Freightwise is the LINK! Network Award 2008 Winner

David Burke of Freight Wise won the 2008 Link! Award for the 'Newcomer with the Best Business Plan'. Brian Carey, Sunday Times, Irish Business Editor was the special guest to present the Awards.

“Winning the Newcomer with the Best Business Plan award with LINK! and DCEB gives us recognition that lets us know that we are doing something right.” David said. “It has also encouraged us to revisit and update our business plan. We have also had to alter our business plan also because of the downturn in the economy.”

“The LINK! network has been invaluable to Freight Wise. We have expanded our own network and we also receive some great advice from like minded owner managers. The monthly meetings are very beneficial and the topics and speakers have been very relevant to start up companies".

Freight Wise Ltd was set up in July 2007 by Mary McMahon and David Burke, who between them have 25 years experience in the freight-forwarding industry. We realised that there was a gap in the market for freight forwarders who are customer service-focused and so make themselves available to their customers 24/7. With a network of agents offering worldwide coverage, Freight Wise provides door to door worldwide service including; Courier, Airfreight, Seafreight (LCL and FCL), Groupage, Full Load, Port to port, port to door, door to port, UK 24/48 hour import and export service, European road service, Domestic overnight service and Customs clearance.

They are 100% Irish owned. They are able to offer very competitive rates because they deal direct with agents all over the world and they keep their overheads to a minimum, allowing them to pass on their savings.

Read more about Freightwise in the Case Studies section.

2nd Prize: Newcomer With The Best New Product or Service

Winner: Joseph Haugh of GuarReg Ltd./ Productful.com

“ProductFul.com is very pleased to win this award” said Joe Haugh. “We would like to thank the Dublin City Enterprise board for their assistance with the mentoring program they run which ProductFul.com has availed of. Also ProductFul has completed some of their training programs, helping the business to learn new techniques which they may not have known before. Winning this prize is a big accomplishment for the management team of ProductFul.com, and we look to build upon this success in 2009 and beyond. 2008 has been a very challenging year, but the work we have completed will allow our business to be taken to the next level of commercial reality. Competitions such as this are invaluable to startups” Joe said “as they allow third parties to assess the business plan and service /product offering, giving independent assessment of what the business is trying to achieve. ProductFul.com looks forward to building its relationship with DCEB.IE, consumers and manufacturers into the future”.

ProductFul.com is an online product registration website, which allows the easy management of product and guarantee registration, guarantee length expiration tracking, and the facility to upload and store a copy of a receipt to be attached to the product registered on our website. To the consumer IT IS FREE and it takes the hassle out of filling out forms, allows an instantaneous confirmation of registration and the ability to download a copy of the receipt of purchase. As all registrations are in one centralised area the consumer can easily retrieve the required information where they have a need to get a product checked if it should develop a fault. For the manufacturers we are looking to bring to them a quicker and more efficient way for consumers who have bought their products to register with them. As a result of our website registration speeds will be quicker, manufacturers will be able to authenticate purchases quickly, with the ability to view receipts uploaded online. We are also incorporating a customer service module whereby consumers will be able to directly communicate with the manufacturer via our website via a real time messaging system, this will complement the other services of telephone, e-mail and fax which a manufacturer may offer.

Read more Productful in our Case Studies section.

The Precious Diamonds Perpetual Trophy

Precious Diamonds Perpetual Trophy has four aspects.

The solid polished base of Irish marble represents the solid base of employment almost all LINK entrepreneurs come from.

The rough centerpiece of marble represents the rocky climb or ascent these entrepreneurs take in starting and building their businesses.

The sterling silver which winds over and around the cracks and pits of the rough marble represents the supporting path that LINK offers its members in pushing upwards and growing.

Finally the star-set Diamond at the pinnacle of the trophy represents success and the rewards of hard work and innovation (or joining PLATO, as I like to see it!)

In creating the Precious Diamonds Perpetual Trophy I worked large scale, large format. This years winner David Burke of Freight Wise will testify that the trophy carries considerable gravitas, perhaps I will offer next years winner some weight training - to be able to carry it home!

Eoin McDonnell designs engagement rings and Diamond Jewellery to commission, if you are thinking of proposing a concept for next year, he loves the ones on one knee. His website is www.Precious.ie

Photo: David Burke.