VALDOSTA — “Small businesses sticking together and looking out for each other is the way to go in these difficult times,” said Judy Martin Trexler, a licensed clinical social worker and hypnotherapist.

Trexler opened a clinic for psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and substance abuse counseling in February this year. Her business was located at Northside Plaza along with five more new businesses. None of them, however, knew the property was for sale. A month ago, all six of them were given 30 days to relocate because the property was sold.

“Can’t tell you what a hardship that was for all our new businesses,” she said. “All of our businesses are totally different, but we pulled together and stuck together and relocated to 3470 North Valdosta Road.”

Judy Martin Trexler, Comfort Keepers, Blue Grace Logistics, and Aaron Rents Administrative Office all moved in a new building at North Valdosta Road a month ago, which turned out to be a better place for them.

While in the process of finding a new location, four of them were communicating and helping each other, and keeping a positive attitude.

“One of the reasons we all wanted to relocate was that we had a great working relationship over there (at Northside Plaza). We supported each other. There was a mutual bond and caring among all of us,” said Connie Ledbetter at Blue Grace Logistics.

The actual moving process was not the biggest issue for the businesses. Since they are all new, they had just gotten done with their advertisements, brochures, and business cards, and people were finally starting to learn about them, and a sudden relocation would mean starting all over again, explained Trexler.

They checked several possible locations before they made the move.

“We all kept a positive attitude about moving that maybe we would find a better place,” Trexler said.

Ledbetter found a building on North Valdosta Road and they figured it would work great for all of them.

The new place allowed them to have bigger offices, to expand, to have better parking and be more visible.

“It worked out wonderfully,” Ledbetter said.

“We are paying a little more rent, but we have bigger offices,” Trexler added. “And I have windows in my office here.”

Scott and Lisa Register at Comfort Keepers were also having a hard time relocating, but in the end, they were thankful for the change. Them said it’s essential for their business to have a correct address and contact information because a lot of their older patients need to know their physical location since they are having difficulties operating the Internet.

“Older generation needs to know where we are located,” Lisa Register said. “We are local, we are here in Valdosta, and we are glad to provide in-home care services to them or their loved ones.”