‘New kid on the block’ targets niche markets

Small, but potent. That is possibly the best way of describing Zeeland Freight Services which in less than a year has managed to break into the South African freight forwarding market. And while the company may be the new kid on the block, owner Wicus van Dyk is not – with more than 15 years’ experience in the industry. Having built up a good contact base in a very short time, Van Dyk believes that this is part of their success. “We are not a nameless entity working with our customers. Our clients know us on a personal level and appreciate the fact that we are involved in every aspect of their business,” says Van Dyk. “We don’t want to become a big global company, but rather a strong company that is well-known because of its high service levels.” He says this attitude has brought major growth in recent months despite the global economic crisis. “I cannot say it has affected us, because we are so small. Also our focus has been to build up our client base with other companies who are not too big and need a specialised service.” Specialising in Mauritius, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana, Van Dyk says most of these countries are still seeing major development. “In Mauritius especially we are building a name for ourselves. We are taking anything from raw materials to complete manufactured goods into Mauritius, and since South Africa is possibly the nearest source of raw materials, developments by the hotel groups create much opportunity for us.” Van Dyk, who moves cargo by sea, land and air, believes that Zeeland Freight Services’ hands-on approach is what makes the difference.