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“Before it was also always a little bit dodgy… you get prices but you don't know with whom they're booking it exactly. Cargoplot gives you that transparency.”
Introduction
Founded in 1918, Schreuders Sport International is a fourth-generation family company with a rich history of over 100 years. Operating from the Netherlands with a team of 35 colleagues, the company imports a wide range of sports and camping equipment, primarily from China. Niels Emck, part of the fourth generation, co-manages the business and oversees the critical functions of finance and shipping.
The Challenge: Dodgy Shipping
Before partnering with Cargoplot, Schreuders Sport International managed their freight using a "twofold" approach. They would either ask their suppliers in the Far East to arrange shipping or work with a traditional freight forwarder. This process was fraught with uncertainty and inefficiency.
"When you do it through the supplier, you're not completely sure which line they're taking," Niels explains. The alternative, using a traditional forwarder, presented its own problems. They faced the risk of their containers being left behind if they didn't pay volatile spot prices, as there was "no capacity." The pricing was opaque, making the business feel "a little bit dodgy." Getting a quote was a slow process that could take up to a day, and communication was scattered across emails and phone calls.
From Opacity to Clarity
The search for clarity led them to Cargoplot. The difference was immediate and profound. Suddenly, the entire shipping market was laid out before them on a single screen.
"At the same time you are putting in the things you need for a shipment, you have the insight of the prices," Niels explains. The day-long wait for a single, non-negotiable price was replaced by an array of real-time options, available in minutes. This wasn't just a convenience; it was a fundamental shift in strategy.
Tailoring Shipping to Schreuders Sport’s Needs
For the first time, Schreuders Sport could tailor their logistics to their business needs with precision. "We have some camping mattresses from China," Niels gives as an example. "But they're actually a little bit too late because the camping season is over. We're not in a hurry." In the old system, they would have had little choice in the matter. Now, the decision is simple and strategic. "We can use the cheapest available shipping line because even if it takes 3 months, it's still okay."
This newfound visibility put Niels and his team firmly in the captain's chair. They could see the entire seascape—premium carriers for urgent cargo, economical routes for off-season stock—and choose their course.
"A little bit like Uber changed the taxi business, you could say you opened up the very traditional shipping market."
More Than a Platform: A Partner
What truly solidified the relationship was the sense of partnership. When Niels explained that to truly compare apples-to-apples, they needed to see sea freight costs separately from other charges, Cargoplot listened. A feature was built to accommodate them.
Communication became effortless. Instead of hunting through old emails, every conversation, question, and confirmation was logged in a simple chat function attached to each specific shipment. "You have it in one place," Niels says. "The response time is always quite fast." In a business where coordinating across time zones is critical, that speed is invaluable.
The result is a feeling of complete empowerment. The single biggest improvement, Niels says, is the "insight and traceability." It's the confidence that comes from knowing where your cargo is, what you’re paying, and that you made the smartest possible choice.
For Schreuders Sport International, the fog has lifted. After a century in business, the view of the horizon has never been clearer.
“Before it was also always a little bit dodgy… you get prices but you don't know with whom they're booking it exactly. Cargoplot gives you that transparency.”
