Never Say No' Says Inverness Based Pronto Despatch
DEVELOPING contacts both in the UK and Europe has been a main driver for success for small van and transit business, Pronto Despatch.
And those contacts have come from being part of Courier Exchange, the world's largest trading hub for the sameday courier and express freight industry.
When Pronto founder, Dode Fraser joined the Exchange a decade ago it marked the start of a new era.
Initially formed in 1992 by Dode, a former construction engineer, as a motorcycle courier business, Pronto soon became a small van and transit business on the lookout for expansion.
Thanks to Courier Exchange and it's network of 2,000 plus members that expansion has been possible.
It has enabled Dode and his fleet of ten vehicles to serve both the UK and Europe via Courier Exchange member companies and although based in Inverness, the company operates on the mantra of 'Never Say No' - an ethos which has taken the business forward.
Pronto Despatch's business is incredibly versatile and the company has the ability to deliver anything from a consignment of parts to an oil tanker in Northern Spain for critical repairs as it has done only recently to three suitcases of Christmas presents for an elderly lady. Indeed its customer base reflects this which is a mix of national and regional businesses.
The company prides itself on its ability to deliver in every sense of the word and irrespective of the nature of the consignment all customers have come to recognise Pronto Despatch as providing exceptional levels of service.
Dode Fraser commented: "The Courier Exchange has been instrumental in creating what my business has become today.
"When I first launched the business I never envisaged Pronto Despatch as being a regional courier company. I knew we had the potential of servicing national accounts but the mechanism to achieve this simply did not exist.
"We were member companies of the National Courier Association which provided us with some capacity via their member companies but this was extremely limited and largely ineffective. The Courier Exchange was the first exchange which worked and it was like a breath of fresh air.
"As far as I am concerned we have at our disposal a fleet of thousands of vehicles which enables me to accept almost any job and find a vehicle that suits whilst at the same time having the comfort that it will be a job well done."