לא בכל יום יוצא לך להיתקל במקצוען..
וזה קורה בעיקר בגלל שאין הרבה כאלה בכלל .
ואם כן- אז זה בדרך כלל עולה הרבה מאוד כסף.
ולכן כשניתקלתי בראיון שערך שמואל מנטינבנד מחברת סוניגו - עם הג'רוזלם פוסט - הגעתי למסקנה שכדאי מאוד לחשוף אותו לקהל הרחב.
הראיון עולה עכשו באנגלית אבל הוא יתורגם בהמשך לעברית ולצרפתית.
לשימושכם:
וזה קורה בעיקר בגלל שאין הרבה כאלה בכלל .
ואם כן- אז זה בדרך כלל עולה הרבה מאוד כסף.
ולכן כשניתקלתי בראיון שערך שמואל מנטינבנד מחברת סוניגו - עם הג'רוזלם פוסט - הגעתי למסקנה שכדאי מאוד לחשוף אותו לקהל הרחב.
הראיון עולה עכשו באנגלית אבל הוא יתורגם בהמשך לעברית ולצרפתית.
לשימושכם:
Questions for Sonigo International Shipping
1. What changes have occurred in the intl. moving and relocations industry in the world during the past few years, especially in the post 9-11 world we live in?
A: While packing and loading containers has remained more or less the same, security considerations have taken front and center stage since 9-11.. The US government recently announced a new set of information requirements called 10 + 2 that requires 10 or 12 pieces of information about each shipment. A cautious effort to reduce or simplify this paperwork has been initiated by international shippers in the US.
When one considers that most commercial shipments are loaded by the client at the client’s warehouse, it is easy to understand the concern for safety. These client-load containers are usually not inspected and therefore the US government’s concern and increasing controls
2. How have these changes affected the Israeli removals market; especially involving corporate relocations?
A: I do not think security inspections or additional paperwork have had any affect on our work.
On the other hand – the Global economic slowdown has had a very big effect on most companies. Since we handle so many private clients, we have not felt the serious drop off in business felt by companies who concentrate on a corporate market..
3. The Israeli moving industry appears to have undergone some profound restructuring with even larger companies amalgamating and smaller ones either bought out or forced to shut down altogether. How do you see your company's situation in regards to these new realities?
A: We have been fortunate to experience significant growth in the past 3 – 4 years. Handling almost 1000 moves for Intel employees over an 18 month period was a big part of our success, however that is not all.
We use the internet extensively in our marketing efforts and this has become an important part of our outreach program to potential clients..
We also recognize the importance of aliyah organizations and work closely with them helping and educating new olim. Sy Sims said it best – “an educated consumer is our best customer.”
All of the above have allowed us to watch the changes in the local international moving industry, but not be a part of them. As a family run company which opened in 1989, Sonigo has always maintained a strong work ethic and not made any efforts to buy out competitors.
4. Your company appears interested in professionalism, including being members of noteworthy international removals organizations, such as FIDI, and UTS Unigroup. Do you consider this to be the path for the future in your industry, even if it results in higher prices being paid by your customers (as compared to smaller companies who do not belong to such organizations)?
A: You raise an interesting point and we wrestle with this regularly. Certainly some of our competitors have lower costs because they offer a lower quality product.
Quality in our product ranges from a better quality bubble wrap (I still laugh at myself for getting excited when I see a new and better quality wrapping paper or bubble wrap!) to double walled cartons, to printing out numbered labels with barcodes and the client’s name. In the off season, we spend time and money training our packing crews.
In our warehouse, we have invested in stronger crates, better quality shrink wrap and barcoded marking and computer tracking systems.
With great effort and almost two years of preparation, we were accepted into FIDI. Only three moving companies in Israel are FIDI certified and only after passing an intensive audit by Ernst and Young. Being FIDI certified moved us into an entire new caliber of competition. The other Israeli FIDI members are Globus and Ocean moving.
UTS Unigroup is the parent company of Mayflower and United in the United States. With over 40% of the US moving market, UTS Unigroup is the largest moving company in the world. Again, it was very difficult to gain admittance and we are the only UTS Unigroup agent in Israel.
