Richmond and Seattle moving companies merge

Richmond-based WayForth, a home moving management service, has merged with Seattle’s Livible, which provides on-demand moving and storage services. The merger of equals was announced Tuesday, and the combined companies will be known as WayForth Inc. and will have more than 400 employees.

WayForth co-founder Craig Shealy remains CEO of the new business, and Livible CEO and founder Terry Drayton will be executive chairman. The company, which will remain headquartered in Richmond, provides services in Central and Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, North Carolina; Portland, Oregon; Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Seattle and San Francisco. According to its news release, WayForth plans to expand to other major metropolitan areas.

“The merger of WayForth and Livible leverages the personal touch of our trained professionals with the benefits of technology to remove the stress and complexity of people’s major life transitions,” Shealy said in a statement. “Our mission is to guide people and families through significant and often emotional moves, helping them organize, distribute, store and transport belongings to make these transitions less stressful and with positive outcomes.”

WayForth was founded in 2016, and Livible started in 2013. Both companies have used technology to improve moves, and the new company launched a technology tool Tuesday called Client Care to help track movement, storage and distribution of personal belongings, as well as connect clients with the company during a move.