All Purpose Transport's decision to expand its services into home relocation and refrigerated deliveries pays off
By Jayne McIntyre | November 15, 2011
All Purpose Transport is eyeing a bumper festive season and double-digit sales growth on the back of its move into the home relocation and refrigerated transport sector.
The Queensland-based firm, known for its courier, taxi truck, storage and 3PL warehousing operations, has secured lucrative work with big-name clients after defying the economic downturn by expanding its operations around 18 months ago.
General Manager Paul Kahlert says APT started looking at furniture delivery services in regional Queensland and snapped up around six clients straight away, while the refrigerated division attracted the interest of retailer Target.
“We basically went through all of the areas in the business that we could offer people in the transport services and that’s where we picked up the refrigeration,” Kahlert says.
“The best time to go out and develop your business is when everyone else is pulling their heads down and trying to weather a storm. So we took an aggressive stance on the market and…established these two new services which we found had a very, very quick uptake.”
Already a long-term customer of APT, Target asked the operator about delivering chocolates to its stores in the south-east of the state.
“That only just started last year but we’ve already got 20-odd vehicles running around,” Kahlert says.
Following the introduction of its refrigeration service APT also attracted the likes of Hungry Jack’s, Baskin and Robbins and IGA Fresh. APT also counts the Queensland Government, QR National, IKEA and BP among its client base.
Kahlert says the business is on track for 10 percent sales growth this financial year and remains positive heading into the festive season. Annual turnover has grown from $26 million in the 2010 financial year to $30 million the following year.
Just last month APT beat DHL and Patrick to secure Target’s National Supplier of the Year Award for the supply chain category.
Kahlert anticipates APT will complete around 6000 home deliveries in Queensland for Target products including trampolines and play houses.
“From now until Christmas is bedlam, then it sort of steps back in January-February and then builds again from there.”