Ready, set.... Go Logistics is your winner in global freight forwarding
Logistics is more than just shipping from A to B, often there are more factors to consider when moving any item around the world. WiriLink chatted to Managing Director of Go Logistics, Chris Edwards, about being a small giant, moving aircraft, the COVID years and youth employment.
Go Logistics is a specialised global freight forwarder, customs broker and logistics provider, with its head office at 84 McLaughlins Road. It’s a family-owned company, which Chris had a hand in setting up 20 years ago.
“I came from a logistics background, working for 13 years in customs brokerage. Like a lot of people that start their own business, I thought I could do it better!”
“Originally, we started with three partners but now it’s a single shareholder business. I want to make Go Logistics a generational business; my daughter has just started at Go Logistics now her university studies have finished”.
Go Logistics offers solutions in importing, exporting, custom brokerage, warehousing, 3PL and 4PL. Their Go Prime division is their specialised department that deals with the 24/7 time critical deliveries and not-typical freight items.
“Last year our Go Prime department disassembled five Orion aircraft and sent them to America. Go Prime has helped build power stations around the country. We’ve helped send Antarctic snow to Europe for testing. We help move all sorts of weird and wonderful things around the world.”
It’s fair to say a lot has happened in the past five years in the logistics industry. The COVID years especially had a profound impact; everyone understands the importance of supply chain more than ever, and New Zealand’s place at the end of it”.
“At the start we had to act quickly and make some tough decisions with staffing. However, no one predicted COVID buying behaviours, and the rush that came with people wanting to buy online.”
“COVID for those two years was a boom period for the logistics industry, and now we’re back to normal. I prefer the normal; you can plan around the normal, you can’t plan around a once in a lifetime event”.
Post the COVID years, there is still the recession and world geopolitics which is influencing the industry.
“We’re at the bottom of the world, and everything that goes on in other parts of the world affects us. We will have to wait and see how the current political situation in America plays out. One thing we have learned in the last few years, is America is still the centre of the world”.
“The first six months of last year was really tough for us as an industry. We’ve recovered very well, and we’re encouraged for the next financial year.”
Throughout their lifetime, businesses inevitably encounter a range of challenges that test their resilience and adaptability.
“One of the biggest challenges is deciding what we want to be. Businesses often have such a focus on growth, that you must continue to grow. We can’t be everything to everyone – nor do we want to be.”
“Our plan was to get to a certain size where you’re a local hero or small giant, where you’re providing fantastic product to your customers, and you have an environment where employees enjoy working.”
Additional to the office in Wiri, Go Logistics has offices in Pokeno, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Adelaide, Brisbane and Houston. They’ve just cut the tape to the Melbourne office.
“I like Wiri because of the rail link. It cuts down the number of trucks on the road and is ultimately cheaper for the client as well. We have several clients in Wiri; Starke and Multivac are based on our street which is great.”
With evolving technologies, shifting customer demands and the global economy, Go Logistics has an exciting future on the horizon.
“We work with a range of clients on different projects in New Zealand, Australia, China, Germany, Northern Europe, Italy and the United States.”
“Go Prime has won the removal of the Hercules aircraft from New Zealand to the United States. We also have the cruise ship season again this summer, providing ships stores to cruise ships in both Australia and New Zealand.”
“Internally we are focussing on career pathways – what it looks like for a younger person coming in. My daughter is a prime example. The advent of AI and offshoring has closed avenues for young people to come into businesses. We need to find a way to bring it back and create careers that are fulfilling and educational”.
If you want to learn more about Go Logistics services, visit their website www.goairlandsea.com, email **@**********ea.com or call 0800 465 644