Spotlight on Mid-Atlantic: Belts
How is business generally in your DCA region?
Business in the mid-Atlantic region is relatively strong and still growing. More and more importers are recognizing the Port of Baltimore’s fast throughput times and its competitive access to U.S. consumers – over 2/3 of America’s economy can be reached overnight from Baltimore.
Which industries seem to be hit hardest or doing best – making news or on your radar because of economic impacts or recovery successes?
Businesses associated with e-commerce continue to expand. Likewise, import volumes of medical devices and equipment appear to be trending up. Some angst has been generated over the possibility of new tariffs on aluminum and steel imports, and it’s led companies in those industries to seek out bonded and foreign trade zone (FTZ) storage for their metals.
How is Belts’ business? Are certain market sectors or types of companies rebounding faster than others?
As a third party logistics provider we’re always a viable option for companies, especially importers, who have business volumes that tend to fluctuate. By partnering with Belts, they gain substantially from only having to pay for the space and labor they need, while avoiding the costs of idle logistics employees and vacant warehouse space.
Is there an initiative or new focus area you’d like to emphasize?
Belts has embraced e-commerce, with a state-of-the art “transportation management system” (TMS) that allows us to streamline our e-commerce fulfillment operations and “shop out” our customers’ package deliveries across the full range of small parcel carriers and secure them the lowest rates. We’re also getting inquiries from large food manufacturers who are interested in our premium BRC Certified “AA” food grade facility. BRC stands for “British Retail Consortium” an organization that developed one of the highest regimen of food grade handling protocols in the world.
Any final thoughts?
Our number one objective at Belts Logistics is to provide our customers with value. Everyone in the company is keenly aware that the more value we provide, the more our customers will succeed … and that our success is ultimately a by-product of their success.
