Demand from clients prompts Transport Company to launch new international service

Cheshire and North Wales transport firm Delivery Solutions (DELSOL) Ltd is launching a new worldwide international delivery service, in response to growing demand from the region’s exporters.

Delsol director Tony Parry told Post Business that the Sandycroft & Caernarfon based firm was focusing the service on documents, parcels and pallets. “We have run an international service for a number of years; however, we are seeing a real increase in demand so we are expanding and strengthening our offer,” he said.

“Our new service will ensure that we monitor all the best deals on a daily basis for our road and air deliveries overseas, so our Chester, Cheshire and north Wales clients receive the best possible value. Moreover, our international service will include sourcing the best deals and delivery times for the import market for customers receiving goods from abroad.” Mr Parry said a key benefit to its revamped international offering would be the ability to track a parcel at any time during its journey.

He added: “Delsol prides itself on being able to offer a track and trace service for all packages, wherever they are in the world. With our commitment to customer satisfaction, we ensure a client can always speak to a person to track their parcel, rather than an answer machine. This is a vital dimension to the international service.” Mr Parry said another benefit of the international package would be the simplified paperwork. “With many customers already using us for UK deliveries, it is straightforward to extend that to international deliveries,” he said. “Our team is able to manage the shipping paperwork and simplify the process for clients, taking the spadework out of the job for busy businesses.”

Delsol announced its most successful year of trading in December, growing turnover by 21%, to £5.2m. The firm operates from two depots in Deeside and Caernarfon, running 50 vehicles.

Delsol was shortlisted for the second year running for the High Sheriff of Cheshire Enterprise Awards, which takes place in March.

Pictures by  Mills Media 0151 649 3600

Original words and pictures appeared in the Post Business Magazine,

February 2012 published by Trinity Mirror NW2, www.ldpbusiness.co.uk

Original article http://issuu.com/liverpool/docs/ldp_business_magazine_february2012/1?mode=a_p

SIMON WALKER, who founded delivery firm Delsol with Tony Parry, on their shared love for motorbikes and biking

IT IS a long-running joke among our friends and family that my business partner Tony and I are the biggest petrolheads in the country.

Not only do we run a transport company with more than 50 vehicles but to unwind and relax we also like to surround ourselves with fuel, engine parts and driving – in the shape of motorbikes.

Bikes have been a massive hobby of mine since I was 16. I really got the bug for cars and bikes very early on and I wasted no time getting my motorbike licence in my teens much to my parents’ horror. Tony was the same.

Tony and I started Delsol in 1999 and we’d been mates for 10 years before that, forged in many ways by a love of motorsport.

We have thrown our lives into building the business. Last year was terrific for us because we broke into the Wales Fast Growth 50 for the first time after growing turnover by 21% to £5.2m and reaching several awards finals.

When we started Delsol we did use bikes extensively and they are still an effective form of same-day delivery. But predominantly motorbikes are our hobby now. Believe it or not, I have six bikes, and Tony has three.

We split our time between our Caernarfon office, where we were founded, and the Chester office, which we opened three years ago.

On a nice summer’s day, instead of bringing the car to work, I’ll bring the bike and go home via the mountains.

I live in Tregarth, North Wales, where there are some great roads for biking. We love riding in Snowdonia, and right across to the North West.

I’ve done a lot of restoration work – five or six bikes over the past few years. I love tinkering away with them and then look to trade them on.

AND, to be fair, it gets me out of my wife’s hair and my kids like to help me in the garage. Fixing a bike is a bit like gardening – it’s great therapy. I can while away the hours, contemplate the business and life.

Tony also restores bikes – he’s working on a 1980s Suzuki at the moment.

I have a 1970s Ducati which I’ve fully restored and I’m working on a 1959 Greeves, an old British bike. From a box of parts, I’ve made it into something that’s almost road ready.

What I like about fixing bikes is that it is very different from work.

In transport we don’t make or create anything – we get the job done and move packages, pallets and parcels around the UK and the world. But when you are mending or building a bike you are creating something and there is a massive achievement in that.

Builders must have that sense of achievement. Every time they drive past a house they built, they can say “we did that”.

