The Mover December 2012

20 The Mover ● December 2012 ● www.themover.co.ukPROFILE: EUROPEAN REMOVALS & STORAGE CO● Left to right: Steen Herrche, International; Henrik Dixon, Operations and Keld Gissemann.EUROMOVERSDANISH CONNECTIONIt was back in 1999 that Keld Gissemann bought the EuropeanRemoval & Storage Co in Copenhagen Denmark and 2004when he was one of the founders of EUROMOVERS International.Steve Jordan dropped in to see him at his office in Copenhagento find out how the company had developed since.In a quiet corner of a modern industrialestate in Taastrup, on the outskirtsof Copenhagen, you’ll find KeldGissemann’s European Removal &Storage Co. The company moved into thepremises three years ago and, despitethe global recession that has increasedthe stress levels for everyone in recentyears, is doing well. The company alsohas a branch office in Aarhus in Jutland,across the Kattegat in the west of Denmark,allowing it to serve the entire country andthe south of Sweden too.Although the premises in Copenhagenare modest they do provide extensivefacilities lacking in many much largerorganisations. Adjacent to the smartoffice area is the 1,500m 2 warehouseincorporating a case-making workshop,rarely seen in movers’ warehousesnowadays, and a secure lock up. Out inthe yard is space for lift-van assembly (thecompany holds the American Embassycontract), the storage of a large fleet ofswap-body trailers, and parking for thevehicles that pull them. The company alsooperates to a Total Quality Managementstandard that complies with DIN EN ISO9001: 2000 and meets EN 12522 (furnitureremoval); EN 12507 (transportation);and EN 14873 (storage).The company itself started in 1995. Keldbought it in 1999. He had spent most ofhis life working in the moving businessso knew it well. It was while on a trip to“It’s a family so there’salways someone toturn to if you have aproblem or need someadvice. It’s not expensiveto join either.”Keld GissemannGermany in 2000 that he first saw aEUROMOVERS vehicle alongside him ina traffic queue. “As soon as I got back tothe office I decided to investigate,” hesaid. “We joined EUROMOVERS Germanythe following year.”But Keld was particularly interested indeveloping a network of internationalagents. “We didn’t know many agents andwe couldn’t do international moves justwith the contacts we had,” he explained.Keld Gissemann has advisedthat there is a continuingproblem with LCL shipmentsentering Denmark via Hamburg.Shipments via Hamburg are chargeda THC of around euro 900/lift van iftheir final destination is in Denmark.In addition, customs clearance atthe German/Danish border can bevery time consuming.Keld advises all shippers to sendcargo as FCL or groupage if possibleor, where LCL shipment is essential,to route the cargo via GothenburgSo it was him and a handful of otherEuropean companies who had the sameproblem who set up EUROMOVERSInternational in 2004. Keld became aBoard member.EUROMOVERS International firstspread its wings at IAM (then HHGFAA)at San Diego in 2004. The following yearthe organisation caused something of astorm at IAM in Washington DC with its‘painted lady’: a female model painted inEUROMOVERS’ colours. “She reallystood out in the crowd,” said Keld. “Shewas head and shoulders taller thananyone else.”EUROMOVERS today has around 60members in over 30 countries includingAustralia, New Zealand, China and theUSA. “We are good for each other,”explained Keld. “It’s a family so there’salways someone to turn to if you have aproblem or need some advice. It’s notexpensive to join either. We get morebusiness and also can help othermembers. We are also able to contributeon third-country moves. The more peopleyou know the better able you are to solveproblems as they come along.”Keld has recently been working on anew website for his company that givescustomers the opportunity of enteringinformation about their move online andobtaining an instant quotation. That initself is not unusual but he has added atwist. “We provide a quote but don’tdisclose to the customer the volume onwhich it’s based. That way they can’t thenuse the volume we’ve assessed to phonearound for competitive quotes.” Of coursehe does surveys for all the larger jobsbut, according to Keld, it’s online that isthe future.The moving industry in Denmark is notbig and Keld’s company has now grownto be one of the major players. Agentsinterested in obtaining rates or requestinginformation should contact the company’sInternational Manager, Steen Herrche, atsteen@eumove.dk.High THC for LCL shipmentsthrough Hamburgin Sweden rather than Hamburg inGermany. Alternatively ensurethat the cargo is not discharged atHamburg but enters Denmark on afeeder vessel.He also warns that it is possiblethat some shippers are notincluding THC in their quotationsand, therefore, those companiesthat include all charges mightappear to be expensive and,therefore, lose out in a competitivetender. If in doubt contact steen@eumove.dk.