5. What changes in types and use of various packing materials and containers (including those made of wood products) have come as a result of new environmental requirements regulations? Example: Countries like Japan, Korea and Australia placing quarantine regulation on the importation of wood products, including wooden lift vans.
A: Today, we take no chances – all our wooden packing materials (crates and pallets are either Heat (HT) or Chemically Treated (CT) and we are licensed to so mark our wooden crates and pallets.
Over 100 countries now require the International HT or CT marking.
6. Your company appears to deal more with European customers, especially those from France, Belgium, and the U.K. How have changes dealing with the political and social realities in this market, especially the rise of Islam, effected the numbers of removals into Israel.
A: About 40% of our business is from France and the UK. Another 40% – 45% is from N. America.
Certainly political realities in France have affected the numbers of olim (and yordim!) When France experienced so much violence a year or so ago, more French Jews made aliyah. When the current President was elected, we saw more French Jews returning to France!
The economic situation is creating a new “kind” of client. Many people who have always wanted to make aliyah are now actually moving here since they have lost their job and no longer have that “anchor” holding them back. The same thing is happening with many Israelis who are returning home to look for jobs after losing their job overseas.
7. What changes have occurred in regards to importing household goods into European countries and countries like the USA and Canada that shippers need to be aware of (such as increased physical inspections of containers and lift vans, x-rays by customs authorities and other protective measures)?
A: Almost all containers to the US are now being inspected, usually by X-ray and occasionally by physical inspection. This is increasing costs and delaying delivery. That being said, US Homeland Security, is moving inspections to the point of departure. They hope this will speed up the process and eliminate bottlenecks in the US.
We are not seeing this same level of diligence in European and other countries.
8. How has the current world economic slow affected the moving and relocation industries, and what measures are being taken by companies such as yours to continue giving the same level of service while maintaining a reasonable amount of profitability? Along with this, what industries seem most effected in regards to numbers of removals into and out of Israel? Are lower fuel prices helping to lower overall removals job prices?
A: Two things have caused meaningful savings for the client – dropping fuel prices and plummeting demand. Reduced demand is seen principally in Asian markets where ocean freight prices have dropped by over 50%.
Many shipping lines are reducing service and dry docking vessels to save money. I am now afraid we are not going to have enough vessel availability by the summer and freight prices will increase again. The wild pricing swings in some markets makes it very difficult for us quote clients for more than 30 days out. I guess, this is all part of the “excitement” of our job – which makes no sense to a client who has a signed contract!
As opposed to an airline ticket, whose price is locked in at the time of ticketing and payment, in the shipping industry, ocean freight cost is only locked in at the time of loading on the vessel!
High tech companies have been hard hit and we have seen an unusually large number of families we moved in the summer, returning home this winter, as Israel companies are shutting down foreign offices to save funds.
9. What tips do you give to prospective shippers when preparing for an overseas Move?
A: When I speak to groups of olim and toshvim hozrim or write in the Jerusalem Post (Internet Edition – Ask the Shipping Expert), I always recommend getting 2 – 3 quotes from recommended movers. Insist on getting a “pre-move or visual survey.” This way, the client gets a proper and well based quote and we get a chance to see what the client needs packed, what packing material and staff we need to perform the job.
When deciding what to ship, look on the internet for the prices of similar items here. It often makes sense to buy in Israel and not ship – but not always!.
And finally, check out the option of shipping a car. This usually does not make sense from Europe, but it very often makes sense from the US or Canada.
10. What appears to be the future for the moving and relocation industry that people need to be aware of, due to security and environmental realities, economic problems, and other factors? How is your company gearing up to meet these challenges?
A: I think our biggest challenge is to become more sensitive to the environment. We go through a tremendous amount of cartons, wrapping paper and bubble wrap in our industry. Can we start reusing packing material? Will clients accept “used” boxes or will they continue to insist on new boxes only?
We already reuse wooden crates many times, but there is much more we can do if our customers will agree to be partners in this effort.
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