Maltese retailers are constantly facing competition from international online stores. The natural and more logical reaction to this foreign competition is to go global by selling online themselves.

One of their biggest challenges when they sell online, apart from investing in an e-commerce platform and having it updated with all their products pictures and description and having the platform linked to an online payment gateway, is then how to ship orders abroad.

Express Trailers has been working silently on an innovative logistics platform purposely designed to support retailers, and anyone selling online, in the export function of their online sale.

The platform is a redesigned ShipLowCost.com website that talks to the retailer’s e-commerce software, enabling her to ship her products abroad and effectively being able to take her business global.

“Express Trailers has always worked very closely with Maltese retailers and few understand the needs of these retailers as we do,” says Franco Azzopardi, chairman and CEO of Express Trailers.

“We know that to operate and remain competitive, one needs to be backed up with the right logistics setup and even more, a robust IT platform. This is where our ShipLowCost service for businesses comes in, also supported by our managed warehouse services.”

Businesses who want to sell their products abroad can now work with Express Trailers through the ShipLowCost.com portal. They will enjoy a seamless experience ranging from simply booking a delivery through ShipLowCost.com portal after their own e-commerce website registers a sale, to going into a total solution through the company’s warehousing services where warehousing of their stock is managed.

ShipLowCost.com will in such situations talk to the Warehouse Management System about what to pick, pack and deliver on behalf of the customer.

One business client who has already been using ShipLowCost for export is Paul Musu, owner of a retail shop in Valletta, who has been working with Express Trailers throughout his retail career.

Benchmark gateway for retailers and casual sellers to go global

“My business collaboration with Express Trailers goes back over 40 years since they have always been at the forefront with a groupage service covering all Europe and beyond. Since I also imported from Asia, their service matched my business needs. In fact, their service has always been very professional and satisfactory,” says Mr Musu.

“When one of the largest manufacturing clothing companies in Turkey, with whom I had been working with for some years, asked me to act as their agent in Europe, for me choosing Express Trailers as my export partner was a natural thing to do.”

“Knowing I was being backed by the ShipLowCost platform, I started participating in various fairs held all over Europe, receiving the goods from Turkey and re-distributing them to my various clients. I have been exporting to Italy, Sweden, Portugal, Spain and as far as Canada and Ecuador through the ShipLowCost portal.

“Without ShipLowCost, my business activity would have been more costly but thanks to this platform’s efficient and easy-to-use features, I have been able to grow my business further,” he added.

Express Trailers launched www.ShipLowCost.com in 2012 to help consumers bring their online shopping or purchases to Malta via Express Trailers’ hubs across Europe. “Although initially we were seen to be serving the consumer, this was only the launchpad to be business enablers for the local retailers, initially in the import of smaller consignments and now in the delivery of their exports sold online or otherwise,” says Mr Azzopardi.

The service started operating from four depots, in the UK, Germany, Italy and France with the addition of Sicily which came a few months after the service was launched. Eventually, as the service kept growing, another three depots were added in Austria, Netherlands and Spain.

“Our ShipLowCost online service, coupled with Express Trailers’ foresight on e-commerce and the success of this solution, all proved the company’s vision was a correct one. Today, companies no longer even need their storage warehouses and their fleet of delivery vans locally.

“The next announcement will be another major milestone for the Maltese online retailer. So I suggest you stay tuned in to our frequency. Express Trailers, as always, is the benchmark gateway for retailers and casual sellers to go global.”