Key advantages
Looking back over the past few years , the fall-out from Brexit has been a big challenge for the business . The UK is the first market for Macron , and as such , the organization needed to pivot to find new ways to distribute products without burdening its customers . Paolo explains : “ This was made possible thanks to the combination of several different actions . From a new bonded warehouse , and subsidiary in the UK to ad-hoc partnerships with our logistics providers , we have been able to pack , ship and customsclear single customer orders , distributing them as domestic deliveries without any actionable customs requirements expected of our local customers .”
In fact , Macron ’ s strong supply chain came to the fore at the height of the pandemic . It enabled the business to react within a matter of weeks , facilitating the import and distribution of more than 50 million items of PPE in support of the NHS and the fight against Covid .
Despite rising to this global challenge , the business has experienced additional barriers in recent years . As Paolo expounds : “ Uncertainty around sea and air transport , not only in terms of high cost , but also long transit times , has been a major challenge in 2021 and 2022 . That said , we rallied our pioneering spirit , and in partnership with our logistics provider , secured a direct charter service between the Far East and Italy . As a result , we have been able to keep a regular flow of products available to our customers , and after Covid restrictions were lifted and sales started again , this has proved to be a key advantage over our competitors .”
Expansion plans
Looking to the future , Paolo states that surely this year will be the best yet for Macron : “ Our proven track record in supply reliability and stock availability has been bolstered by our new distribution center , and has provided the reassurances our customers were looking for . We have strengthened customer relationships , retaining established ones , and building the foundations for new ones .
“ Macron is a global player in football and rugby . As such , we aim to be among the top three brands in other sports too . We ’ ll strongly expand business mainly in North America and Oceania as well as in some parts of Europe . Moving forward , our main focus will be to find and develop new ways of servicing the needs of amateur clubs and athletes with our ecommerce-based platform ,” he concludes . ■
www . macron . com
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