Firstly, thanks for visiting our website today, and if you’re importing or exporting, you’re in the right place. Increasingly, businesses are finding importing and exporting to be costly, time-consuming and confusing so we think you deserve a break! You’ll find our website to be jargon-free, clear and easy to understand.
They say the only constant is change, and international logistics has been a prime example over the last 2 years, whether that’s BREXIT, Covid-19, Customs, or the fluid nature of freight costs. All of these things impact your business and your margins, and now, more than ever, it really does pay to have an expert on hand to get costs, service and Customs compliance under control.
As over 80% of world trade is transacted using Ex Works (EXW) or Free On Board (FOB) Incoterms, UK importers pick up the tab for air freight or ocean freight and are naturally concerned about their landed cost (the cost to get it to their factory)). Equally, many UK exporters sell on CFR, DAP or DDP Incoterms so they too pay the lion’s share of freight costs so have the same concerns.
Our customers range in size from SMEs with 5-10 staff to mid-sized manufacturers with 50-200 staff who had a common 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 or to manage things day to day. Using our extensive knowledge and experience of this area, we reviewed and refreshed their logistics models, producing significant freight cost savings, marked improvements in service levels and enhanced Customs compliance.
As the world emerged from lockdowns in 2020, it’s fair to say that was an explosion in freight costs, particularly on ocean freight from Asia, with rates jumping by as much as 1000% and these high costs have persisted. So, it’s easy for customers to become punch-drunk and accept this “new normal” when in fact there are better deals to be had, especially as the world economy is beginning to slow. You just need to have the right people at your side.
Despite the challenges for everyone in logistics, 2021 was a record year for us at SCL and we think this was because our Freight Management customers appreciated our daily input and oversight, keeping their logistics models and costs under control in very difficult conditions - and we were rewarded with a huge amount of loyalty. So, if you’re wondering whether we could help a business like yours, please do get in touch, we’d be happy to talk to you, 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 quick 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
