PODS of the World

This blog entry is not about how PODS is an international company (which it is, but that’s not what this is about). I was just thinking about how recently, when trying to find a nice image for a separate blog post how many different images I found that were indeed a “pod but not a storage container.

Exhibit A: pea pods. At least, I think those are peas. Those come up very high in a Google Images search result set for “PODS.” Statistically, I have to think that more people enjoy eating peas than soybeans. Edamame, I’d have thought, would be a more popular search result.

Exhibit B: Apparently, these are a brand of candy named “Pods” created by Mars, Inc only available in Australia. I certainly haven’t ever heard of them, much less had one, but I’m also not at the candy forefront. Despite that, I felt that this was important to show still because they look, to put it plainly, crazy delicious. If anyone has indeed tried these, perhaps any of our Australian readers, please comment below. I might have to check them out.

If you thought you’d make it through this blog without seeing an escape pod, you’ve got another thing coming. If you were convinced you’d see an escape pod, I aim to please.

Exhibit C: an escape capsule from the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Let it be known that escape pods are not necessary when moving cross country with PODS. Moving with PODS is a snap.

Disclaimer: You may want to consider an escape pod if you decide to use a PODS competitor.

PODS and UNIGROUP create alliance to better serve customers

Moving and storage giants complement each other’s services, offerings

ST. LOUIS, Mo. AND CLEARWATER, Fla. – PODS (Portable on Demand Storage) and UniGroup, Inc., the parent company of United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit, have agreed to a marketing alliance that provides for the exchange of services between leaders in portable container moving and storage and full-service moving.

The agreement provides UniGroup access to PODS’ fleet of 138,000 moving and storage containers serviced by 166 franchise and corporate locations. In exchange, PODS gains access to professional packing and loading services through the network of United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit agents with nearly 750 locations across the country.

“UniGroup is pleased to enter a marketing alliance with PODS, the largest portable container moving and storage services provider,” said Rich McClure, president of UniGroup, a leader in the full-service moving industry. “This alliance will enable UniGroup and its family of United and Mayflower agents to offer residential and corporate customers a complete range of moving and storage services – from full-service professional moving to do-it-yourself container services.”

Tom Ryan, CEO of PODS, said, “PODS has experienced tremendous growth in the moving and storage industries due to the flexibility and convenience of our services. Traditionally, we’ve appealed to the do-it-yourself moving and storage customer, but our agreement with UniGroup will enable PODS’s customers to access packing and loading services that many of our customers want from the most trusted names in the business – United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit.”

The alliance with PODS will expand the capacity and efficiency of Mayflower and United agents within the portable container marketplace and ensure the van lines’ customers have access to a range of moving options to fit their needs. UniGroup entered the portable container moving and storage market in 2006 with its brand SAM – Store and Move. The SAM network of 92 dealers in 65 cities in the United States will continue to provide portable containers under the new agreement.

About UniGroup, Inc.

UniGroup, Inc., a $2 billion privately held transportation and relocation services company, has service providers in all 50 U.S. states and more than 180 countries around the world. In addition to household goods carriers United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit, UniGroup owns several

other subsidiaries that provide goods and services to professional movers and customers, including Vanliner Insurance Company, Trans Advantage, Inc., and UniGroup Worldwide UTS.

About PODS

Founded in 1998, PODS provides moving and storage services to more than 238 million consumers in 48 U.S. states, Canada, and Australia. To date, the company has completed more than 200,000 long-distance relocations, exceeded one million deliveries and has nearly 138,000 PODS^® containers in service. PODS^® secure containers are constructed of a steel frame and are available in three sizes: approximately 8-by-7-by-7 feet, 8-by-8-by-12 feet and 8-by-8-by-16 feet and have been tested to withstand winds of more than 110-mph when partially loaded.