Relocating Convenience

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Five-year-old partnership between Grainger and Oakwood Worldwide provides nothing short of relocation convenience-without the high price tag

By Kayla O'Brien

RISMEDIA, April 18, 2007-Relocating, in its most basic form, is the process of moving to a new place on a long-term basis, typically due to the change of location for business. Ask anyone who has ever been through it and they will tell you that it's not only a change of address, but a hit to one's comfort zone, not to mention an expensive process for the company itself. To ease this procedure, one company, Grainger, has teamed up with Oakwood Worldwide-a provider of short-term and extended-stay housing options-for the past five years, ensuring a comfortable transition and a reliable relationship for all relocation and housing needs.

"They're a one-stop shop for us," says Lauri James, relocation program specialist at Grainger. "We place all of our relocating employees and consultants with Oakwood."
"Our employees don't have to bring anything. Some apartments even come with a washer and dryer, which is very convenient," says James. "Typically, these employees are in the process of selling their former home. This also gives them time to find the right new home."

As one of the world's largest distributors of maintenance and repair products, Grainger maintains business-to-business relationships across the country. With close to 17,000 employees, Grainger works closely with their customers, understanding their challenges and providing cost-saving solutions. That's exactly what the company had in mind for their housing needs.

"We partner with Oakwood for not only relocation but also for travel. They saved the company millions of dollars rather than sending employees to a hotel," explains James.
A 10-year veteran of the U.S. Army, James is no stranger to the relocation process. With Oakwood, she is able to see all of the properties and floor plans to ensure it is appropriate for the college intern to the senior vice president of Grainger. Having used other companies in the past, she has experienced the difficulties that planning relocations and travel can bring.

"What I didn't like about the others was that they're not nationwide-we have business and offices in all 50 states," she says. "It didn't benefit us to have a relationship if we couldn't use them everywhere."

"Not to mention, I've looked at other floor plans and furniture, and it just wasn't nearly as nice as what Oakwood provides," she adds. "If you're going to have someone there for anywhere from 30-120 days, you want it to be as comfortable as home."

Adding to the company's peace of mind, Oakwood directly bills Grainger so the employee doesn't have to pay anything. "It's all been a great experience," she says. "What makes our partnership work so well is that our account executive from Oakwood has taken the time to get to know me, the company's culture, who our employees are and why they're moving.

"They came and sat down and listened to our needs and were able to provide great solutions. Instead of our supplier, they're our partner," adds James.

For more information, please visit www.Oakwood.com.

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