U-Haul “8 for 80” Dealer Series
In celebration of our 80th anniversary in 2025, we are highlighting eight small businesses serving as U-Haul dealers who have teamed with us to bring DIY moving products and services to their communities. These dealers may be old or new, have a fun story, a unique location, or just be in an interesting line of work. Enjoy!
Nestled just off Ontario Highway 11 in the quaint, charming town of Emsdale is the Bizzy B’zz Bookbin. What started as a place for families and homeschoolers to come together to share resources has grown into a used bookstore for all avid readers.
The national history books on those Bizzy B’zz Bookbin shelves may note that Canadians have been improving their lives through residential mobility thanks to a recognizable orange-clad company for most of the last 80 years.
U-Haul®, founded by a Navy veteran in 1945, expanded rapidly from the U.S. Pacific Northwest into the Canadian provinces. The Company was renting trailers from city to city throughout most of the U.S. by 1949, and throughout most of Canada by 1955.
Bizzy B’zz Bookbin at 1999 Emsdale Road (about a 20-minute drive north of Huntsville) has been a local U-Haul dealer since 2014, welcoming new residents to the area who otherwise would not know about the bookstore.
Chapters of Growth
“Being a U-Haul dealer made it possible to move into a bigger location many years ago,” said Peggy Steer, Bizzy B’zz Bookbin’s owner.
Joining the U-Haul Dealer Network empowers small businesses to generate additional income, expand their operations, hire more staff, and bring people into their communities. As Emsdale’s only current U-Haul dealer and the region’s central hub for do-it-yourself moving solutions, it’s common to see a parking lot full of U-Haul equipment at the Bizzy B’zz Bookbin.
“After Bizzy B’zz Bookbin became a dealer, it brought new people to the few businesses in the village,” said Dean Blanchette, area field manager for U-Haul Company of Northeastern Ontario.
Books, Box Trucks and Supporting Locals
Whether someone comes in for a cozy book or to rent a U-Haul truck, they get to experience the literary oasis that is Bizzy B’zz Bookbin.
“U-Haul allows us to attract all types of customers for many reasons,” Steer noted. “They come originally to move or set up their summer cottages, and they stay for a good book.”
Since 2004, Bizzy B’zz Bookbin has been a pillar of the Emsdale community by supporting homeschooling families and local fairs.
“The bookstore has strong ties to the community,” Blanchette added. “They continuously support local libraries, schools, and the homeschool community.”
This is the third blog in the “8 for 80” Dealer Series. Continue visiting myuhaulstory.com for more posts.
U-Haul Dealer Network
Independent dealers have been the backbone of the U-Haul service model since 1945, accounting for almost 90% of all network rental locations.
Do you own a small business that could benefit from a supplemental income stream while meeting a basic need for your neighbors and community? If so, consider partnering with U-Haul as a dealer and start earning commissions from rental transactions at your site. Learn more at uhaul.com/dealer.
