 |
Patricia Devos, HR Manager, and Sophie Houtmeyers, Managing Director
Skechers
|
Skechers expands at Milmort
In 2002, Skechers, an American company wanting to distribute its shoes this side of the Atlantic, opened a 22,000 m² centre in Milmort near Liege. Sales have since soared and six years on, the surface area is being doubled.
For those wanting to centralise imports and distribution, Milmort is unique.
Rather than dispatch goods to up to 15 countries, Skechers opted, six years ago, for ONE main centre for all products imported from China and destined for the European market. In addition, they wanted to ensure that the site was big enough to cater for any future expansion. Milmort also provided, at an attractive price, quick connections to all European markets: by boat for import and by road for distribution.
Labour availability was among the primary criteria. “Although the Netherlands excel in the logistics sector, there is no way you can hope to find 15 people to reinforce your team at the last minute in Eeklo! Yet, fashion is a seasonal activity”, explains Sophie Houtmeyers, Managing Director at Skechers. “We started with just two people. There are now 85 and we constantly work with the Governement Employment Agency!”
Going from 22,000 to 45,000 m², is something that can’t be improvised.
Expansion prospects were decisive in choosing Milmort. “We are building a new depot alongside the first. The first will be geared towards reception of goods, the second to delivery”, explains Sophie Houtmeyers. The objective? To meet demand which has doubled and continue to live up to our clients expectations. A project which is very dear to our hearts.
The right recipe
“Skechers is a family company, and that can be felt. We are all very close. The head of International affairs calls me every day. I also participate in a project in Brazil…”, confides Sophie Houtmeyers. “If I had any advice to give to foreign investors, it would be to create a local management team as soon as possible that understands the culture and trade unions and can generate interest among personnel for the company’s business...” As she sees it, the way of working is profoundly different in California compared to Wallonia. “Here relationships with people are crucial: objectives can only be reached if all employees are working towards the same goal.”
An “open doors” policy
“Sophie drops in on all her teams every morning, she knows everybody’s name. One day, a worker came to her office with a broken part and asked her what he should do”, recounts Patricia Devos, HR Manager. Was the manager going to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty? In a manner of speaking, yes. At Milmort, decisions are taken almost immediately, processes are quick, the management committee is small and there are daily meetings with personnel.
Walloons are rigorous
Sophie comes from the province of Limburg, where Dutch is spoken. She holds the Walloon population in high esteem: “If a Walloon says that, ‘normalement’ something will be done, it means that it will be done. It’s simply his way of reassuring you.”
Yet another illustration of the importance of local particularities and creating a dialogue! This is the most important message delivered by the feminine management team, which has adopted the values of the family business.
|
