ABL success boosted on the back of Sitrak

A PASSION for customer service has been a key stepping stone in the success story of Queensland business ABL Distribution.

The family-owned industrial packaging firm, which started in 1986 as a subsidiary business to the main food packaging company Coastal Packaging Distributors, combines on-road deliveries and direct customer contact with its nationwide online sales.

Getting to its customers that are spread from the north of NSW to throughout south-east Queensland, means ABL runs a fleet of trucks.

For them, reliable and durable trucks that are cost-effective to own and offer maximum comfort for ABL staff is paramount.

That criteria this month led to ABL taking delivery of its first Sitrak truck on the fleet.

ABL chose the Sitrak after conversations with City Fleet, the Queensland-based company that has been looking after ABL’s fleet maintenance for the past 15 years.

ABL founder and joint manager, Ian Boniface, said the service he received from City Fleet over the years was an important factor in choosing Sitrak, a truck distributed by City Fleet.

“The after sales service City Fleet provided and the extended warranty of seven years and one-million kilometres was a perfect fit for our fleet,” he said.

“In comparison to the other trucks available, the Sitrak was also less expensive, had better technology and a better service backup, so it was an easy choice for us.”

ABL was started by Ian Boniface and brother-in-law Kerry Johnston who have built it into one of Queensland’s biggest distributors of industrial packaging and related products.

It has key long-term supply relationships with major manufacturers including 3M, Bostik and Polycell.

Products distributed by ABL include bubble-wrap rolls, mailing supplies, 3M Adhesives, strapping supplies, corrugated cardboard rolls and boxes, shipping materials, personal protection equipment, cleaning supplies and more.

Mr Boniface said that these relationships “are defined by our desire to supply our customers with the best product for the job, at competitive prices, with the best and most up-to-date technical support.”

Its customers range from small to large businesses from a large cross-section of industries.

The future plans include maintaining the same emphasis on providing products that customers want, giving them top service, and looking to grow.

“I think that there will be big product innovations as the world moves to more sustainable products,” Mr Boniface said.

“Online will grow too as patterns of product search change for customers.

“As a medium-size company we believe that we can combine the resources of larger corporations with the personalised touch of a small business.

“I do not agree that external salespersons will be obsolete – customers need to see and to touch products, see demonstrations plus I think that we are made to interact with each other. I am certainly optimistic about the future.

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