1st Move International
1st Move International is a Bristol-headquartered international removals company, founded in 1997, that ships household goods and personal effects from the UK to 80+ countries using a unique palletised packing system, serving individual consumers and families relocating overseas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 1st Move International does
1st Move International Limited is a UK-headquartered international removals company founded in 1997, operating from a single facility in Avonmouth, Bristol. The company specialises in shipping household goods and personal effects from the United Kingdom to overseas destinations, serving individual consumers and families relocating abroad. Core services include shared container (groupage) shipping for smaller moves up to 15 cubic metres, full container (20ft/40ft) shipping for larger household moves, professional packing, customs clearance, storage, airfreight, vehicle shipping, and MoveProtect insurance cover. Pricing is volume-based, ranging from £1,250 to £7,500 per move depending on container type and destination.
The company's primary technical differentiator is a palletised shrink-wrap packing methodology, described as unique among UK international movers, in which household goods are packed onto individual pallets to minimise individual handling and enable exact volume measurement for billing. Additional operational technology includes 24/7 container and vessel tracking, electronic customs filing through the UK CHIEF system, and an AI-powered Removal Volume Calculator that converts natural language item descriptions into cubic-metre estimates. A WhatsApp Home Survey feature allows remote quoting via photo and video submissions.
The business model is primarily direct-to-consumer (B2C), with revenue generated through one-time shipping transactions plus ancillary recurring services (storage, insurance). Customers originate almost entirely in the UK, with goods shipped to 80+ countries and 6,500+ destinations via partnerships with premier international shipping lines. Distribution relies on the company website (shipit.co.uk), phone, email, SEO-optimised destination pages, Trustpilot reviews, and content marketing, supported by a nationwide UK home collection network. The company holds long-standing memberships in BAR (20+ years), IAM, and BIFA, with CTSI Approved Code compliance and registered customs broker status (EORI GB720702181000) providing regulatory moat. A partnership with PetAir UK extends the offering into pet relocation services.
1st Move International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 1st Move International
- Legal name
- 1st Move International Limited
- Website
- https://shipit.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 1st Move International is a Bristol-headquartered international removals company, founded in 1997, that ships household goods and personal effects from the UK to 80+ countries using a unique palletised packing system, serving individual consumers and families relocating overseas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
1st Move International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Removals Services
- NAICS
- Used Household and Office Goods Moving (48421), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (49211)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Relocation Management (End-to-End) (HSAKACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Door-to-Door Household Goods International Moving (HSAKACAA), International Freight Forwarding (Air/Ocean) for Personal Effects (HSAKACAD), Storage-in-Transit (SIT) for International Moves (HSAKACAK), Household Goods Moving & International Shipping (THACALAE)
Keywords
Where 1st Move International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
1st Move International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- International Removals Services: Core revenue stream from international removals services including packing, shipping, customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery to overseas destinations. Services are priced based on shipment volume and destination.
- Container Shipping: Both shared container (groupage) and full container (20ft or 40ft) shipping options. Shared containers are more affordable for smaller shipments up to 15 cubic metres; full containers for larger moves like 3-4 bedroom households.
- MoveProtect (Shipment Protection): Enhanced liability option providing coverage for loss or damage to belongings during transit. An alternative to standard limited liability, charged as an add-on fee.
- Car Shipping: International vehicle shipping services for customers moving cars overseas. Subject to customs regulations and typically requires vehicle to be owned for more than 12 months.
- Airfreight Services: Airfreight department for shipping essential items that need to arrive quickly (within days) rather than waiting for sea freight. Used for jewellery, documents, essential clothing, children's comfort items, medical records, and professional equipment.
- Storage Services: Free UK storage up to the next scheduled sailing date included with service. Additional storage available for ongoing needs with monthly charges.
- Professional Packing Services: Professional packing services by trained packers included as part of the service, with the company providing all packing materials. Items packed by customers are not covered for damages under standard liability.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shared Container Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Full Container Service (20ft/40ft) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | MoveProtect Insurance |
| Subscription | Monthly | Storage |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
1st Move International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
1st Move International is a UK-based international removals company that ships household goods and personal effects overseas for individuals and families. It offers door-to-door relocation services including home collection, export packing, customs clearance, sea or air freight, and delivery at destination, supported by a proprietary palletised shipping system and complimentary UK storage.
