Firstly, thanks for visiting our site today, and if you’re importing, exporting or wish to start trading internationally, you’re in the right place. We’ve tried to make our website jargon-free, clear and easy to understand because we know many people find international logistics and Customs to be the complete opposite (and costly, time-consuming and often frustrating!)
They say the only constant is change, and international logistics is a prime example, whether that’s BREXIT, Covid-19, Customs, or the fluid nature of freight costs, all of which can impact your business – and this is why it pays to have an expert on hand.
As over 80% of world trade is transacted using Ex Works (EXW) or Free On Board (FOB) Incoterms, UK importers are responsible for organising and paying for air freight or ocean freight and have a natural concern about the landed cost (the cost to get it to their factory including freight, duty & VAT). Unnecessarily high freight costs and surcharges can therefore have a big impact on their bottom line. On the flip side, many exporters do sell on CFR, DAP or DDP Incoterms and they pay the lion’s share of freight costs and want to be sure they’re as competitive as they can be.
Our customers range in size from SMEs with 5-10 staff to mid-sized manufacturers with 50-200 staff who all had a similar dilemma before we came on board. They were concerned about their logistics spend and service but just didn’t have the time, knowledge or resources in-house to conduct a professional review. Using our extensive knowledge and experience of this area, we do all the heavy lifting, leading customers through the logistics maze and refreshing their logistics models at the same time, delivering significant freight cost savings, marked improvements in service and enhanced Customs compliance.
2019 was a record year for SCL and we think that’s because we’re great at what we do, and add real value to our customers’ supply chains. If you’re wondering whether we could help a business like yours, please do get in touch, we’d be happy to learn about your business and offer suggestions as to how we could help. If you’re not quite certain whether we could help you, please take a look at our customer testimonials.
"It is a pleasure to work with Andy who is professional, driven and easy to get on with” Paul Critchlow, Managing Director, Distinctive Medical Products, Runcorn
“We did not know we had a problem with our import shipping until Andy Cliff came to visit and offered us an overview of all of our overseas transport requirements” Richard Brown, Managing Director, Abbey England, Knutsford
“I am writing to thank you for all the work you have done for my company since we started working together in 2017. You have made our incoming freight more “straightforward” and we now know that we get the most favourable prices” Paul Hornby, Managing Director, Foilco, Warrington
“A high recommendation goes out to Andy and SCL from a very satisfied customer Middleby UK” Mark Daintith, Purchasing Manager, Middleby UK, Warrington
“I would certainly recommend Andy to any company looking to improve cost and service in the logistics area, especially in these uncertain times” Rob Laird, Finance Director, Uren Food Group, Neston
“Not everyone has time to scrutinise invoices to check the costs are correct, especially when the freight forwarders try to bamboozle you with trade jargon” Neil Barlow, Director, New World Air Brake, Warrington
“What really surprised us was that as well as achieving savings of almost 50% on our freight costs, we also saw marked improvements in the service levels” Steve Goldstraw, Managing Director, Staffordshire Hydraulic Services, Stoke-on-Trent
“From the very first meeting, it became apparent that Andy Cliff was professional, committed, tenacious and enthusiastic and very much customer-led in his thinking” Jim Hickey, Head of Procurement, Luxfer MEL Technologies, Manchester