Starting with just one man, a van, and the hopes to take care of all of Bondi’s moving needs, Andy Holloway, with the support of his partner Celine, created Holloway Removals. A decade later Holloway Removals & Storage have expanded to servicing all major cities across the east coast of Australia, receiving accreditation and recognition for their ongoing efforts in the removals and storage industry. Nevertheless, after taking Australia by storm, the Holloway heart still lies in the Eastern suburbs, where Andy, his partner Celine and their two wonderful boys live.
As a mum of the Eastern Suburbs for over 13 years and the unwavering support system for one of Australia’s leading removals companies, we spoke with Celine about the business, their recent move and her love of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Of course, Celine’s pearls of wisdom were to be expected. However, her transparency and genuine respect for the Holloway team was refreshing and a rarity in large businesses of today.
When speaking of the company Celine is quick to share that “Holloway’s an extension of family for us”, making it apparent her fondness for the business.
A fondness that comes as no real surprise when the Holloway company was quite literally constructed in Celine and Andy’s first home, in the heart of the Eastern Suburbs –
“2012 I was pregnant and due to give birth not long after we started the business. We were living in a 2-bed unit in Bondi Junction and we just had like a 24-hour rotation of people coming through the apartment, working in the office, working in the bedrooms. They would be here till 10 o’clock at night”
Simultaneously, Andy and Celine grew both their own family and the Holloway community from that first apartment in Bondi Junction, but despite the company’s growth and expansion across Australia their hearts always remained in the Eastern Suburbs where it had all first begun. “You kind of feel like a little village here”, Celine explains, “the beaches, the coffee, the food, being close to family, being close to friends….this place is really magical”.
In search of their forever home in the Eastern Suburbs, Celine and Andy have moved multiple times within the area, most recently relocating just last November, with the help of the Holloway team. Having learnt a lot from her previous experiences, Celine talks candidly about moving with their kids as she jokes about the challenges of them occasionally “getting in the way”.
However, it’s clear that whilst the boys took the move well, some challenges are inevitable, even when you’re the professionals –
“I think the kids tend to get quite emotional about leaving their home”, Celine shares. “For the one in year 7 it was goodbye to a home that he’d known, to friends that he’d made that live in the area, and starting a whole new school where he didn’t know anyone else. It was a big transition.”
Despite Celine’s level-headed nature and calming personality being a clear attribute to their moving success, she is quick to avert all praise to the team at Holloway Removals, “We’re 12 or 13 years into the business and the guys that we had were really fantastic”.
With particular praise for the packing team, Celine highlights how their organisation and the “way they set up makes you feel like the house is ready to move in”. A necessary quality for busy working families who often get little time to pack and organise themselves.
It’s clear, however, that it’s more than just professionalism and organisation that makes this company so successful within the Eastern suburbs.
Beaming as she discusses the team’s commitment and energy with their own recent move, Celine states –
“They do it with heart, they do it with love, they do it with professionalism, they’re really amazing, they’re smart, they know what to do”
And it seems that the admiration for the Holloway team stretches far past Celine and Andy, as Celine shares that their sons also “really love the company”. “They got into their Holloway outfit on the day because they wanted to participate and help out” she explains.
It appears that keeping the kids involved in the move is also a big priority for Celine and Andy, both for the children’s enjoyment and for their understanding of the business. “We wanted them to do some heavy lifting and get in there and help. For us as a family, it’s important for us to all be involved in the work”.
However, when asked for one piece of advice for others moving with children Celine is quick to add, “Throw away the stuff that you don’t want, that the children might want, without them being in the house”.
It is apparent that Celine – through her years of experience in the business and the family’s personal moves – has mastered the art of moving with kids. Yet, the resounding factor that she credits their moving success to is the Holloway removals team for their professionalism, their personality and their ability to turn the whole family’s moving experience into one that they can enjoy.
To contact Holloway Removals&storage visit: www.easternsuburbsmums.com.au/business-directory/holloway-removals-storage/
