Square Cow co-founder and Steiner Ranch resident Wade Lombard with his family. From left, Jax, Harley, Wade, wife Kimberly and Lawson Lombard.
Named one of Austin’s fastest growing companies
By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News
Square Cow Movers, owned by Steiner Ranch resident Wade Lombard, along with his father Wayne Lombard and brother-in-law Derek Mills, has once again been recognized by the Austin Business Journal as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in Austin.
In 2008, Lombard and his co-founders were looking for a start-up opportunity and, “were all over the place” when the friend of a friend offered to teach them everything he knew about the moving business. According to Lombard, “He lived three hours away and owned three moving companies. He was kind enough to let us pick his brain about his business… We learned a little about the business and jumped in head first.”
Ranked 25th on the Fast 50 list of companies with revenues below $10 million, Lombard attributes the company’s growth and success to their customer-centric business model. He explained that Square Cow’s goal is to serve. “You’ll hear that word when you call our office, when you receive our confirmation email… You’ll see it when we move you. Our teams are specifically trained to serve the client, from the first phone call to the final item coming off the truck. Our goal is to serve better than anyone else in our industry.”
Two years ago, Square Cow was ranked #9 on the ABJ Fast 50 list, with 63 employees between their Austin and Houston locations. Today, they have additional offices in Dallas and Denver, Colo., 180 employees and annual revenues of $10 million.
For Lombard, the work is far from a daily grind. “We’ve continued to see dynamic growth and our brand continues to gain recognition. We’re in the fun stage of small business. The pace is blinding, things change every day and the energy is infectious.”
To accommodate their new size, Square Cow recently acquired a new, 40,000 square foot warehouse, located on Hwy. 183 in Cedar Park. The move, two years in the making, “is an enormous milestone for our company,” said Lombard. “The ability to showcase our warehouse for 183 commuters combined with easy access for our moving crews won us over.”
Rapid growth is not without obstacles. “Keeping up with demand is especially challenging because of seasonal surges in activity,” explained Lombard. Spring and summer are their busiest times of year, and retaining well-trained employees in the off-season is key. As Lombard said, “In the end, who cares if you have a state of the art warehouse, new trucks and a quirky name if you don’t have high quality people executing the work?”
Beyond growth, Lombard wants his company to contribute to the larger community. To that end, Square Cow’s charitable giving focuses on two causes. “First, breast cancer awareness and researching for a cure,” said Lombard. “When we started the business, my mom was battling breast cancer… Second, we love (Austin non-profit) The Settlement Home… They house, train, educate, and give love to foster children… It’s an amazing organization.” His wife Kimberly also volunteers at The Settlement Home and Square Cow donates services.
Lombard knows that his continued success will be due to more than just great employees and a new warehouse. “We are a local family owned business. We are your neighbors. Our (three) kids play sports here, they ride their bikes to school, we attend church just up the road. We love where we live. What this community has done for our family can’t be overstated. In the absence of adequate words — thank you!”