Why Smaller can be Better

As experts in the shipping industry, we are acutely aware of the trends which affect both our clients and our business. We’ve certainly noticed in recent times, a swing towards using smaller, more focussed shipping companies and away from the larger ‘names’ – and we asked ourselves why this was.

A few years ago, as the recession started to bite, it seemed that everyone was trying to save on cost, which was understandable. It would seem that in some cases, this was at the expense of two key elements though; the speed of transit and level of service. In some cases, we’ve heard that opting for lower-cost options ended up costing clients’ more in the long run. With the economy now picking up, quality of service is once more top of the list of considerations, which is often where the smaller company can excel.

Obviously, being a smaller company ourselves, T Ward Shipping prides itself on offering bespoke shipping services and in fact, we also aim to go over and above what you might expect from a bigger company, just because we can!

We think that customers are starting to see the advantages of the small company approach; smaller businesses might not have the buying power of a larger firm but when we do win your business we are always appreciative; it’s a competitive market. As a result, it’s possible that smaller shipping companies try that little bit harder to hold on to their valued customers, by  offering an above average customer experience.

In a way, it’s easier for smaller firms to do this, as the sheer volume of clientele isn’t there in the same way it could be for a multi-national firm. Instead of having to farm calls out to a call centre or a customer service department, when you speak to a smaller company they probably only have a few people dealing with the calls on a regular basis, which gives you a chance to build up a relationship and not have to go over everything again each time you speak to a new ‘customer services adviser’.

It also means that if something does go wrong, a smaller company is more invested in making sure that it gets put right quickly. A larger company might have a whole list of complaints and issues to deal with – with a smaller firm the focus is on keeping the client happy and retaining business. Reputation is a major issue for small firms, who don’t have the budget for large marketing campaigns so rely on word of mouth and reputation for their business.

It’s almost like having a transport department of your own!

One major advantage we also identified for smaller shipping companies is that they have the freedom to offer a variety of services instead of being restricted just to their own. This opens up a wider choice for customers and gives them much more flexibility to accommodate specific requirements.

It seems that using smaller forwarder takes away all the hassle of transporting and shipping your items. Smaller firms such as T Ward Shipping can offer a tailored service, tailored to your requirements and all with a personal touch!