Newbury Pack & Send franchise logistics business benefits from Covid and Brexit boom

Logistics franchise business Pack & Send, which has a centre in Newbury, is on track to grow its revenues by a further 25 per cent in the current financial year with turnover set to reach £6.3m following a boom year in the logistics sector.

This follows a 26 per cent increase in turnover the previous year.

Specialising in packing and shipping even the most complex of consignments, the company has been well placed to take advantage of the issues thrown up by Brexit and the pandemic.

Speaking about the increase in demand, chief executive Mike Ryan said: “Customs regulations that came in as we exited the EU were a real headache for both individuals and companies who struggled with the paperwork.

"As shipping experts we are able to advise customers to ensure they get the paperwork right first time and this has certainly increased demand for our service.

“Over the years we have developed a niche in international removals for foreign nationals studying or working in the UK.

"This specialism was pivotal for companies looking to move staff from offices to their homes and we have moved lots of computers and office equipment around the country in the last year.

“One of the other growth areas has been responding to the vast increase in online shopping where we have supported businesses to get products out to customers and also helped buyers get goods purchased shipped to them.”

The company’s centres are well-known in the art world, handling valuable painting and artworks which need to be carefully packaged and shipped, often to far flung corners of the world.

"But they get involved in a wide range of consignments.

Mr Ryan added: “One of our first jobs when I set up the business in 2008 was to ship a box of Mars ice cream bars to a British woman living in Sydney.

"She wanted them for a dinner party and we obliged – they arrived intact and still frozen

“That’s the great thing about the job – you never know what’s coming in.”

Pack & Send operates a franchise model. From its base in Reading they support a growing network of franchisee and company owned service centres, currently numbering 19.

Rod Taylor is the Newbury franchise owner, based at Unit B, George Lillian Court, Bone Lane.

Mr Ryan says that franchising has allowed the business to grow at pace.

“Each individual franchisee buys into a proven business model but they take responsibility for it in their own area and they are their own boss.

"So it’s a best of both worlds scenario – proven model, support from the brand but they have skin in the game.

“We are constantly listening to our customers and expanding our areas of expertise and innovating to keep pace with demand.

“I predict that we will see further organic growth as a result of the ongoing Covid situation and we also have ambitions to grow our network of franchisee owned service centres across the UK."