Monday 13 June 2016

Straightforward Consultancy - the story in a nutshell...


Good evening All

It's hard to believe that Straightforward Consultancy came to life 6 years ago, following my departure from DHL and a desire to do something very different.

I decided to use my industry experience to help UK importers & exporters to reduce their freight and related costs and with our market knowledge and our network of industry contacts, we could also improve service levels and monitor and manage the freight and Customs side of their business for them and it's been a big success, with some great customer feedback and loyalty.

Even now,  years after the recession first hit, many companies are nervous about the economic outlook for 2016 and their margins are still under, as their costs have risen but their own selling prices have remained flat or have been driven down. The USD has also been very strong for around 6 months (below USD 1.50) which hurts importers in particular.

Many companies would like to review their logistics spend and carrier performance however freight and Customs is justifiably regarded as a complex area and most don't have the time or expertise in house.. To add to that, the sheer number of freight forwarders, services and rate options add to their dilemma, and afraid of making things worse, they stay with their existing freight model, wasting money and missing out on a better service. 

We offer free consultations to interested companies and often uncover potential +30% savings which surprises customers but we know what to look for and the best solution for their needs.

We operate a results-based gain share fee model, leaving clients with nett savings of over 60% so really they have nothing to lose!

We also have a great deal of Customs knowledge, which we've used to great effect, be that supporting a company through a Customs investigation or helping them to recover overpaid duties. We also help customers to dramatically improve their Customs Compliance, so any future Customs visits are no longer something to fear.

When I was asked to judge at the Global Freight Awards last year (and again in 2016) I was surprised and flattered, but I suppose we had been in the media, writing articles and blogs for a couple of years and we had become well known and respected, not just by our customers, but also importantly by the logistics providers that we had worked with and so that was clearly noticed by Lloyds Loading List who run the awards.


If you want to read more about my background, please review my LinkedIn profile or our blog.
Straightforward Consultancy Blog

LinkedIn Profile

Please follow me on Twitter @AndyCliffSCL, visit our website www.straightforwardconsultancy.co.uk  and our blog http://straightforwardconsultancy.blogspot.co.uk/
Andy Cliff is an industry professional who launched his own logistics consultancy, Straightforward Consultancy Ltd (SCL) after a 30 year career in international logistics, working for companies such as DB Schenker, Kuehne & Nagel and DHL Global Forwarding in operational, sales and management roles.
Andy is part of the  judging panel for the 2016 Global Freight Awards, his second year in this prestigious role. The awards recognize quality, innovation and performance in the field of international logistics.  

Andy felt that in an increasingly complex and confusing world of logistics, UK importers and exporters needed a company alongside them which could help them to reduce costs, lessen their workload and provide expert advice and support day-to-day. 

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