Black Business Spotlight: Thoroughbred Moving and Installation

A business built on family and second chances

“Originally, I was looking to advance in the company that I was working for [Advanced Commercial Interiors—also known as ACI],” said 47-year-old Tierre McHenry. “You know, I’ve always been an entrepreneur,” said McHenry who started his Thoroughbred Moving and Installation company in 2016. 

“But when I looked into advancing in that company and I talked to the owner, he was like, ‘Have you ever thought about subcontracting?’ And I took that under consideration,” he said. Eventually, he took a leap of faith and opened Thoroughbred Moving, a commercial and residential furniture moving and installation company, which has eight employees, including his wife. 

MSR: What inspired you to launch/start your business?

Tierre: My first inspiration for starting the moving company was doing odd jobs for the company [ACI] that I was working for, because people would often go to him because he had a truck. They were like, ‘Hey, you guys do move?’ So, my boss just put a crew of us together and we would go do moves.

MSR: How does your business impact the community?

Tierre: We impact the community with the jobs that we provide. I’m an employer who believes in second chances. So, you know, I will give guys who made some mistakes a second and sometimes third and fourth chances. 

Because I believe that oftentimes it’s the lack of training or it’s the lack of someone speaking that into your life and saying, ‘Hey, things could be better if you chose to do this instead of that.’ Then you gotta give it time.

MSR: What did that process look like when you were starting your business?

Tierre: Once I came up with the plan, I started putting money aside. The last big job I ran for ACI, I believe we were out at Medtronic for three months. I took the bonus that I earned from working that job and I put that with the money that I had been saving. Then I went through the process of getting my LLC [limited liability company] and all of that.

The first jobs that I got, I didn’t have a truck. I actually rented the truck from ACI to go do small moves. That’s how I got my start. My first truck I bought from a company that we would subcontract for a lot through ACI. That’s how I acquired my first 16-footer truck.

MSR: How long did it take for you to take off?

Tierre: Well, I mean, I had a steady client immediately because I started subcontracting for the company that I had formerly worked for as an employee. They became my first contract or my first client in the subcontracting industry. So after that I linked up by way of another friend of mine who owns a printing business. I linked up with Rick Harris, who owns Ideal Commercial Interiors. And he became my second client.

MSR: What has been your biggest challenge in owning your business?

Tierre: The biggest challenge I would say has to be training and retaining talent. So getting new employees, training them, and then retaining them. That’s been the biggest challenge.

Sometimes people have to learn that where they’re at is a great place. And oftentimes the only way they can learn that is by not being at that place anymore. And then they come back to that place. We’ve had some people that we’ve had to let go, or they decided to make a change, and they’ve come back.

This is more of a family-oriented culture. You know, my motto is ‘Our family moving yours.’ In every aspect of the business [it’s about] let our family come and help yours—help your business family—create a new office space and move you into your new place.

MSR: What has been the most rewarding part of owning your business?

Tierre: I would definitely say it’s the freedom. I can work as hard as I want to work. Or I can say, I’m gonna take this day off. Or I’m gonna take this morning off and do this interview, and then I’m gonna go work this afternoon. I’m able to do those things.

MSR: What services do you offer?

Tierre: We offer residential moving, commercial moving, furniture installations, delivery and pickup, service contracts, garage and basement clean-outs, and debris removal.

MSR: What’s your vision for your business?

Tierre: My vision for my business is to really move into a position where I’m able to keep my guys busy. That’s first and foremost. You know, if you’re not keeping your guys busy you’re gonna lose them. 

So I keep my guys busy and effect change within those lives. Because then I know that once I start really effecting change within the lives of the people who work for the company, that’s going to spread.

MSR:  What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Tierre: I would say know what it is that you want to do. It can’t just be about money. You have to be doing something that you’re passionate about.

MSR: Is there anything you would like to add that has not been covered?

Tierre: Thoroughbred is always looking for new employees. We’re always looking for somebody who’s really self-motivated. We don’t go to the same place every day. And so, I have found that some people are wired to handle that from the beginning. And then some people aren’t. And it takes those sorts of people longer to acclimate to the subcontracting business.

You can be in downtown Minneapolis at 5 a.m. today, and then go to Rochester by 7:30 tomorrow. And so just learning the ins and outs of that can be challenging. But we’re always looking for some new blood, people who are self-motivated.

For more information, visit www.thoroughbredmovingmn.com, or call 612-245-0702.