A Message From Our MD Steve Forbes
Having been in my role as Managing Director for just over 100 days (at the time of writing), I've been able to spend a good amount of time speaking with our customers both large and small. These conversations made it loud and clear that the last few years have not been the easiest for the industry. The market conditions have not been great and it still feels like there are many challenges ahead of us.
Whilst there are definitely green shots of recovery emerging, how this sector navigates the next 12 months and beyond will be key to its growth and future stability. We are very aware that we operate in a commodity sector that is driven primarily by price and availability. In challenging economic times lime those we face now, these factors become even more important. We hear this a lot from across the business.
As one of the largest wholesale distributors in this sector, we are in a fortunate position to have the size, scale and legacy of operations to help our customers navigate these tough economic times by investigating where it matters the most to them. This is why our vision for Apex is built on a commitment to build a culture of continuous improvement and customer centricity.
Building Customer Centricity Into How We Operate
To achieve our ambition of becoming the number one supplier to every customer, we need to actively ensure that we are making decisions with our customers' needs placed front and centre.
I've always said that a measure of a person's integrity is not when things go well it's how they react when things go wrong. Due to our size and scale and our position in the market it is important that we always act with this level of high integrity, so it is our goal is to resolve customer problems as quickly as possible.
[Apex Warehouse Staff Member]
We are also making a commitment to spend more time you - our customers - listening to the challenges you face and having important two way dialogue rather than waiting for you to call us with an order. We also want to increase the level of knowledge sharing amongst our customers. Giving value added things for free is good for business and helps move the industry forward.
Improving Our Ability To Serve Our Customers More Effectively Building Our Business Capabilities
Our new super site in Wednesbury is one of the biggest and most key investments we have made over the last few years. Due to its size and scale, we can now hold far more stock than ever before and ensure that we can hold even higher volumes of 'high-runners'. Increased availability of the most in-demand items combined with the site's central UK location means we can get stock out to our clients quicker than before whilst also reducing the complexity and risk of ordering from multiple suppliers and vendors.
[Apex Stainless Fasteners Wednesbury]
But we're not just investing in our premises and our ability holding the broadest range of stock. We are also investing in what we have been historically very good at - our distribution network. Alongside the investments we have made in our super site in the Midlands, we are also investing heavily in building a team of global distribution experts. We have already made a number of strategic hires in this space and we will continue to grow this team as our distribution footprint across key geographic markets expands.
Apex is also committed to becoming a digital first business. In the last three years we've done five years of equivalent digital transformation and we want to do much more as we expand our capabilities with the new ERP/eWMS system, paperless processing and ordering, webshop and digital catalogue.
Service & Deliver With Continued Excellence
One thing that is crucial for our customers, is that we will continue to invest in what has always been a core strength of our business - our people.
With a potentially turbulent 12 months ahead of us, it is vital that you have access to the best knowledge and insight you can find in this sector. Fortunately, as a customer of Apex, that is exactly what you will have access to. The quality of the team at Apex is market leading. Many of out staff have been in the industry and with the business for more than 20 years. That brings with it a wealth of knowledge, insight and experience that cannot be found elsewhere and that your business can benefit from.
[Apex Staff]
We are also building on this legacy knowledge with companywide training programmes to enhance and broaden the skillset we have in the business. To be the best, staff need to think and act like the best and that only comes with training.
We really do value our staff and the value that they bring to our customers and we want to ensure that they feel valued too, Fortunately, there's a really good level of energy around the business right now and we're looking forward to driving and delivering against the Apex vision and our commitment to you in the next 12 months.
If you want to speak to me directly, please contact me on s.forbes@apexstainless.com and I will do my best to respond to you and answer any questions.
Steve Forbes