Much to our families’ relief, every year we go on a guys’ biking holiday. This year, eight of us are going to the TT on the Isle of Man. We’ve never been to the TT before and I cannot wait.

Other times, we’ll go to Scotland where the scenery is so dramatic and breathtaking and the roads wonderfully undulating. We both get a massive kick out of that kind of remote biking.

Tony, much to my constant admiration, also does track days. It is quite astonishing as he will push the bike as fast as it will go. He is a total adrenalin junkie.

I much prefer to watch from the safety of the stands.

Biking, I am delighted to say, is now running in the family. My 16-year-old son Geraint is just starting to ride a bike now, so I’m starting to fiddle with his bike as well for as long as he will let me.

The great thing about bikes is that sense of freedom and speed it gives you. It is the most exciting way to travel and see the world and the countryside. And you can beat most traffic jams – if only we could do that in our day job.

Left to Right Ian Richmond, Mark Hughes

Following on a very successful year in 2011 Delsol has strengthened both its Sales Department and Compliance Department with the announcement of the new managers.

Ian Richmond will head up sales and new business development with Mark Hughes becoming the compliance manager.

Both appointments are new roles within the company and will drive the growth the company expects in 2012 whilst ensuring all regulations and Health and Safety legislation is adhered to.

Director Simon Walker said “as the company continues to grow and develop the need for specific roles has become more important and whilst many companies prepare to ‘batten down the hatches’ in 2012 we are doing the opposite and strengthening our sales activity. Ian’s job is to spread the word in 2012 that Delsol is the one stop shop for transport in North Wales and the North West”.

At the same time the appointment of Anglesey man Mark Hughes to the Compliance Manager reflects Delsols commitment, to maintaining the highest standards in its vehicle fleet and the safety of employees. Mark said “with over 40 vehicles and 80 people to look after the job will never be boring and I am looking forward to continually improving standards at the firm”.

Leonie Gaulton of Delsol Caernarfon

Ever wondered what the strange mosaic patterned squares are that we see more and more regularly on adverts and documents?

Well they are a Quick Response code and when scanned by a modern mobile phone will direct you straight to the website of the advertiser- this clever device has become increasingly popular and now forward thinking companies like Delsol are using the Q.R. code on their vehicles and advertising to direct more business’s to their website.

Potential new customers can then find out all about the different Transport services offered from their mobile devices. Leonie Gaulton of Delsol in Caernarfon says “since introducing the Q.R code system we have seen a significant increase in hits to our website and that has to be good for business”.

Paul Bernthal of Delsol Chester and Lisa Owen of Delsol Caernarfon

In line with the government’s push on U.K exports, leading North Wales and Chester distribution firm Delsol has rolled out fantastic new International service for documents, parcels and pallets. As manufacturing in the region looks for value for money quality driven transport routes into Europe and the rest of the world, Delsol has seized the opportunity to offer Road and Air networked services door to door deliveries for import and exports.

Paul Bernthal, Export controller, of Delsol in Chester says “we began by introducing our U.K customers to the concept of us handling their European and Worldwide distribution and with full track and trace our customer get the same great service they enjoy across the British Isles”.

Manager Lisa Owen of Delsol Caernarfon said “International deliveries have resulted in growing customer confidence that Delsol has become the one stop shop for transport in the region. I regularly assist clients with their shipping paperwork and simplify the process for them”.

Directors Tony Parry and Simon Walker are delighted at the growth in this sector as international transport becomes increasingly more important for the U.K economy.

Transport firm Delivery Solutions (Delsol) has posted its most successful year’s trading since it was founded in 1999. The North Wales and Chester firm grew annual turnover by 21% to £5.2m during 2011.

It gained 300 new business customers, and director Tony Parry said it was seeing increasing demand for all its services including parcels, pallets, storage, same day and international delivery.

Mr Parry, who runs the firm with co-director Simon Walker, said: “Our key target customer base is private business and this sector is looking for better value and quality as the recession bites.”

The firm has increased its workforce by 17% and vehicle numbers to 50 this year, including a £250,000 investment in new vehicles and trailers. Mr Parry said: “Our Chester and Deeside operation is performing robustly, and we are growing our profile in the area. We are also investing heavily in this hub, as we continue to grow our operation in the North East Wales and Cheshire area.”

