This week’s supplier conference offered a compelling look at the evolution of Dobbies Garden Centres — not just over the past year, but in how the business is positioning itself for the future. What came through strongly was a sense of renewed energy, clarity of purpose, and a genuine desire to collaborate more closely with suppliers. …and the buzz word of the day was “excited”, the senior team have moved from “confident” to being “super excited” about the opportunities and direction of...

What we learned from our visit to European Aerosols Factory Tour on Wolvega

It’s something we hear often when speaking with businesses moving goods internationally. For many companies, the process still looks the same as it did years ago. A shipment needs to move, so it’s booked with the same freight forwarder — or a select few — they’ve worked with for years. The request goes back and forth through phone calls and long email chains, and eventually a price comes through for a contract or spot rate. The challenge is simple: there’s very little visibility. Not just in...