Strength in numbers is major plank in Pallet Systems success

Membership of one of Europe’s fastest-growing pallet freight systems has been the spur for major growth at a Black Country business.

Pallet Systems has opened an 8,000 sq ft operations centre in Wednesbury and a head office at Darlaston’s Metro House.

For the past two years the company has been a member of Palletways, a UK-based network based at a 350,000 sq ft hub in Lichfield and a membership of around 100logistics organisations. By joining forces the companies are able to bring together small volume loads to make more economic use of a combined transport fleet of vans and lorries.

Pallet Systems considers itself one of Palletways’ success stories and has continued to go from strength to strength.

In addition to new premises, it has also recently appointed two new business managers, a new invoice clerk and two customer service operatives.

Janet Jones, company director of Pallet Systems, said: “When a company grows it is vital that the supportnetwork for customers grow as well. Too many of today’s businesses don’t look after existing customers, which is often why they fail“At Pallet Systems we are as dedicated to keeping our existing customers as we are to attracting new business.

“Our business works within an ever-changing marketplace and as a member of market leading network, we know that we have to keep looking to the future and developing the businessWithin the Palletways system, which handles more than 12,000 pallets of freight every night, Pallet Systems has increased its nightly load by more than 100 per cent in thelast 12 months, according to Tony Jones, wife of Janet and also a director of Pallet Systems.

The company was also investing heavily in its staff, to give them the best training and experience, he said.

As the Palletways network has expanded – with new hubs in London and Scotland and operations in Italy, Ireland and the Benelux – so the reach of its member companies has been extended. As a group Palletways turned over nearly pounds 85 million last year.

Similarly Pallet Systems has been able to grow, starting out in 1997 as a small venturein palletised freight distribution. After several years as a parcel distributor, the management decided that, as the market was so saturated, they would take their expertise in distribution, consolidate their customer base and move into pallets, where the market was more stable.

Mr Jones said: “By combining local knowledge with a national brand we have the best of both worlds, offering local customer care with the support of a major international business behind us.