Ian Walker, founder and MD of 3P Logistics, will be our guest speaker at this month's event. Ian will talk about the journey he has taken from launching 3P Logistics to turning it into a market leader within the outsourcing world of logistics and fulfilment services.
As well as talking about his career, Ian will also discuss some of the business challenges he has faced, touching on the lessons learnt and the risks that have paid off, and how he manages an end-to-end supply-chain business to gain a competitive advantage.
3. Agenda
• 12.00pm – Welcome and Introductions, Dawn Duggan, Executive and Workforce Development
Manager, Business Growth Hub
• 12.10pm – Guest speaker - Ian Walker, Founder and MD, 3P Logistics: Logistics – a necessary evil
or your competitive edge?
• 12.40pm – Questions & Answers
• 12.55pm – Closing Remarks, Dawn Duggan, Business Growth Hub
• 01.00pm – Lunch and Networking
• 02.00pm – Event Close
9. Items Check
Overview – Who am I and what does my company do?
Intro – How the heck did I get here: Chapter 1
Snakes and Ladders – Challenges and set backs along the way
Risk and Reward – The gambles and the size of the prize
Lessons Learned – If I had a time machine I would……
The game changer – The proposition beyond the product
The Future – Chapter 11 onwards
My Top 5 Tips for continued success – Tried and Tested
Open the Floor – Q&A`s
Index
10. Me & My Company
A brief insight...
o A proud Wiganer with one love & one vice in life: My Family & Wigan Athletic (or vice versa !)
o From Britain's worst ever builder to the North West`s best warehouse keeper in 25 years
o 3P Logistics formed in 2006 – now operate multiple warehouses in the North West spanning Circa 175,00 square feet
o An award winning fully accredited ‘total supply chain company’ - an unusual proposition at SME level
o Particular expertise in the arena of B2B & B2C ecommerce and order fulfilment & vendor compliance
o Over 75 recurring clients subscribed to our services and rising each month organically – built on repute
o Over 4 million units of stock and 28,000 product lines entrusted to our control
o Our clients stick to what they do best and outsource the rest – many are virtual business owners
11. What we do
You source & Sell - For everything else its 3PL
Not sure how it works? Watch our video HERE.
12. So how did I get here? – Chapter 1
An act of pure madness or a twist of fate
SALARY PROSPECTS PARENTING HOUSE MOVE
MARCH 2006 – THE DREAM TICKET
JULY 2006 – THE PERECT STORM
A LACK OF VISION AMBITION VISION FUNDING
13. Snakes & Ladders
It`s not all been plain sailing
THE SNAKES
o Recession
o Revenue
o Recruitment
o Relationships
o Relocation
o Retention
14. The Silver Bullets?
DON`T celebrate failure but DO learn from it
The Ladders
o A better client mix
o Automated credit control
o Selective recruitment
o Selective clients
o Sufficient headroom
o Employee engagement
15. Risk & Reward
Not for the feint of heart
o PACK MY JOB IN AND IF IT DOESN`T WORK I CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO WHAT I WAS DOING.
o PUT ON A SHOW AND THE AUDIENCE WILL COME - WON`T THEY?
o HOW DO I TELL THE WIFE – WILL SHE SUPPORT ME?
o I WILL REMORTGAGE AND BORROW THE REST FROM THE BANK OR SEEK INVESMENT.
o I WILL BE A ONE MAN BAND TO START WITH AND WILL BE FRONT MIDDLE AND BACK.
o I CAN ABSORB 6 MONTHS WITHOUT SALES AND THEN WE ARE BUST.
o ALL I NEED IS ONE BREAK TO DEMONSTRATE MY WORTH AND TO BUILD REPUTE.
o IF THIS FAILS I WILL BE BACK DOWN THE EMPLOYMENT LADDER AND START FROM SCRATCH.
o IF THIS FAILS I HAVE JUST PUT 10 YEARS BACK ON THE MORTGAGE FOR NOTHING !
o IN THE EARLY YEARS WE WILL NEED TO SACRIFICE A LOT OF THE NICE THINGS IN LIFE.
YOUR CONSCIENCE VS YOUR WILL - AN INTERESTING BATTLE
START UP DILEMMAS
16. Hindsight is negative energy
If I had a time machine to correct my errors…
I would have
Taken bank funding as opposed to private investment and backed myself to win
Ensured that no one client had greater than 20% revenue contribution
Acquired my warehouses as opposed to leasing them
Injected FUN into the workplace much sooner
Paid my people more money – sooner
Relocated into bigger operations much sooner
Employed a team of developers much sooner
Pursued other business ventures and strategic alliances much sooner
Have engaged in “community” thinking and collaboration much sooner
Become more tolerable to business debt much sooner – funding for growth
17. From “Me Too” To Disruptive Thinker
Dare to be different!
The Proposition Beyond The Product
A fully integrated logistics solution from factory gate to end consumer
How?
o Market research – Clients
o Industry research – Competition and Sector
o Strategic alliances – Global reach
o Internal systems development – buy in
o Test & Measure – be prepared to change course
o One stop shop – convenience & simplicity
o Challenging the norm – disruptive thinking required
o Be prepared to invest both time and money
Result
We trade on value not price
Our growth is organic
Our clients have a bond
We provide value for money
We are seen as pioneers
We are seen as authoritive
We have stability
We make money
18. What next for 3P Logistics?
Chapter 11 Onwards
Short to Mid Term
o Build a £3m / 10,000 pallet extension
o Acquire existing £2.5m Warehouse
o Develop In-house software
o Mergers and acquisitions
o More strategic partnerships
o We`re going to have a whale of a time
doing it !
19. Top 5 Must Do`s
Watch your business fly
My Top 5 Business Tips to takeaway
I. Put your people at the heart of your decision making
II. A me too business can work but a “yes and” business works much better
III. Be prepared to change course – its an unpredictable journey
IV. Learn to share – evolve from control and conform to community
V. If you`re not enjoying the journey – STOP what you`re doing and ask WHY?
22. Forthcoming Events
11th May – Finance for Growth Breakfast, Oldham
27th May – Business Growth Lunch, Oldham
www.businessgrowthhub.com/events
Wigan Expo 2016: Friday 7th October
at Robin Park Sports and Tennis Centre
23. Please leave your feedback
• Online feedback questionnaire
http://bit.ly/WiganApril
• Feedback cards available on the registration
desk
24. Contact us to find out more
Phone: 0161 359 3050
Email: info@businessgrowthhub.com
www.businessgrowthhub.com
@bizgrowthhub
• +Businessgrowthhub
BusinessGrowthHub
Editor's Notes
….engaged with circa 20k companies
….supported 6.5k in depth
….raised nearly £60million in funding offers
….got over £12.5m of grants out to companies…leveraging £40 million investment
….created 6k jobs
….safeguarded 11kjobs
…had a GVA impact of £55m
…identified £36 million of cost savings
…reduced carbon by ….£1million tonnes over 14 year period