Moving around the world

Shortly after the end of the First World War, Beverly Smyth & Sons, International Removals and Storage celebrated their 75th anniversary. A further 80 years later and this incredible entity is still growing. Niall Doris, CEO, gave us an insight.

Based at their purpose build, state of the art premises in south Dublin, Beverly Smyth & Sons specialise in a host of local and international removals. They work with major corporate clients as well as handling a variety of diplomatic moves. They are experts in the ancillary services involved in this industry such as export packing and crating, office, factory and hospital removals, crate hire, document and archive storage and international family relocations. A one stop shop like no other in this field, in Ireland.

Ireland’s booming economy has certainly facilitated growth for Beverly Smyth & Sons. Niall explained: “The number of people coming into the country is outstripping the number of those who are leaving. We cater for corporate accounts who decide they want to bring somebody in with a specific talent or to fulfil a specific need. Usually that entails bringing the family and the family heirlooms.”

Niall continued by eleborating on the nature of the business. “We work with banks, companies in IT, financial services groups, pharmaceutical and manufacturing people. Indeed anyone that has a need to relocate staff to or from Ireland. They might have a branch or HQ in another country and as a result they move their people internationally. The American ethos, for example, is that one has to move in order to climb the next rung on the corporate ladder. We find that the people moving are those who are on a fast track career path. Pre-dominantly the moving is inward but there is still a significant outward flow and not just to the US. Our business, in either direction, is split on the basis of 30% North America, 30% Europe, 30% UK and 10% everywhere else.”

Like all success stories in today’s climate, Beverly Smyth promote complete and utter teamwork. The heart of the team is the operations department where a majestic blend of youth and experience epitomises the culture found throughout the organisation. As well as the ever increasing import and export business, the European department is also busier than ever. Beverly Smyth vehicles regularly grace the UK and the continent with their presence, ever endeavouring an on time, quality assured service to the client.

As a result of the Celtic Tiger, huge growth has also been found in the another area - office re-locations. Due to spiralling office rents, many companies in Dublin are re-locating away from the city centre to business parks in he suburbs where rents are lower. “If operations is the heart of our company, I think it’s safe to say that our crew members and our fleet are its soul. Our men, both in the household and in the office removal sections are really second to none. We have crews that can enter an establishment at 1700 hrs on a Friday evening and move everything in accordance with a detailed plan, in order for the company concerned to begin work at 0800 hrs the following Monday as if they were still in the same premises,” Niall explained.

He continued “The expansion of all of these markets has led to an increased fleet size. We have purchased three MAN tractor units with trailers. We have 20 or so vehicles with a number of small transit vans, a number of DAF 10 tonne trucks, a number of 17.5 tonners and we even have a brand new Iveco with a special tailor made “Crew Cab” for the office removal side of the business.

It’s clear that Beverly Smyth & Sons are extremely proud of their long established relationship with the world’s Diplomatic Corps. In the past they have worked in considerable volumes with Embassies from France, Australia, Switzerland, Germany and indeed with our own Department of Foreign Affairs. It doesn’t matter what country these ladies and gentlemen are moving from and to, their move is handled with the standard you would expect from such a well oiled machine.

Niall revealed what he perceives as the icing in the cake. “As well as being members of the National Association of Overseas Movers in Ireland, the Overseas Moving Network International - which we co-own, FIDI and British Association of Removers, we are the only organisation in the Republic of Ireland who are a member of ICEFAT. This stands for the International Convention of Exhibition and Fine Art Transport. Membership of all of these associations is on a very strict selection basis and links us with the cream of removal companies globally. With regard to ICEFAT, involve-ment with this body isn’t just as simple as the crating and shipping of priceless artefacts, but also the complete logistics involved in an exhibition moving from one part of the planet to the other. We arrange everything from A to B including flight tickets for museum couriers accompanying their loans and full assistance to them from when their aircraft touches down to arrival at the museum of exhibition here. And Vice Versa for exhibitions leaving the country.”

It’s hard to imagine what civilisation will be like 150 years from now, but there’s every reason to believe that Beverly Smyth & Sons will still be growing and caring for the removal needs of our grandchildren in the same manner as they’ve looked after us and indeed our ancestors before us.