Delivery Solutions are celebrating their inclusion in the prestigious Fast Growth50 listing for 2011

“After thirteen years of identifying the fastest growing firms in Wales, this unique initiative is firmly established as the list of business success that entrepreneurs across Wales aspire to. Every year, it is a constant remainder of the vast entrepreneurial potential that exists within the Welsh business sector, with growth performance by businesses that is as good as any to be found across the regions of the UK.”

“In Wales, we are often slow to applaud the performance of individual businesses in Wales, but the fifty firms that make up every year’s list are more than worthy of praise. To be described as one of the fifty fastest growing firms in Wales out of a business population of 200,000 is an achievement that should be widely recognised. Often, the project has not been appreciated by politicians and policymakers in Wales, and yet as the only regional barometer of indigenous business in the UK, the list continues to showcase the success of Welsh entrepreneurs and their businesses”

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans.

Rapidly expanding Delivery Solutions (Delsol) Ltd last week revealed its best year of trading since its inception in 1999.

The firm, which has its head office in Bethel, is run by directors Simon Walker and Tony Parry.

Delsol won 150 new customers in 2010 and also managed to create around 16 new jobs in its Bethel branch, taking its total staff to 70 across the company and rolling-out a fleet of 40 vehicles.

Mr Walker said: “It still seems like hard work but we have had a very good year.

“Everybody at the firm has worked extremely hard to make it a success – that’s everybody from the drivers to the managers down to the customer service representatives making sure that the customers are happy.

“We seem to be getting a lot of business from the Post Office and other big firms but I think our reputation has grown through word of mouth as well.

“In the past year we’ve also worked with the Welsh Language Board to upgrade all of our signage and stationary to Welsh.

“This is obviously very important to customers living in this area and for us it’s just playing to our strengths.”

The company was founded in Bethesda 12 years ago. It received £175,000 worth of match funding from the Welsh Assembly to convert an old barn in Bethel to a depot.

Since then, the firm has boosted staff numbers at the office from 25 to 45.

Today it offers the complete courier service operating 40 vehicles ranging from transit vans to bikes to articulated lorries all of which feature the distinctive blue and white livery.

Mr Walker, said the firm is determined to build on its growth and win more business across North Wales, Cheshire and the North West.

He said: “In 2011 we will be vigorously marketing a ‘one stop shop’ for parcel and pallet services with onward delivery to all of the UK and worldwide.

“We will also be working towards upgrading our current fleet and making the vehicles more economical and greener.

“We know we can go head to head with the international couriers by offering better value, better service and critically a commitment to invest in the local community and local people in North Wales and Chester.

“If you want to track a parcel with us you can always speak to a person not a machine.

“We are passionate about providing that personal service – a factor the bigger multinational transport firms struggle to match.”

A COURIER firm secured £400,000 from Barclays towards the purchase of its new £500,000 Deeside depot.

The money secured the base in Glendale Business Park for Delivery Solutions (Delsol).

Director Tony Parry said the acquisition sees the firm take ownership of a 9,000 sq ft facility, including adjoining land and forecourt, which it has rented since April, 2009.

He added the deal aims to catapult Delsol farther into the Deeside, Wrexham, Chester and wider North West markets.

Delsol has operated the entire LL postcode region for 10 years for the APC network from its Caernarfon head office.

A further acquisition, in April, 2009, saw it take over the Chester CH1-CH8 postcodes for the APC network.

Mr Parry told Business Post: “We are tremendously excited about this deal.

“It enables us to lay down firm roots in the North West Wales and Chester business community and beyond.

“This purchase shows our commitment to the region and our desire to work with more new and existing customers.”

He added: “We do have long term ambitions to grow a major operation from here. Importantly the depot has plenty of space for all our vehicles including our HGVs, this means we can really market our pallet service particularly to the manufacturing and engineering industry in the region.”

Mr Parry said Delsol will be vigorously marketing a ‘one stop shop’ for parcel and pallet services for North Wales and Chester with onward delivery to all of the UK and worldwide.

