We recently connected with Sandy Gerstein and have shared our conversation below.
Sandy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses.
Family businesses have always been central to my life, with entrepreneurial spirit deeply ingrained on both sides of my family.
On my mother’s side, her parents worked alongside my great-grandparents in a general store. Later, my grandmother’s brother went on to own and operate a successful air conditioning business with his son, which still thrives today.
My maternal grandfather, Paul Malkin, followed a similar entrepreneurial path. His father, Harry, owned a women’s coat company, which my great uncle joined. My grandfather, however, branched out and created his own women’s clothing line, Thea Linda Knitting Mills. Later in life, my grandparents and my mother, along with her two sisters, purchased Sunny Atlantic Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, NY. My cousins, brother, and I worked summers there, gaining invaluable life lessons by watching our grandparents build something lasting with their daughters. Our children grew up witnessing these generations working together—a legacy that continues today with my cousin now running the club.
On my father’s side, the entrepreneurial journey was equally rich. His father started a tire business, initially selling tires from a pushcart, and later opening a Goodyear franchise and a tire recapping facility. My dad and uncle joined him to run South Shore Tire & Rubber Company for many years, creating a thriving family venture. I have fond memories of tagging along with my dad to work as a child and seeing firsthand what he was part of building—it felt magical!
My own experience with family business became personal when my son worked with me during COVID. While he eventually found his passion in accounting rather than moving and organizing, the time we spent working together is something I’ll always treasure.
Here in Boca Raton, I see many family businesses that are now in their second, third, and even fourth generations. It’s inspiring to witness families working together, creating something meaningful, and establishing a lasting legacy. Family businesses are special—they come with unique opportunities for building close bonds, and they also present challenges, like balancing family dynamics with professional responsibilities.
Would I want my children to join my business? Only if they’re passionate about it. In my experience, forcing it rarely works, but when it happens naturally, it can be a beautiful and rewarding experience.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hi, I’m Sandy Gerstein, founder of STG Concierge Moving & Organizing. I’ve always had a passion for neat and tidy spaces helping people simplify their lives, and over the years, that passion has transformed into a business where we focus on making life transitions—especially moves and downsizing—as smooth and stress-free as possible.
How I Got into the Industry: My journey into the moving and organizing industry started organically. With my background in project management and organizing, I found myself often helping friends and family streamline their lives, especially during major life events such as relocations, downsizing, or settling estates after the loss of a loved one. As these experiences grew, I realized there was a real need for a compassionate, comprehensive service that could handle not just the logistics of moving but also the emotional and physical toll it takes on individuals and families. That’s how STG Concierge Moving & Organizing was born.
What We Provide: We offer full-service moving and organizing solutions, ranging from pre-listing home preparation to compassionate estate liquidation. Our services include everything from staging homes for sale, coordinating repairs, packing, moving, unpacking, and ongoing organizing support for paperwork and daily household management. One thing that sets us apart is that we take on every aspect of the process, so our clients don’t have to lift a finger or feel overwhelmed.
Problems We Solve for Our Clients: Many of our clients are going through emotionally charged situations, whether they’re downsizing, helping their aging parents relocate, or clearing out a home after a loved one has passed. We step in with empathy, discretion, and a solutions-based approach. We understand that these transitions can be difficult, so we offer services that not only manage the physical aspects of moving but also provide emotional support along the way.
What Sets Us Apart: What makes STG Concierge unique is our concierge approach. We don’t just manage tasks; we manage emotions, expectations, and the entire experience from start to finish. Our proven systems, combined with over 15 years of experience, help ensure that each transition—whether big or small—is successful and stress-free. Our clients trust us because we provide discretion, tailored solutions, and a deeply personalized touch.
What I’m Most Proud Of: I’m incredibly proud of the relationships we’ve built with our clients and the trust they place in us. Knowing that we can alleviate some of the stress and anxiety during major life transitions is the most rewarding part of what we do. Additionally, I’m proud of our Alzheimer’s Walk Team, where we rally our community together to support the fight against Alzheimer’s, something that deeply affects many of the families we work with.
What Potential Clients Should Know: If you’re looking for a team that not only helps you pack up boxes but truly cares about your experience—who can take on the stress and manage the details so you can focus on what really matters—then we are the right fit. We pride ourselves on making your move or transition a seamless experience, whether it’s downsizing, organizing, or moving. Our services go beyond logistics; we provide peace of mind.
Ultimately, our goal is to make sure our clients feel supported during their transitions, and we do this by being hands-on, understanding their needs, and ensuring no detail is left unattended.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
At STG Concierge Moving & Organizing, our reputation is built on a combination of exceptional service, deep community ties, and a client-centric approach.
For over two decades, I’ve been actively involved in the Boca Raton community through various non-profit organizations, including the local (Sunrise Park and Dreyfoos School of the Arts) and the Palm Beach County Council PTA, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County (where I am currently the Business & Professional Co-Chair), Kindness Matters 365, the Adolph & Rose Levis JCC, Hillel of Broward & Palm Beach County, Liumi West, and The Neshamah Institute.
These connections, along with our membership in NASMM (the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers), NAPO and the Realtor Association of Broward, Palm Beaches, and St. Lucie, have helped us build a network of trusted relationships.
Our dedication to personalized service, expertise, and innovation ensures that we meet our clients’ unique needs effectively. Ultimately, we believe that people do business with those they know, like, and trust, and our strong community presence and commitment to excellence reflect this principle.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our business faced significant challenges as in-person meetings became impossible and many of our clients from South Florida relocated north or to their second residences to be closer to family. The uncertainty of the pandemic meant we had to quickly adapt to a new reality.
We had to pivot our entire approach to continue serving our clients effectively. We embraced technology by implementing video calls and online systems, allowing us to maintain communication and manage projects remotely. We also involved family members in the process, ensuring that everyone was on the same page and could contribute to decision-making from a distance.
One of our major adaptations was perfecting our inventory catalog component. This innovation allowed us to create detailed, organized inventories that clients and their families could access and review online, or via hard copy. This not only streamlined the process, it also provided peace of mind for clients who could no longer be physically present.
Our ability to quickly adjust and innovate in response to these unprecedented circumstances highlighted our resilience and commitment to serving our clients, no matter the challenges. By embracing remote solutions and enhancing our systems, we were able to continue delivering exceptional service and support during a time of uncertainty.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stgconcierge.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stgconcierge/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STGCONCIERGE
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/home
