Going global: Jason Neal knows how to go places

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Jack of all trades in the pub Bit of a garden bar... Etched in the memory It started with a bulging blue bag 24-hour troubleshooters Tourism business has knack for variety Shared skills fit the bill On the clean-up's front line Building that business edge Holiday cut short to help clear huge slip

Getting things from A to B is one thing. Getting them there via customs, borders and oceans is quite another, says Marlborough's Jason Neal.

Endeavour Shipping and Logistics Ltd is a one-man-band that uses local and overseas networks to ensure products imported to or exported from Marlborough get where they need to go on time, with all the appropriate paper work.

"I can organise freight to get from here to Oslo, or from Honduras to here. We physically freight to or from anywhere in the world."

When he moved back to Marlborough from Auckland in 2007, Mr Neal used 14 years' experience in the international shipping industry to set up the international freight forwarding business.

The company has up to 25 jobs on the go at any one moment, co-ordinated with six transport companies, shipping to or from up to a dozen countries.

In the case of Marlborough's wineries, whose overseas customers often nominate the freight company themselves, he offers a one-stop documentation service and manages the relationship with the freight company and customs on the winery's behalf.

"They want to concentrate on making, marketing and selling great wine, rather than shipping." In the past six months he has also set up a customs broking service.

Mr Neal, who has entered the business in this year's Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, said returning to Marlborough was a good move.

"It amazes me the number of innovative companies we have, taking on the world with products from Marlborough. It blows me away really."

With 20 clients on its books, the company has built up a solid base, all a result of word-of-mouth advertising, he said.

In the year ending March 31, 2010, sales turnover was up 38 per cent and operating profit had increased 22 per cent. In the year to date it is up 30 per cent again on sales, he said.

That growth was the result of his clients' businesses growing, and an increase in people using the service.

"Even when times are tough, people still need to sell their products. Endeavour aims to make the shipping of those products as easy and efficient as possible for our customers."

The winners of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, in association with FMR Risk, will be announced at the Gala Dinner on February 25, 2011.

- The Marlborough Express

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