are a potential problem you want to avoid."
• Move flat panel televisions in their original packages or have a crate professionally made. "It's important to know what you're doing with plasmas and LCD TVs," McKinnon said. "Plasma TVs should never be laid flat, and LCDs have problems with changing altitude over long drives." She also advises against turning on any TV right away. "They should to return to room temperature or they will be more susceptible to internal damage."
• Pack plates and dishes vertically, and wrap them individually. "A dish that is hit on its edge is much less likely to break than one that lands flat," explained McKinnon. "And if they're not separately wrapped they rattle during transit, and that could cause them to crack."
• Pay special attention to keepsakes or special items related to personal hobbies. "Think about moving those things yourself, or simply point out those special boxes to your movers. Items like those are impossible to replace because their monetary value doesn't compare with their personal value."
• Pack lamp shades separately from lamps. "Lamp shades can all go into one box, separated and cushioned with paper, but watch out for silk shades," she said. "Silk has a 'memory,' so any indentation caused by the pressure of wrapping material can cause a permanent mark."

For people currently planning a move but are unable to attend the free packing seminar, Gentle Giant provides detailed move preparation advice on its web site (http://www.gentlegiant.com/packinghints.htm) and also offers downloads of the "Pack Like the Pros" exclusive DVD at http://www.gentlegiant.com/packlikepros.htm.

For more information:
Please contact
Stephen Coady
Gentle Giant Moving Company
617-806-1068

About Gentle Giant Moving Company, Inc.
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, Gentle Giant is a premier residential and commercial mover, offering local, interstate, and international service. Named one of the Boston Business Journal's Best Places to Work in Massachusetts in 2004, 2005, and 2006, winner of the 2006 International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics by the Better Business Bureau, winner of the Better Business Bureau's Torch Award for Excellence in 2002, 2003 and 2005, seven-time winner of Boston Magazine's "Best of Boston," six-time winner of The Improper Bostonian's "Boston's Best Moving Company" award, and five-time winner of the Angie's List "Super Service" award, the company's services include craning, piano, and complete packing and unpacking services. Gentle Giant offers storage facilities and dispatches crews from its fifteen offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Virginia. For more information, please call (617) 661-3333 or visit the company online at http://www.gentlegiant.com.

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