Despatches Despatches
July - August 2014
Big enough to cope, small enough to care My favourite shops in Brighton are Bramptons Butchers and Proto Greengrocers. I am loyal to them because they are local, they stock wonderful things and I want to support local business. They care about their clientele because their livelihood depends on it. It’s one of the reasons I wanted a franchise led network every depot owner invests in their individual depots and is then really dependent on their clients. It GUARANTEES the very best quality of service. There is certainly a uniqueness in an owner managed scenario. Its the go the extra mile flexibility, the relationship building, the rapport – that means they all go the extra mile to do what their clients want. I would consider some of my client’s to be great friends. We rely on each other in a mutually beneficial relationship that has enhanced their business as well as mine. What a nice way to do business!
The added bonus our clients have, just like your local Londis shop, is the bonus of a national infrastructure their financing and access to big accounts. To make sure shops, or in our case depots can provide their clients with 100% of their requirements. In our instance from post to pallet, same day to overnight, UK and international is all readily available from each and every site. It’s a one stop logistics solutions yet with a friendly, dependable local rapport. Truly the best of both worlds. The other bit I love about local business is the flexibility. The ability to adapt to client requirements not to shoehorn them into what goods of services are available. In conclusion - we all love a bit of local shopping for its uniqueness and client care. But sometimes you need the resource of the big guys to give you all the goods and services you need. As Diamond clients - you lucky things you get both! Have a great summer.
INSIDE: reallygoodcouriers • Charity Update • Franchise Focus
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Team Profile: Sandra Robinson We asked our Chief Information Officer, Sandra, some quick fire questions:
Q: What opportunities do you see for Diamond Logistics in the next 6 months?
Q: What is your job title Chief Information Officer
Diamond is growing at such a pace right now. Every time we have a network meeting we need a bigger venue! The next 6 months is about getting our network established and getting our name out there.
Q: What do you enjoy about working for Diamond Logistics?
Q: How are Diamond different from others?
Everything. A great vision, a great team and an exciting time to be a part of a new and rapidly growing network.
Kate’s favourite strap line is “liberating British Business from Crappy Couriers” and I totally agree. We put a level of care into what we do that our competitors can’t equal. With our network of independently owned franchises we can replicate that customer care nationally – so a really good service at a really good price from reallygoodcouriers.com (do you see what I did there…?)
Q: What was your previous experience? I have worked in the logistics industry for over 25 years but from a different perspective – supplying, implementing and training on express transport software solutions. It’s now great to put that broad brush experience to use on this side of the fence.
Q: What things do you enjoy outside the world of Diamond? This is the bit where I can bore everyone with my passion for horses, in particular Charlie – my 15.1hh black Fell Cross. He takes up every minute of my spare time. My idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon is going for a ride with horsey friends to a local pub! I don’t think riding whilst under the influence is an offence…
It’s D-Day
June 7th saw our Summer Network meet and it seemed apt to have our very own D-Day as the real one was remembered the day before. We have regular meets at Diamond so our franchises stay at the forefront of best practice and to keep the atmosphere & sense of belonging that is so imperative to the UK’s most quality focused network.
21 in 21 Update June Help for Heroes www.helpforheroes.org.uk
The Royal British Legion www.britishlegion.org.uk
Each month we donate up to £250 to charities that are both secular and apolitical. If you would like to nominate a charity close to your heart for the remaining months of this year, please email me kate@diamondlogistics.co.uk.
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Franchise Focus: Dean Russell - Slough The marketing department caught up with Diamond’s newly established depot in Slough to see how they are getting on. Q: What is your Diamond Story’? As a senior manager working for a leading security installation and maintenance business I felt it was the right time to put my excellent customer service skills and long client retention into my own business. I worked in the logistics industry in a previous life and it was something I wanted to return back to. When I found Diamond Logistics, it was the perfect match for the ambitions I have. Q: Why Did you choose a Diamond Logistics Franchise? After thoroughly researching into franchises, Diamond Logistics without doubt stood out from the rest. After hearing about Diamond Logistics business, Kate’s enthusiasm and Shared Success ethos it was an easy choice to want to be part of this great business. The support you get from all at Diamond Logistics is amazing. Everyone who are already depot owners are friendly and all want each other to succeed. Being at the start of Diamond’s growing network is a great place to be, because in years to come when we are the best courier business in the country and I can say, I helped to make that happen. Q: Describe your typical working day? Every day is different. You meet new people all the time and learn so much about different business utilising courier companies. I don’t know of another job which offers so much variety each day. I get into the depot for 7am and begin on the operational side of the business. This could be the exceptions, bills needing to be paid and responding to emails. From 10am when everyone is settled in their office it’s time to focus on sales. Proposals, telesales and attending customer’s buildings. From 3pm it’s all about getting ready for your collections and manifesting. This is another great time, meeting again with your clients who you have worked hard to gain. Generally arrive home between 6.30pm-7pm. I can honestly say time flies working in a Diamond Depot. Q: What do your new clients think of Diamond? My new clients comments recently were, Wow I haven’t seen anything like this before with another saying your system is brilliant, so easy to use, you can track everything, our previous courier companies system didn’t do that. Q: Tell us something we don’t know I’m a FA qualified football coach and have just recently taken on a youth team for Slough Town FC. I’ve captained the most successful Sunday morning football team in the Hayes & District Sunday League with one season winning every trophy available. Not sure if I should mention this but I’m a season ticket holder for Tottenham Hotspur. I’ve completed the London to Brighton bike ride twice and rode round the Isle of Wight from the New Forest and back on what felt like the windiest day ever. I’ve climbed mountains, Ben Nevis, Scotland and Carrauntoohil, Ireland.
