Your Business: Online shopping a boon for freight firm

Ken Quigley has several Japanese and Chinese speakers in his firm. Photo / Richard Robinson

The adidas All Blacks rugby-jumper furore during last year's Rugby World Cup, where Kiwis found they were paying more locally than overseas, turned out to be good business for Rod Duke's Rebel Sports, which discounted the recommended price.

It was also beneficial for freight forwarding firm and customs broker Jacanna, run by Ken Quigley.

New Zealanders are increasingly reluctant to pay over the odds for anything, be it clothing, books, cars or motorbikes, and will look internationally to find deals, especially now the NZ dollar is stronger, says Quigley.

"People know about going online and finding the best deal. They are searching for agents in Japan, then looking for shipping services. And it's not just cars, they are buying clothing and perfume, too," he says.

"We handle a lot of shipments from people buying clothing off eBay to bringing in brand new quad bikes for farmers."

A customer recently bought a motocross bike in Los Angeles. He paid around $1200 for the freight, pick-up and collection. With the expenses and the price of the bike, he saved $5000 and it took three weeks to arrive.

Jacanna specialises in bringing in motor vehicles from the UK, Australia, Singapore and Japan. Last year, it brought in around 10 per cent of the 83,000 used, imported cars from Japan.

The freight and customs company is also a specialist in importing and exporting hazardous materials, with clients in the biotech industry.

Based in Te Atatu South and set up in 1999, the business now has nine staff, several of whom are Japanese and Chinese speakers. Quigley imports from China, bringing in furniture, construction materials and electronics.

A major boost to the Auckland business has been its membership with the Global Logistics Network three years ago. The network has more than 500 offices in 124 countries. "The support in the network has been fantastic. We get business by default."

Another boost for the business has been the company's offering of a full shipping package out of Japan, Britain, Singapore, the US and Australia.

The door-to-door Japanese delivery service started in June.

The business has a contract with Pacific Auto Carriers moving cars to New Zealand on roll-on, roll-off vessels. "If someone purchases a vehicle from Japan we can offer a full logistics service from the supplier to the customer's door in New Zealand," he says.

"Costs vary depending on locations but is generally from $1500 a vehicle."

The business owner is also the NZ and Australian licensee for the wheel protection system, RimPro-Tec, the NZ invention designed to stop car wheels scraping against kerbs when parking.

The former Dilworth boy, whose great-grandfather was its sixth student, has taken Jacanna to a business with a turnover from $15 million to $20 million. Quigley is sole shareholder.