What does InXpress do?
We provide logistics for SMEs, everything from a domestic parcel to pallets and sea containers across the world. Our clients range from home based entrepreneurs to major international engineering businesses…and gloriously I do not own or rent a single vehicle!
How does your business model work?
InXpress is a global franchise which means we are buying transport services (eg. DHL, Fedex, UPS) on a massive scale and can pass on the savings to our customers. Our web portal gives the customer access to all our partners so they can get quotes, book collections and track their goods through to delivery. My sales and customer service team are based in Gateshead and we handle any issues from customs paperwork to delayed or lost (god forbid) goods, so no more hanging on the line for anonymous and disinterested customer service departments. I believe passionately in personal customer service despite being a technology, web based business.
How has your business changed over the last 5 years?
Internet shopping has grown massively during the last decade and Covid accelerated this growth still further. We grew through our business to business customers rapidly needing to develop and deliver direct to consumers.
Brexit has provided new challenges on export and import paperwork (Ireland and Northern Ireland can be particularly confusing), we pride ourselves on knowing our way through this and being able to advise customers on what is required.
Have you always been involved in Logistics?
No, for most of my career I have been in marketing and spent 15 years helping to grow a small marketing agency in London, working on big brands such as Coca-Cola, Budweiser and Sainsbury’s. Selling creative ideas in ‘winner takes all’ pitches was exhilarating for my younger self but I now prefer the greater day to day certainty of moving goods from A to B – it is not complicated but there are layers of complexity.
What was the motivation to make this career switch?
When my wife Laura and I moved with our young family to the north east in 2005, I wanted to continue working for myself. I was drawn to franchising because it offered the relative certainty of a proven business model but the opportunity to run it, develop it and ultimately sell it as I see fit. I invested from day 1 in extra staff to fuel rapid growth and have never regretted that.
What do you find most rewarding about your role?
After years in a time based services role, I love having a business that is ‘selling’ 24/7. We have airports using our portal through the night while our biggest customer is based in California. The sheer variety of our customer base and the challenges of their logistics is constantly exciting.
What interests do you have outside your business?
I love all sport. Being a season ticket holder at St James Park is particularly exciting at the moment, while I have 7 days lined up to attend The Ashes (England v Australia cricket) this Summer. It could just be the greatest ever series.
I like to support my wife Laura who manages her family interests at Belsay. Over the last few years we have diversified a lot, which means there is often something to attend to whether at the burial ground, in the parks or at the holiday cottage.
This year, we are celebrating 10 years of Belsay Horse Trials. Laura’s vision has turned this into the international trials it now is, with the top riders, brilliant volunteers and wonderful, loyal sponsors like RG.
RG are very supportive, both of the event and across all our various businesses: Laura and I think of Tony, Helen and Claire as the Holy Trinity!