Client Focus: Peach Accessories Peach Accessories creates a wide range of Fashion accessories including handbags, evening bags and sparkling shoes. All their products are very exclusive and therefore each design is different for each season.
Our Mission Statement Work in mutual benefit, delivering time-critical delivery solutions to our clients. Provide great career opportunities to our team and subcontractors. Contribute positively to society on local, regional and global levels. Be a really good company to trust, work for and to belong to.
Diamond Logistics Sheffield have been working closely with Peach Accessories on their distribution needs and have been very impressed with the way that Diamond offers quick solutions to sometimes complex situations. As Peach Accessories products are sold in over 100 boutiques and department stores across the country it is important that the needs of their customers are successfully delivered. Mel says ‘We have been very satisfied with the service we have received since we have done business together. With the challenges of our business it is great to have a company like Diamond Logistics that understands our business needs. We rely heavily on their expertise in transportation to meet the needs of our customers. If you have any specific requirements or have any questions about their range of products give Mel a call at Peach Accessories on 0114 2422966 If you are looking for a friendly and reliable courier service in Sheffield please feel free to contact Steve on 0114 299 4844 3
reallygoodcouriers Same Day Courier Services for your blue light consignments When it simply has to be there
Our speciality and the best way to ensure your VIP’s (Very Important Parcels) get to where they need to be. • • • • •
Fast, direct and safe – if it absolutely has to be there then book a same day courier Bikes, small vans and Transits UK, Europe and International £15k Goods in Transit with every consignment Instant proof of deliveries
Whatever your consignment and whatever the destination our highly skilled drivers will treat your work with the priority it deserves.
Dedicated couriers for time critical consignments.
Case study - speed assured with reallygoodcouriers Our client: F1 racing team. Their speciality: winning Grand Prix’s. Their problem: Very variable demand on and off season and excellent driving resources. Very variable service requirements – visa and passport, same day, bikes, small vans and transits. Very urgent demand.
Our solution: Ad hoc courier services in many varieties to specifically suits their needs. On demand and instantaneous for immediate response. Result: • Reduced year long driver requirement. • Ability to send in-house drivers to Europe without impacting on UK based collections and delivery requirements, thus reducing costs and maintaining in house expertise at important races. • Utilisation of our nationwide network giving them a nationwide service managed by a local trusted supplier.
Keep in Touch Surrey
Sheffield
Bolton
Sussex
Central Scotland
East London
Basildon
Lichfield
Birmingham
Coventry
Unit 9, The Pines Business Park Broad Street, Guildford Surrey GU3 3BH T: 0845 591 7334 E: info@diamondlogistics.co.uk 7b Durban Road South Bersted Industrial Estate Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO22 9QT T: 01243 885729 E: russell@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Southampton
Unit 30, Claylands Road Bishops Waltham, Hampshire SO32 1BH T: 02380 988919 E: nathan@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Norwich
Unit 6, Carbook Industrial Estate Dunlop Street, Sheffield S9 2HR T: 0114 299 4844 E: steve.nash@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 9/10 Bigger Road Industrial Estate Cleland, Motherwell ML1 5PB T: 01698 442 336 E: cscotland@diamondlogistics.co.uk 1 Noble Square, Courtauld Road Basildon, Essex SS13 1LS T: 01268 857 854 E: basildon@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Brooke Industrial Park Norwich Road, Brooke, Norwich NR15 1HJ T: 01603 859401 E: kevin.baker@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Unit 31, Evans Easy Space Middlemore Road West Bromwich B21 0AL T: 0121 667 8283 E: birmingham@diamondlogistics.co.uk
South Devon
Slough
King Charles Business Park, Old Newton Road, Heathfield, Newton Abbot Devon, TQ12 6UT T: 01626 817 975 E: southdevon@diamondlogistics.co.uk
4
914 Yeovil Road Slough Trading Estate, Slough SL1 4JA T: 01753 257 299 E: Dean.russell@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Unit 2, Moses Gate Workshops Manchester Road Bolton BL3 2QG T: 01204 896 359 E: asad.ullah@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 20 Walthamstow Business Centre Clifford Road London E17 4SX T: 0203 603 9458 E: eastlondon@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 33 Britannia Enterprise Park Britannia Way, Lichfield West Midlands WS14 9UY T: 01543 889601 E: lichfield@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 14 Stampings Blue Ribbon Industrial Estate Foleshill CV6 5RB T: 0247 6666 240 E: Coventry@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Derby
Unit 5C Sinfin Industrial Estate Sinfin Lane, Derby Derbyshire DE24 9GL T: 01332 897 674 E: derby@diamondlogistics.co.uk