Product overview
1st Move International operates as a specialist international removals company offering a unified service portfolio centred on shipping household goods from the UK to overseas destinations. The core offering is International Removals, which encompasses Container Shipping (shared and full container options), Safer Packing (palletised shipping system), and Customs Clearance. Additional services include Furniture Shipping, Car Shipping, Airfreight, and MoveProtect shipment protection cover. Digital tools include the AI Removal Volume Calculator, WhatsApp Home Survey, Container Tracking, and Secure Document Transfer. A partnership with PetAir UK provides pet shipping services. The company differentiates through its unique palletised packing methodology, weekly sailing schedules, and personal move manager approach, covering over 6,500 worldwide destinations across 80 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- International Removals (Door-to-Door) End-to-end international removals service for UK households relocating overseas, covering home collection, export packing, customs clearance, sea or air freight and delivery at the destination address.
- Shared Container Shipping Cost-effective option for smaller-volume shipments where a customer's goods share container space with other shippers' belongings on international sea routes.
- Full Container Shipping Dedicated sole-use container service for full household moves, ensuring the customer's belongings are not co-mingled with other shippers' goods.
- Car Shipping International vehicle shipping service transporting customers' cars alongside or independent of their household goods move.
- Airfreight Faster international shipping option for time-sensitive or smaller-volume relocations using air cargo rather than sea freight.
- Furniture Shipping Specialist shipping of individual furniture items and smaller household effects internationally for customers who do not require a full household move.
- MoveProtect Shipment Protection Shipment protection/insurance product that covers customers' belongings against damage or loss during international transit.
- Pet Shipping International pet transport service for relocating households, delivered via a specialist pet-shipping partnership so that customers' pets can move alongside their belongings.
- Complimentary UK Storage Free UK storage included with international removal bookings, allowing customers to leave packed belongings in secure storage prior to shipment or arrival at the overseas residence.
- Customs Clearance Destination customs documentation and clearance service handling CHIEF electronic customs submissions on the customer's behalf as part of the international move.
Quantifiable outcome
- Pre-booked container slots enable weekly shipping departures without waiting for containers to fill
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use 1st Move International
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
1st Move International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
1st Move International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PetAir UKcorePartnership with PetAir UK, a vet-led pet relocation specialist and British Airways Preferred Partner, to provide comprehensive pet transport services alongside household removals. 1st Move International customers receive 5% discount on PetAir services. PetAir has transported over 32,000 pets to 300+ destinations worldwide.
- British Association of Removers (BAR)coreLong-standing member of BAR for over 20 years. BAR membership demonstrates commitment to professional standards, ethical conduct, and reliable service. BAR members are inspected against criteria covering premises, staff, vehicles, operational procedures, insurance arrangements and customer service standards.
- International Association of Movers (IAM)coreMember of IAM, one of the world's leading associations for international moving companies. IAM membership supports ability to work within a recognised international moving network and reinforces commitment to professional standards, ethical conduct and reliable service for customers moving abroad.
- British International Freight Association (BIFA)coreBIFA membership supports the shipping and documentation side of the service. Reflects additional shipping knowledge required to move personal effects safely and efficiently overseas, including export documentation, shipping arrangements, customs procedures and coordination with carriers and overseas agents.
- Furniture & Home Improvement OmbudsmancoreBAR customers have access to independent dispute resolution through the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman. Provides an impartial route for handling unresolved disputes and gives customers additional confidence when choosing a professional, accredited international mover.
- British Airways CargominorPetAir UK is a British Airways Preferred Partner, providing access to BA's cargo operations for pet shipments. 1st Move International customers benefit through the PetAir partnership.
- World's Premier Shipping LinescorePre-booked container slots sharing space with commercial exporters enable weekly shipping departures with world's premier shipping lines. This partnership approach ensures faster shipping without waiting for containers to fill.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
1st Move International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
1st Move International social profiles
Digital presence1st Move International compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
1st Move International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
1st Move International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
1st Move International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
1st Move International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 1st Move International
What does 1st Move International do?
1st Move International is a UK-based international removals company that ships household goods and personal effects overseas for individuals and families. It offers door-to-door relocation services including home collection, export packing, customs clearance, sea or air freight, and delivery at destination, supported by a proprietary palletised shipping system and complimentary UK storage.
Is 1st Move International a public or private company?
1st Move International is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 1st Move International founded?
1st Move International was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 1st Move International based?
1st Move International is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does 1st Move International make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. International Removals Services are the primary driver. The others are container Shipping, moveProtect (Shipment Protection), car Shipping, airfreight Services, storage Services and professional Packing Services.
Does 1st Move International have an API?
No public API is recorded for 1st Move International.
What industry is 1st Move International in?
1st Move International's product category is International Removals Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAKACAE, International Relocation Management (End-to-End), with a secondary code of HSAKACAA, Door-to-Door Household Goods International Moving. Its NAICS code is 48421 and its SIC code is 4731.