Independent Ibhayi Freight focuses on niches

Ibhayi Freight has moved into new offices following growth spurred by a decision to focus on the specialist niches that many other companies avoid. The niches include Ibhayi’s traditional strength in the importing and exporting of wool, hides and skins, the export of yarns, the shipping of timber, and the export of household effects. “A lot of the bigger agents do not want to handle household effects and refer the clients to us,” says Ibhayi’s Kevin Glegg. The company has a dedicated team which handles all the wrapping and packing of household effects. Specialist house and vehicle exporter and importer Nadene Butcher heads up the division with her experienced team of women who have been packing household effects for more than a decade. It is relatively high risk due to the complexity of the clearing – which is why others do not want to handle household effects. But Ibhayi has the right systems and people in place, says Glegg. “We represent a number of out-of-town agents who do not have a presence in Port Elizabeth,” he says. Ibhayi is experiencing growth in a number of other niche areas that it has identified. One is the export of wood, which the company started in 2009. The company now handles the importation of decking wood for one of the biggest suppliers in the Eastern Cape. “My son Ryan has also created his own niche, which is in the export of yarns,” he says. Evidence of an export drive by Eastern Cape-based business is the increase in airfreight shipments of samples, equipment and stands for trade fairs, he said. CAPTION Keeping it in the family – from the left, Kyle, Ryan and Kevin Glegg of Ibhayi Freight.