The global logistics market has finally returned to pre-pandemic profit levels after a tough few years, according to the managing director of a long-running Bristol-based international shipping company.
International household removals firm 1st Move, which has been operating across the globe for more than 25 years, has successfully restructured and improved efficiency after being hit by the sudden impact of Covid-19.
The Avonmouth-based company closed its doors for three months during the first lockdown in 2020 and had doubts it was ever going to reach its quarter century milestone, as global supply chains were devastated by Covid and then compounded by the crisis in the Suez Canal the following year.
But the business has bounced back after introducing a series of improvements in the wake of the pandemic.
Managing director Mike Harvey, pictured, said, from a logistics point of view, the pandemic was now finally over.
“And it’s certainly been a journey for all of us,” he added. “Any company involved in international removals will know that Covid was, without question, the single biggest challenge that they have faced. Services like ours depend on reliability.
“However, we are pleased to say that our industry appears to finally be over the aftershocks of what happened.”
Global supply chains seemed to be working smoothly again, he said, and the backlogs created by the pandemic had been cleared, meaning cargo was moving properly again.
“Given everything our industry has been through, reaching our 25-year milestone is a tremendous achievement,” he added.
Over that period the business, which does not operate in mainland European destinations, has faced economic ups and downs, changes in regulation, new competition and a number of disruptions, most recently Covid-19.
“But through it all we’ve kept our commitment to providing rapid, reliable and quality-focused international moving services,” Mike said.
“Since our company was founded there’s been tremendous growth in demand for international removals as globalisation increases. Following Covid, we’re now positioned better than ever to meet that need with our specialised expertise and focus.”
During its most recent financial year, which closed at the end of November, 1st Move’s profits reached a level not seen since 2011.
Mike credits the company’s return to profitability to changes made when Covid hit. “We carefully analysed our operations and implemented changes to enable managed growth while controlling costs,” he added.
“That included internal efficiencies and enhancing our customer service model. The result is the implementation of systemic and cultural change within our organisation which is helping us manage risks and maintain business stability.”
1st Move International was founded by owner James Limerick after he identified a niche for combining expertise in international shipping with rapidly moving families’ household possessions between the UK and expat destinations.
Post-pandemic there had been another spike in people moving overseas with their families or for remote working, said Mike.
“People are looking for a quality, rapid service with a freight forwarding company which brings all the benefits of time-sensitive, service driven commercial shipping with a specialisation in the movement of personal household effects,” he added.
