Company: The Audacious Agency
Company Description: The Audacious Agency helps businesses to enter awards. Their mission is to help business owners shine the light on all they do, using decades of experience in PR and branding, to educate and guide entrepreneurs to leverage awards to stand out and be well known, well paid and wanted.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Transportation - Small
 Nomination Title: EES SHIPPING
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since 1 January 2020, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 192 words used.
Despite facing multiple challenges, EES Shipping through 2020/21, this third generation Western Australian family owned and operated freight forwarding and logistics company has risen to each one, and ultimately, as a business, grown by 35%. Not only kept our current business but grew it as well. Through referrals, we get (on average) one new client/shipment a week, we no longer need a salesperson on the road. We’re at the level where we can pick and choose what business we take on. We’ve addressed external challenges by fortifying our internal processes and structures. Other logistic providers outsource their labour internationally, so we decided to keep it local/in-house. We implemented a workflow procedure that includes document AI, we’re using tech to maximise our output. All staff have passed exams in Cargowise1 (minimum CCO certification) ensuring we are getting the most out of every tool at our disposal, in turn, ensuring our clients are getting the most out of what we offer. Our staff are consistently poached, everyone wants our team members to be on their team, yet, because we care about our teams, our staff turnover is low and our retention rates are high.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2020 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Business Growth - It's been a challenging year in the industry from ships getting stuck in the Suez Canal to price increases. We battled a lack of equipment, rates going through the roof and restrictions on flights, all due to COVID and external factors beyond our control. We could only control our attitude and response to these events. We not only kept our current business but grew it as well.
Managing client expectations - As members of the WA Port Taskforce and WA Leaders, we keep up with the industry, staying ahead of the curve. Regular meetings with all the shipping lines, customs, and trade alliances keeps our finger on the pulse so we can advise clients on what to expect, helping with transparency and under-promise and over-deliver. Through relationship building techniques, we’ve retained all 350 clients. A large portion of our new business (40-50%) is to referrals - we get (on average) one new client/shipment a week, often more than that.
In-house management - Our internal management is vastly different from others in our industry. Our competitors constantly try to poach our incredible team members. Other logistic providers outsource their labour internationally, so we decided to keep it local/in-house.
Embracing tech - implemented a workflow procedure that includes document AI, using tech to maximise our output. All staff have passed exams in Cargowise1 (minimum CCO certification) ensuring we get the most out of every tool at our disposal, and our clients get the most out of what we offer.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 230 words used.
As part of the EGLN, we have been able to foster excellent international alliances where we have some of the best agents globally helping us, we offer market-leading services that our competitors can’t offer. For example; when COVID was at its peak, we assisted the West Australian Health Department with medical supplies from Asia on a 3-day deadline. At that point, almost no flights into Perth and the rates were exceptionally high. We asked who had referred them and they simply stated they have us on file as “someone who just gets it done, no matter what”. Our growth is underpinned by our attention to detail and high level of customer service. When they brought out new INCOTERMS, we offered training sessions to our clients for their benefit, at no charge (1 client was a 5-hour session). We’ve held CoR and SOLAS seminars and sessions to train clients and advise their main offices, saving them thousands. The logistics people for a local brewery also enjoyed free seminars with us. We helped them find a way to make the beer industry reach internationally through export grants. We know this information and we sit down and teach our clients how to do it. These time-consuming practices develop client loyalty that is absolutely unrivalled. Through this, we have won Austrade on our side and they’re helping us and WA breweries with export grants.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 100 words used.
The attached support document contains all links to socials and website for you to review EES Shipping. Explore the 35 year history of this family owned business and its achievements during a very challenging year for those in international transportation. The document showcases the extent of the services EES Shipping provides and the work they have done building their team and processes to cope during 2020/21 challenges. They also engaged a PR specialist to help them tap into the increasing news stories on the shipping challenges - this strategy helped them further cement their position as leaders in their industry.
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