It’s been great getting to know Shaftec’s talented roster, but we’re not done just yet! In this latest instalment, Export Sales Support, David Griffiths, describes in detail how Shaftec flourished, both at home and abroad, in an “incredibly difficult business climate” with the uncertainty of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q. Tell me about your day-to-day role at Shaftec?
David Griffiths (DG): “Supporting our export customers with their everyday demands, which includes updating backorders, placing stock orders, technical advice, price and availability enquiries, organising core returns and express orders, and creating reports for our European export sales manager.
“Our response times are under one hour, which enables our customers to provide their customers with information very quickly.”
Q. How would you summarise Shaftec’s export business?
DG: “We aim to build great working relationships with our customers – this is key. Daily tasks have been made more challenging with the current affairs in Europe; however, despite this, with our availability and response times, our export business is growing.”
Q. Where is Shaftec strong?
DG: “Availability, customer support and services tailored to the customer. Our flexibility allows us to provide our customers with outstanding service and high relevant value.”
Q. Brexit – how did that alter the business dynamic? Does it continue to have an impact?
DG: “As a result of Brexit, there are more export declarations to complete, but in terms of shipping schedules there has been no difference.
“At Shaftec, we are aware of how fortunate we’ve been, to not only have weathered the Brexit and COVID-19 storms, but to have actually thrived, growing the business both in the UK and across Europe in an incredibly difficult business climate.
“But it would be wrong to attribute this position to pure luck, as we invest heavily in long-term planning and strategic forecasting. We work closely with TecAlliance to be able to offer our customers the most reliable and up-to-date technical data.
“I’d like to pay tribute to every single Shaftec employee for their hard work, tenacity and innate ability to understand that if we weren’t able to offer the excellent customer service that we do, I’m not sure that things would be looking so positive.
“Keeping up to six months’ worth of product at all times meant that whatever the situation in terms of Brexit and COVID- 19, our customers saw no change in supply chain status. We ensured a seamless supply of our full range of remanufactured and new braking, steering and transmission components from our UK-based business, via our customers, consistently reached the UK garages, allowing the wheels of businesses further down the supply chain to keep on turning.
“Operating under one roof from our central Midlands-based facility means that we have almost complete process control. Literally everything – from old core acceptance through to the boxing of fully tested, shelf ready product – happens in one place.
“To safeguard the interests of our customers – and in turn their customers, the garages – we’d been planning for Brexit for years. I think because of that, when the world was literally upended with the shock that was COVID-19, we were already in a good position.
“It helped that to enhance efficiency, bolster productivity and amplify our square footage, we consolidated the entire business into one facility in 2015. Three years later, we further increased capacity by 8,000sqft by adding a mezzanine floor, giving us a total of 50,000sqft of production and storage space for finished stock and ancillary parts that are sourced from OE suppliers abroad, like brake caliper seals.
“And because we maintained a healthy stockholding and ensured consistent levels of availability to keep our customers satisfied, we’ve been able to dedicate time and effort to think about the post Brexit and COVID-19 future.”
Q. Do you use the experience gained in the UK to help with Shaftec’s export business?
DG: “Yes, absolutely! I worked in the technical department for three years, which enabled me to develop a knowledge of all product groups.
The training received from Sales Manager, Marc Wise, has been imperative to the success of our export department.
“With the great support of my colleagues, I’ve been able to transfer my knowledge of the UK specific market and processes to our European partners. Export Sales Manager, Kornel Kulcsar, has an extensive knowledge of the European market, which is also vital for driving us forward as a team.”
