Making it easier for SMEs to trade with Europe.
As a British business ourselves, we are passionate about our small/medium business community and driving its success (excuse the pun!).
We know how challenging it was to transition to the new trade rules after Brexit, as we wrestled with new customs processes to stay ahead and offer the best support and advice to our customers. But now we are years past that point, and trading with our neighbours continues to be a challenge.
The British Chambers of Commerce found that 24% of their members reported a decrease in export sales in Q4 2023. In a recent survey, of 500 SME’s headquartered in the UK, by Bibby Foreign Exchange found that 49% of businesses reported the cost of trading was more expensive and less profitable. Whilst 40% of businesses cited tariffs, customs, and trade barriers as key issues.
EU trade made possible by Global meets Local
We’ve listened to the market; we’ve worked with businesses of all sizes and we have delivered. Trade is still possible with the EU, even when only 9% of SMEs have a dedicated staff member handling trade or customs.
Finding the best solution requires time, knowledge, and access to robust logistics partnerships. All of this is possible and if you’re an SME you don’t need to employ your own trade or logistics specialist, there is support available and that’s where we come in! We have extended our partnership with DHL Freight to open more routes and hubs to our customers; so you can tap into the global powerhouse of DHL and their wholly owned network, and still chat to someone local and friendly who can help you cut through the customs jargon and barriers.
Our team has supported brands such as Amtico and modular building manufacturers, Portakabin to smaller boutique businesses and retail brands to navigate the customs complexities. Whether that is to set up commercial invoices, pointing them in the direction of EORI and REX numbers and even sort out their customs with Customs Cleanse. It’s this focus that enables British and European Brands to focus on what they do best while we find the best, most competitive route to their customers.
Trusted Partnerships matter
Putting your goods into the hands of a third party could be daunting. Our ethos as an organisation is to build long-term partnerships where everyone wins. This enables us to create robust partnerships with great suppliers who make it their priority to deliver on our agreements. We have been working with DHL since 2017, establishing a partnership in 2020, which has now extended to offer customers more choice, more routes and warehouses.
The benefit?
Any business can access the DHL Freight network via our Consolidate groupage service. Whether it is one pallet or a full trailer, daily collections from your door will start the process. Goods are scanned in, and DHL provide us key tracking data and touchpoints so we can keep you posted through the journey. Your goods will move through the DHL-owned warehousing and hubs, your goods are traceable and trackable until they reach their destination.
Why Consolidate?
Being competitive in the European marketplace means finding the logistics solutions that will work hardest for you. Moving small quantities is generally better value through a groupage or pallet solution, it’s also a great way to inject your goods into Europe for distribution and as DHL can reach over 95% of business addresses this is ideal if your goods have multiple destinations to get to!
Learn more about the benefits of our Global Meets Local solution, or feel free to Contact Us directly.
