Services

Benefits

Reasons for Centralized Distribution

Netherlands Advantage

Contact Information

European Distribution
The European Distribution Program serves as a conduit, enabling industry exporters and importers to save money and time, increase flexibility, establish a physical presence in the local market as well as buy and sell more effectively in Europe.

Our distribution partner is Freightways International, a group of logistic companies, which offers a variety of services in the field of: warehousing, forwarding by road, air and sea, tax and customs services; and many other related services. They are ideally located with a central European warehouse facility in the Netherlands from where they serve European, African, Middle East and Eastern Markets.

The Home Improvement Industry Presidents Council and Freightways International are working together to furnish a complete and competitive European Distribution Program for North American manufacturers that empowers them with the ability to compete on the same level as European Manufacturers. It provides manufacturers "instant on" distribution with minimum expense while assisting European retailers to reduce the cost of goods and increase service levels on North American products. It allows members to distribute products from Europe with short lead times, in any quantity. The programs assure the lowest possible costs by combining the volume of other Council Members with the efficiency of the Freightways Group. Freightways warehouse facilities have been chosen for Council Member companies because of their close proximity to major retail accounts and sophisticated information and security systems. We invite you to tour the Distribution facility at any time throughout the year.


Available services include:

• Warehousing
• Order Receiving
• Barcoding
• Stock Management
• Order Taking, Processing & Administration
• Pick ‘n Pack, Packing, Repacking
• Assembly Modifications
• Pricing, Labeling
• Customs Clearance
• Invoicing on Customers Stationary, in the local currency
• Return of Goods
• Back Order Administration
• Stock Replenishment
• VAT Handling (fiscal representative)

Benefits
Over 450,000 square feet of bonded warehouse space, located in Holland, secured by burglary and fireproof systems.

A central warehouse location. Over half the population of Europe (160 million) lives within 300 miles of Freightways warehouse in Holland.

Orders received by 1:00 PM are shipped the same day.

Choice of utilizing the C-BAC Systems which allows for:

• Customs clearance at time of delivery to customer, not upon receipt of goods at warehouse. This avoids customs delays, allows for less movement of goods and reduces paperwork, all at lower costs.
• Duties are payable only once a month and only after products have been sold and shipped to your customer.

*General customs clearance is also an option whereupon goods are cleared upon arriving at the warehouse. 


Why a Centralized European Distribution Center (EDC)?
Although the EU has harmonized its markets since 1992, there are still some differences in languages, taste and culture between European countries. Therefore, it is not possible to sell generic product in the European market. Every region needs it own small product adjustments. Companies can implement or expand VAL (Value Added Logistics) activities in the EDC in order to execute these small product adjustments. Centralized European distribution leads to better inventory control on European scale and therefore better forecasting and production planning on a global scale. The total distribution process becomes more efficient resulting in shorter order-cycle-times.

Why the Netherlands?
The strength of Rotterdam, the worlds' largest seaport, is a strong reason why multinational companies locate their European Distribution Center in the Netherlands. The port of Rotterdam together with the port of Amsterdam handles almost 50% of total sea-cargo in Europe.

When setting up an EDC in Europe you need a dynamite, highly competitive and high quality level transportation system with the European mainland, including Eastern Europe. Dutch road haulers handle 27% of all international road transport in Western Europe.

Because of the advantages of Holland as a European Gateway (two main ports close together, competitive European transportation networks, etc.) many international companies have set up their main European warehousing facilities in the Netherlands.

Contact Information:

FREIGHTWAYS INTERNATIONAL
Schiphol Boulevard 225
1118 BH SCHIPHOL
THE NETHERLANDS
Phone: (011) 31.20.405.7070
Fax: (011) 31.20.653.6184

Mr. Jack Zijlstra
President
email: j.zijlstra@freightways.nl

Read about other Presidents Council programs:
Buyingdays.com
Annual Conference
Industry Dinner
Advisory Board Meetings
Sponsorships