The three Romanian entrepreneurs Felix Patrascanu, Adrian and Neculai Mihai, owning Fan Courier, one of the biggest Romanian-held delivery services firm, say the good crisis effects include the disappearance from the market of "kamikaze" firms, as well as the limitation of personnel turnover.
The three also talk about the strategy through which they'll uphold their position on a market dominated by the arrival of some giants. "The reorganisation processes domestic courier firms will undergo in the wake of their merger with foreign operators are an opportunity for us right now," stated Adrian Mihai. "During this period, we're going to try and attract as many clients as possible," Patrascanu also says.
Thus, on an extremely competitive market worth above 200m euros, Fan Courier's strategy envisages consolidation on the domestic market accounting for over 90% in overall revenues and to a lesser extern international expansion.
Mihai says there are three scenarios shareholders are currently considering for this year and for which they have prepared some moves. "The upbeat scenario points to a 17-18% revenue increase, the medium one points to flat turnover from 2008, while the downbeat scenario shows a 5-6% drop in turnover," he explained.
For the downbeat scenario, the considered steps entail restructuring, with the current number of employees of the company amounting to 2,000.
"The first three months of the year show us, though, that we are close to the upbeat scenario, with a 16% turnover increase," said Adrian Mihai. Fan Courier generated 9.2m-euro turnover in Q1, this year, up 16% from a year ago.
The company's development is ensured by the daily involvement of the three owners of the business, who work in executive positions. "(...) Every evening, since we set up the firm in 1998, one of us stays at the firm's headquarters until the last vehicle with parcels leaves. We like to get involved in the business and be as close as possible to it," says Felix Patrascanu.
Still, the changing market conditions have slowed down business growth. All the money invested in the firm's projects is from owned funds.
Despite the income drop, Fan Courier owners say this economic crisis has had a good timing for the courier market. "Primarily, because there were too many small, 'kamikaze' firms on the market. (...) Secondly, because we couldn't find the right people."
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