Recognising the tremendous business opportunities on the mainland as early as 1985, Thomas van Berkel foresaw great potential to capitalise on textile exports from the country. This experience in breaking new ground served as the foundation for Venix International to diversify its business and expand its global reach.
When Venix was established in Rotterdam in 1997, it primarily served major department stores importing textiles from the mainland.
Venix managed the door-to-door supply chain, from importing raw materials to delivering and distributing finished garments across Europe.
The company expanded its offerings to include logistics, customs, import and export, road transport and warehousing services. Over the years, Venix amassed a base of more than 5,000 clients.
"What differentiates us from other players offering the same services is that we are a small, family-run and flexible company. We can tailor our services to address different client demands and respond quickly when our clients contact us," says Thomas van Berkel, owner of Venix.
Flexibility makes Venix well-suited to represent firms of all sizes seeking the high level of attention and customer service which is often lost in larger logistics companies, burdened with rigid bureaucracies and long lines of communication.
Venix also expanded its global reach. Aside from textiles and garments from the mainland, Venix sources a variety of products from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The company has also started exploring new opportunities in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.
"We are interested in growing our Asian network further. We transport printed books and magazines from China and Hong Kong. We also transport Vietnamese coffee crop for Indian clients, and we transport garments from India and Bangladesh," says Vincent van Berkel, managing director of Venix. Asia's dynamic economy presents growth opportunities for Venix as European clients continue sourcing products from the mainland and Southeast Asia.
