A SOLID AUGUST FOLLOWS AN EQUALLY SOLID JULY

This week we are missing our VP Global Sales who has taken off a week for a long earned break and to attend a wedding in Chicago. At times it is so hard for Pete and me to keep up with Graham Burford. The guy literally works 24/7. Right now it must be driving the opposition absolutely nuts as pounds those pavements sniffing out every available morsel of freight. Pete and I made it quite clear to him last week, that he forget work while he is on vacation with his girlfriend. We will cope without him. Our instructions were totally ignored. Even though his office is empty, thanks to his Blackberry, he has been with us in cyberspace and phone the whole time!

A large American retailer has been expanding into Australia and when they recently opened a Melbourne store, the first two weeks sales were 700% over budget! The supplies on the water would not arrive in time to fill the empty shelves. They made the decision, no matter what the cost, airfreight was the only solution to get them out of the embarrassing situation. In the last two weeks of August hundreds of tonnes were moved via Qantas and FedEx. Who was at the center of all? Yes, none other than the inimitable Mr Burford. He even organized the successful handling and shipping tens of thousands of kilos of perishables as well.

Our operations headed by VP Mike Castro works like a well oiled machine. I literally sat back and watched in awe as CII LAX performed above and beyond to satisfy our customer, one of the largest logistics companies in America. It was an honor to be chosen to move the freight and the team led by Graham and Mike did an awesome job. Pete and I sat back and watched all the “young blokes” operate as though this huge shipment was an every day event. I don’t know whether to feel sad or happy that not one workmate asked for my input! I think Pete feels the same way too.

September has started off with a bang and if the momentum continues I might be speaking like Fed chief Bernanke, “What recession?” Right now it is still wishful thinking.

Tags: Bernanke, FedEX, Graham Burford, Melbourne, Mike Castro, Peter Lamy, Qantas