Vcargo heads for brighter horizon

MANILA, Philippines - Vintel Logistics, with its flagship brand Vcargo worldwide, is poised to breach its growth targets for 2010, as it strengthens its business in the Visayas, Mindanao and to other parts of the globe.

Vcargo has been in the business for more than a decade, tracing its roots in Logistics Marketing services after realizing the need of marketing professionals for a reliable logistics service provider offering complete support for below-the-line advertising activities. Not long after, Vcargo expanded its service portfolio to courier, freight, logistics and food logistics which caters to a diverse set of various industries.

A significant part of its business comes from corporate accounts, which includes both local and multinational players in the food, manufacturing, electronics, pharmaceuticals, promotions and advertising industries.

Today, Vcargo is still top-of-mind for brand, marketing, merchandising, advertising and below-the-line logistics that involves distribution, installation, audit and even disposal of marketing collaterals, according to Vcargo president Paulo Tibig. Logistics Marketing Services comprises about 30 percent of its revenues.

“This is an added value to our customers. We’re not just point A to point B logistics. We try to understand our customers’ business structure and provide them with the right logistics solution. Our main objective is not just to grow our business but to help our customers grow with us too,” Paulo said.

Paulo never thought Vcargo to become what it is today, a company with about 150 people in its Manila operations alone, having made its mark in the industry as one of the major players’ strong contenders. But when he started his business with Logistics Marketing Services he knew that in order to make a mark in the minds of the customers, it has to be a game-changing concept so he focused on providing a service that would differentiate the orange-themed brand from other players in the industry.

As a business enabler, Globe helps Vcargo achieve its goals by providing for its connectivity needs as it responds to customers’ exacting expectations or even exceed their requirements.

Through its Globe Business unit, Globe helps Filipino entrepreneurs like Paulo grow their business and become a Negostar. Globe Business customizes solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to address their specific communication requirements to support and improve their operations. It specializes in providing for the needs of SMEs who are the Negostar of their own business. “As I say to others, a Negostar takes a proactive perspective. We find something that would set us apart from industry players,” Paulo said.

Paulo understands that logistics is about flexibility and fast service. Communication is crucial to its operations so it is important to have a reliable telecom partner. The company uses the broadband and landline services of Globe Business. “We want the best features of Globe to our advantage. With the increase in calls and inquiries in our business and bookings we need that reliability,” he said. “Technology can always help us provide more value to our customers. Our One-call booking system (through 9-00000-2) via Globe’s Trunk hunting facilities enable us to serve them (customers) faster,” he added.

A self-confessed serial entrepreneur who goes by the moniker Entrep Champ, Paulo is also a professional speaker on topics about entrepreneurship, franchising, logistics and customer service.

Paulo traces his entrepreneurial roots to his father who tried out various businesses until he found one that would support the family. His father, who used to be an OFW in the Middle East, sells lubricants and oil in their store located in a busy street in Balanga, Bataan to augment the family income as his mother is a public school teacher. His father had the retail store for 17 years and Paulo, being the eldest, had to help out during his high school years.

In college, he supported himself by working as a delivery boy, messenger, utility guy and office staff for a customs brokerage company. After college, he stayed in Manila, job-hopping from a pharmaceutical medical representative, marketing assistant for a national pre-need firm to a market development assistant for a multinational financial company. He also explored a variety of business ventures— trading T-shirts, producing nata de coco, handmade paper manufacturing and even a laundry business in the university belt. But Paulo struck gold when his wife, who was then working for a multinational company, told him about problems they were having with the distribution of marketing collaterals. This was when the idea for Vcargo was born.

 “It’s all about creating opportunities and looking for a unique concept that will make you stand out from the rest of the pack,” said Paulo, who has successfully combined its Logistics solutions in synergy with the demanding requirements of the marketing and advertising industries.

As Vcargo’s legacy, Paulo is proud that a Filipino company can compete head on with the best in the logistics industry. Paulo was one of the Top Ten Entrepreneurs of 2005 by Entrepreneur Philippines and is the president of the Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc.