Richmond college students launch reusable moving box company

• The service was founded by childhood friends and now undergrads Hudson Williams, a junior at JMU, and Evan Scearce, a CNU freshman.
• The idea came after the bottom fell out of a cardboard box Williams was carrying down a flight of stairs — and he went down with it.

• The pair raised startup money from family and built the website, booking system and inventory operation themselves, according to the company.

How it works: Customers rent stackable plastic totes that RVATotes delivers before a move and picks up afterward.

• Two-week packages start at $115 for 15 totes, while a two-bedroom package costs $149 for 40 totes. A dolly is included.
• Delivery and pickup are free within the company's core service area.

Fun fact: Now that Williams and Scearce are back at school — Williams studying sports management and Scearce undeclared — they've hired Richmond-area college students to handle local deliveries and pickups — and help keep the college kid vibe alive.

Zoom out: RVATotes isn't alone in the reusable-moving-bin business. ToteFleet and Stack offer similar services in the Richmond area.

• But RVATotes appears to be the only one locally founded and run by current college students.