Opportunities Unlimited

08/12/2019

The online shopping phenomenon has seen the world shrink to the size of a smartphone screen, creating more opportunities than ever for Fastway Couriers, one of New Zealand’s longest-established courier companies and franchise systems.

As a brand, Fastway Couriers has long held a high profile in New Zealand, and after servicing last-mile delivery for many well-known New Zealand household brands, they wanted to cast their net to an international stage. In 2016, Fastway gained the exposure they were after by catching the eye of Aramex Global, who then went on to purchase the business.

Aramex has a presence in 72 countries, transports nearly 70 million parcels globally annually and has earned worldwide recognition for its expertise in international and domestic delivery, freight forwarding, logistics, e-business solutions and online shopping services.

With the relationship now firmly bedded in, the country’s 18 regional franchisees and over 280 courier franchisees are enthusiastic about the opportunities from being part of one of the top five logistics providers in the world. The name change from Fastway to Aramex was phased in during 2019, including new building signage, vehicle livery and uniforms for more than 500 people engaged with the company in New Zealand.

New Zealand Chief Executive Scott Jenyns describes Aramex as, ‘the same as Fastway but also different. We are retaining our three-tier business model and we’ll still have local franchisees in local regions, but we’re gaining a global mind-set with access to new innovations, new technologies and new shipping destinations.

‘The parcel and delivery industry has changed dramatically over the past 36 years since Fastway Couriers was founded. From being primarily business-to-business, today over 80 percent of parcel movements are smaller than 3 kilograms and delivered to residential properties – which is mostly due to online shopping.’

Global reach and opportunities
‘Franchising is in our DNA, so no change there,’ says Scott. ‘The change is really about how we move parcels through leveraging Aramex’s global footprint and introducing new products and services to build a bigger, stronger business in New Zealand – and, in the process, help our franchisees grow. Now they will be able to offer a greater global reach and more opportunities to current and potential customers.

‘Something else that won’t ever change is our tradition of involvement with supporting local community and charity groups such as Cure Kids, Daffodil Day (delivering daffodils across the country for no charge), and other organisations such as Native Bird Recovery and Little Sprouts, which provides free baby packs to families in need.’

Continuing success
Scott believes the name change to Aramex should in no way take away from the success story of Fastway Couriers. Launched in the Hawkes Bay in 1983, Fastway developed a courier service that would be cost-effective, pre-paid and easy-to-use and took on its first courier franchisees within the first year.

The benefits of franchising were immediately obvious with the franchisees quickly realising that this was their own business and actively looking for new clients. As Fastway grew nationally, an extra level of Regional Franchises was born to lead, motivate, and provide business services to their Courier Franchisees. That model continues to this day.

Providing further continuity at Aramex is Scott Jenyns, who joined Fastway in 2001 as part of the franchise support team. Within a year, he was appointed GM, a position he held before ultimately taking up his current position as Chief Executive in 2014.

New Centre of Excellence
With the name change project largely complete, Scott Jenyns reports that he and his team are now focused on strengthening the business by building a Centre of Excellence in Napier to house the franchise’s national administration headquarters, a national training facility, a full service logistics depot handling everything from envelope-sized parcels to containers, and the local courier operation.

‘In some respects we’re going back to our roots in that our head office team will be much closer to the action working alongside our local team of Courier Franchisees. This will enable us to better understand what’s happening out on the streets from a parcel pick-up and delivery perspective.

‘It will also give us a huge opportunity to trial new services, processes and technology prior to a national or global roll out for Aramex – a real feather in New Zealand’s cap,’ says Scott. ‘We also plan that the Centre of Excellence will provide local young people with a wide range of employment and career opportunities.

‘We are keen to hear from people who are inspired by the potential that Aramex offers. Courier Franchise opportunities are still available throughout the country from around $20,000 +gst and there are occasional Regional Franchise opportunities, too.

As Scott concludes, ‘Under the Aramex logo is the phrase, “Delivery Unlimited”. From a franchise point of view, maybe it should say “Opportunities Unlimited!”’

See this advertorial on page 61 of Franchise New Zealand magazine Year 28 Issue 4

Contact details for Aramex (previously know as Fastway Couriers)

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