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Passport to Partnership: Marexport Global Forwarding
Christine Nicholson, corporate public relations coordinator for AIT Worldwide Logistics, recently sat down with Marcello Sterri, airfreight managing director at Marexport Global Forwarding, to ask him a few questions during his recent visit to AIT's headquarters in Itasca, Illinois.
Nicholson: Describe the size and scope of your company.
Sterri: Marexport is a 4PL logistics provider headquartered in Genoa, Italy, with 2 other branch offices in Milan and Livorno and a network including Barcelona, Ipswich, Casablanca, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh, and Montevideo. We opened our doors for business in 1947 and currently work with a staff of approximately 55 employees. Marexport's 2009 estimated annual earnings amounts to $50 million.
We rely on the services of our Milan branch to provide rapid deliveries for various types of cargo, including perishables and particularly delicate commodities.
Marexport offers warehousing and consolidation services through an extensive network of warehouses located in Italy's main industrial centers.
Marexport provides integrated logistics services for national and international transport operations that are fully optimized and compliant with all government regulations.
Nicholson: Does Marexport specialize in any particular vertical markets or industries?
Sterri: Marexport is highly specialized in the project business. We are also involved in a lot of cross-booking activity. We have dedicated teams and programs for the fashion, pharmaceuticals and chemicals industries, and are a leader in the paper market.
Because of the increase in raw materials in recent years, Marexport has also become an important player in the business of plastic scraps.
Nicholson: What factors do you attribute towards Marexport's tremendous growth and success?
Sterri: Factors that have contributed to our growth and success include maintaining a positive and proactive ethical business approach, creating long-lasting relationships with customers and partners, developing tailored transportation solutions crafted to meet customer requirements and sustaining a flexible and entrepreneurial business model.
Nicholson: What is the selection process involved in selecting your global partners?
Sterri: First, we must consider the potentiality of the local partner - strength, size and scope. Are they fully compliant and cooperative with all government and international trade regulations? Do they follow through on commitments and respect their customers and partners? I take that very seriously.
A particularly promising partnership is one that shares the same business beliefs and goals. You must be able to work as a team to learn from and rely on each other's experiences in your respective markets. The partnership is for mutual benefit, not individual benefit - enlarge the base of your business together.
Nicholson: In your opinion, what is the best way to identify foreign market opportunities?
Sterri: Gain a competitive advantage by getting closer and closer to your overseas partners to build trust, uncover business opportunities, cultivate customer relationships and push your common business efforts. Build new traffic, market penetration and account activity together. Take mutual ownership of the business generated from your partnerships.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the Partner eNewsletter,
please contact Franco Lasagni, Managing Director International. |
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