Dugros

Dugros is a leading importer of leather goods, including fashionable women’s bags, suitcases, and belts. The wholesaler designs its products in the Netherlands and has them produced in Asia. For over twenty years, Dugros has relied on Berkman to bring these leather goods to Europe. Bas Duifhuizen, owner of Dugros, shares his thoughts on the partnership: “Working with Berkman guarantees worry-free, door-to-door transport, without any hassle.”

From market man to wholesaler

School bags, travel bags, purses, panniers – these are just a few examples of the wide range of Dugros imports to the Netherlands with Berkman’s help. Bas explains: “I’ve been in the bag business since I was 18. I started out selling at markets, and over the years, that’s grown into a wholesale operation where we design our own products and have them produced in the Far East.”

As Dugros grew from a market stall to a wholesaler, they needed a freight forwarder with the right connections in Asia. That’s where Berkman came in. “With their back office in India and employees in China, we know we’re in good hands with Berkman. It’s reassuring to know you have a presence near the production, even though it’s happening on the other side of the world,” Bas says. The decision to partner with Berkman wasn’t entirely by chance. “The current managing director, Arie van der Perk, is my second cousin. He worked with us during internships and holiday jobs, and when he started at Berkman, he approached us. That’s how this long-lasting partnership began, and we’re both very happy with it,” Bas explains.

Berkman Forwarding grows with you

What stands out most for Bas in this partnership? “It’s the dedicated team at Berkman that you can always count on. If there’s an issue, they respond quickly. They’re approachable, and the process always runs smoothly.”

For Dugros, the logistics process looks like this: “It starts with our back office placing orders with manufacturers in China. They give us an estimated Free On Board (FOB) delivery time, which they report to Berkman as soon as possible. They also indicate how much volume is ready, so Berkman can plan how many containers will be needed. From there, Berkman takes over-they make sure a container arrives at the factory, it’s loaded by the manufacturer’s staff, and then sealed. Berkman handles the export documents and gets the containers onto a ship bound for Rotterdam,” Bas explains.

Over the years, Dugros has experienced significant growth. “We started with just one or two containers a year. Now, we handle around 250 annually. That shows how flexible Berkman is-they’ve grown with us. We ask, and they deliver. They take on every challenge with both hands,” says Bas.

The world around Dugros is constantly changing, too, and digitalization has played a major rule in their growth. Bas emphasizes: “Innovation is a top priority at Dugros. We’re always looking to automate and streamline processes, both for ourselves and our partners.”

Digital dashboard: Berkman innovates with you

Not only at Dugros focusing on digitalization, but Berkman is keeping pace with its own innovations, such as the digital dashboard. Bas is very pleased with this tool: “The portal is a big advantage. Our back office-who use it the most-are very satisfied and check it daily. It keeps us up-to-date with the latest transport status and saves a lot of time on manual tasks, emails, and so on.” Dugros is also working on developing their own system, which will integrate with Berkman’s dashboard.

Streamlined and hassle-free

Bas also highlights that, in addition to their shared commitment to innovation, there’s something unique about Berkman as a partner. “It’s the combination of a forward-thinking approach and maintaining personal contact. You’re not dealing with a robot on the phone-you’re speaking with an employee who understands you and is there when you have a problem. That human, personal touch is essential.”

Trust is also a key factor. “Once Berkman takes over, you can sit back and relax. You know the shipment will arrive without any hassle. It’s a smooth, streamlined process, without any fuss,” Bas says. And that’s something he values highly: “Every day, we’re thinking about what can be improved, what we need to do, and how to do it with the resources we have. Time, money, and people are limited, but Berkman keeps the communication lines short and always works with us to find the best solutions. They just get it done.”

“At Dugros, we’re incredibly satisfied with how things are going, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.”

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