by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Jacksonville-based moving company The Suddath Companies has transported many things in all the years they’ve been in business. But it’s their recent partnership with The Walt Disney Company that’s gotten them more publicity than ever before.
As the official transportation sponsor for Disney’s Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations national tour, Suddath has been responsible for moving 75 6-foot, 700 pound mouse statues across the country.
The statues were designed by celebrity artists, including Andre Agassi, Ellen DeGeneres and John Travolta.
“It’s funny,” said Suddath executive vice president Brad Estrin, “we’ve moved everything from live dolphins to artwork for museums, but when people, even our corporate clients, find out about our relationship with Disney they get really excited about it.
“It’s been a very fulfilling project for us.”
The tour began in Orlando one year ago this month and has made stops in Houston, Boston and Atlanta. Estrin said since that time, many memorable things have happened.
“I remember, specifically in Dallas, the Mickey statues were to be put on display at the Gaylord Texan Hotel,” he said. “The hotel actually arranged it as if Mickey Mouse was actually going to be one of their guests.
“He was checked in at the front desk and some of the TV reporters came down and pretended to conduct an interview with him. That was pretty interesting.
“Disney really is a marketing guru.”
Estrin said even the Suddath vans, which have been decorated with Mickey’s image, get a lot of attention.
“You wouldn’t believe it if you saw it,” he said. “We’ll stop over in a particular city and tourists literally surround the trailers and take pictures. They treat them like they’re celebrities.”
But along with the high points come the occasionally lulls. Most notably a Mickey statue painted in the likeness of Janet Jackson was pulled from the tour after last year’s “wardrobe malfunction” during the Super Bowl halftime show.
That statue was eventually replaced, though it will eventually resurface next year when the tour concludes New York City.
“The culmination of the tour will be when the statues are auctioned off at Sotheby’s Auction House to raise money for the charity of each artist’s choice.
“So far it’s been great,” said Estrin. “We’ve never done anything quite like this, but we feel very lucky to be involved.”