Global Freight helps craftsman tune in to a new market
A craftsman who makes handmade and bespoke oak guitar stands and racks is hitting the right notes in a global market after launching into overseas trade with the support of Midlands shipping specialist Global Freight.
Global Freight, of Halesfield, Telford, is an international freight forwarder which won the 2010 Shropshire Small Business of the Year award. Managing director Nicole Gunter set up the company in 1996, and is an established expert in the movement of goods worldwide. The business has grown its turnover consistently, year-on-year.
Andy Bennett, who runs StandMade from a family workshop at Maws Craft Centre near Ironbridge, England has secured orders from as far afield as Japan and Canada since teaming up with exporter Global Freight.
He is now aiming to double turnover with a key focus on international customers.
The keen guitarist launched StandMade just four years ago, after ditching a career in live music event management.
He spotted a gap in the market for guitar and case stands and racks that he manufactures using traditional carpentry methods. They can also be personalised and tailored to a musician’s individual needs.
Andy already counts Manic Street Preachers lead singer and guitarist James Dean Bradfield, Squeeze frontman Chris Difford and folk legend Martin Carthy among his satisfied customers.
Being able to trade successfully overseas had been a crucial step in growing his business, he said.
“When I had my first overseas enquiry, I genuinely didn’t have a clue how to go about exporting my products. I probably would have done research on the internet and ended up costing myself far more time and money,” he explained.
“The stands and racks are pieces of furniture and can be sent to customers fully assembled so I needed a freight company that understood the service I was aiming to provide to my customers as I have worked hard to build up a reputation for quality from order to delivery.
“Global Freight has made exporting so simple for me and been the key that has allowed me to open the business up to overseas customers. There is a huge appetite internationally for British craftsman made products and Global Freight is helping me to tap into that market, which is increasingly important as we face leaving the European Union.”
Nicole Gunter, Managing Director of Global Freight, said StandMade was typical of the small businesses it aimed to help get a first step on the export ladder.
“Exporting for small companies is not about multi-million pound deals – it can be just one order that opens doors to overseas trade, like it did for Andy. International trade is a massive opportunity for smaller businesses but many people are too frightened to take the first step.
“Our role is to advise and guide as well as deal with the smooth transport of goods and the vast majority of goods we moved last year across the globe was for smaller manufacturers.
“The strong Euro makes UK products an attractive buy and businesses, even small ones, should be making it a top priority in the post Brexit world we face.”
