Exact logistics hosts export advice conference

Exact Logistics has been helping businesses from around the UK by offering key advice about the export markets. Over 50 companies attended a conference hosted by the UK and European distribution specialists and UK Trade and Investment team at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in the Midlands city. Delegates were able to hear key testimony from industry officials such as Sylvia Tunmore, head of trade at the UKTI British Consulate in Dusseldorf, who gave an economic update and advice on relationships with Germany. Exact staff members were also on hand to provide tips on the practicalities of shipping goods to the continent as well as providing guidance on how to strike up key links with foreign customers. The company stated that language and culture were two highly important factors when considering how to expand a business in mainland Europe. Overcoming these barriers will help UK-based companies generate more commerce overseas. Adam Shuter, managing director of Exact, told bdaily: "Exporting is an avenue which cannot be ignored, particularly in the current economic climate, but often transport as the final leg in the export process gets overlooked. I hope delegates have gone away with some tips on how they can use transport as a competitive advantage as well as some practical tips on how to make sure their goods arrive safely." The need for improved logistics has been highlighted recently as a new report stated that due to the rise in online sales, more and more companies are going to need to expand their distribution centres. Research by Jones Lang LaSalle noted that European retailers are going to need over 25 million sq m of extra logistics space in the next five years noting the importance that will be placed on the industry in the near future. The study stated that with internet shopping set to take up ten per cent of the market by 2016, officials believe it will put additional pressure for logistics firms to expand.