Barclays Local Business Manager for North West Wales Phil Thomas said Barclays Business is delighted to help a dynamic business grow.

“Delsol is a highly impressive business,” he said.

“We’ve supported them for 10 years and we have faith in Simon and Tony. They really know what they are doing.

“They are wonderfully committed to their customers and they are very good with their staff.”

He added: “Our support shows that debt funding is still very much available from Barclays for firms which have a clear business plan, an established track record and well organised financial forecasts. “Moreover we always want to encourage firms to buy more assets. This helps underpin confidence and drive growth.”

Picture – Delsol directors Simon Walker and Tony Parry are looking to Artemis to raise their profile in Chester and North Wales

Merseyside public relations firm Artemis Media is expanding its reach further into North Wales and Chester with a new deal with one of the region’s fastest growing courier firms Delivery Solutions (Delsol).

Caernarfon based Delsol, which is run by directors Tony Parry and Simon Walker, is looking to build its profile after seeing significant growth in the last 12 months. The firm has opened a new depot in Deeside after buying UK Same Day out of administration in April 2009. The buy-out has enabled Delsol to expand its reach into Chester, Cheshire and Flintshire where it is now the official courier for the CH1 to CH8 postcodes for the APC overnight delivery network. The firm already operates the entire LL postcode region for APC which is one of Britain’s biggest courier networks.

Artemis directors Ben Pinnington and Emma Parker Goff said they are delighted to win such a dynamic firm which now has a £5m turnover, 70 staff and more than 40 vehicles.

“We are really excited to be working with Delsol and expanding Artemis offering in North Wales and Chester which we see as a key growth area,” said Parker Goff. “As a business it is really going places and the PR campaign will be helping Delsol raise its profile in its new markets of Chester, Flintshire and the North West. We will also be vigorously promoting the business across its North Wales area.”

Delsol director Tony Parry said the firm is ambitious to grow and wants to communicate its services to defined target audiences through a media campaign.

“We operate across a large patch all of North Wales and now Chester,” he said. “One of the best ways of promoting ourselves to those regions is communicating through the media. We know we have a cracking service and we need to promote it. Moreover we are a local business and we are committed to our community and employing local people – we very much want to communicate that ethos. We see a clear need to promote ourselves to grow during the economic downturn. We want to work with more businesses and public bodies like hospitals and county councils. Our typical client will spend around £1000 a week with us and some a lot more but we also have plenty who spend £100 a week. Our outlook is to find the right delivery solution to meet your needs. We operate a sameday, overnight or economy service to deliver anywhere in the UK and overseas.”

Artemis Director Ben Pinnington said Artemis will now exceed its 30pc growth target for 2010 after picking up a raft of new business in the last two months including the CBI, LT Print Group, Thornton Hall Hotel, the Green Power Forum and Mosslands School.

“Picking up a firm of calibre of Delsol is terrific for the team and gives us a fresh impetus,” he said. “Artemis specialises in promoting small to medium sized firms and Delsol is exactly the kind of successful private business we want to work with.”

Artemis director Ben Pinnington has been shortlisted as Marketeer of the Year at Downtown Liverpool in Business’ Livercool Awards in November. Artemis has recently launched a new website: www.artemismedia.co.uk

North West and North Wales firms interested in Artemis PR services can contact Emma Parker-Goff on 0151 666 5777 or emma@artemismedia.co.uk

Cheshire and North Wales firms wanting further information on Delsol’s services can contact Tony Parry or any member of the Delsol team at Caernarfon for LL postcodes: 01248 679933 or Deeside for CH1 – CH8 postcodes: 01244 531282

Artemis Media background
Artemis was established in 2007 by Ben Pinnington and Emma Parker-Goff. Specialising in private business PR it grew its turnover by 30pc in 2009 from its Monks Ferry business park base. Its clients include Cammell Laird shipyard, Mace & Jones law firm, global manufacturers Stiebel Eltron and Roxtec, business groups the CBI and Private Sector Partners (PSP), top 100 recruiter Scantec, business support agency Blue Orchid, creative production house Mills Media and the work-based learning provider Scientiam.

« Back to list.