One of the biggest third-party logistics, printing, marketing and communication services networks in the world, MBE Worldwide has more than 2,500 service centres worldwide.
The American brand Mail Boxes Etc. In 1980, “MBE”was founded in San Diego, California. It has grown over time to become one of the most extensive networks of franchised business owners worldwide, offering retail-based shipping, logistics, printing, marketing, and communications solutions to individual and corporate consumers.
Every business understands that successful communication is a necessity. The company will be in peril if potential customers are unaware of them. Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) was established to help companies of all sizes communicate efficiently for affordable prices and with the least amount of shipping risk. It emphasizes the fundamentals of communication, including logistics through couriered documents and printing through effective designs for its customers.
Simple, hassle-free logistics with a global network – MBE’s primary business in Hong Kong is packaging and Mail Boxes Etc., and it runs on a franchise model.
Shipping, fulfilment, design, printing, mailboxes, virtual offices, relocation, and apostille services are all sectors that Hong Kong is involved in.
The CEO of MBE Hong Kong, Denis Makkaveev, spent most of his career tackling challenging logistics-related problems; this enabled him the opportunity to advance from corporate to SME and private service.
Denis Makkaveev began working as a supply manager for an automotive supply company in Beijing. He was responsible for overseeing the export of private cars and spare parts from Mainland China. Following several successful projects, he gained notoriety and was hired by the Alibaba Group, where he held the position of Business Executive for a large-scale e-commerce project at the time known as AliExpress.
In 2018, Makkaveev started his business, and market potential indicated that Hong Kong is the hub to host international exhibitions. So, starting and operating a business here seemed like a straightforward task for Makkaveev.
SMEs frequently suffer when dealing with major companies in Hong Kong that provide mass printing or international courier. Six months after opening their Sheung Wan pilot store, they were able to break even because more than 98 percent of the city’s commercial businesses are small and medium-sized organizations. Makkaveev and his team prioritize providing quality service instead of huge service providers favour price competitiveness.
Because of its early success, Makkaveev established MBE’s flagship store next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to facilitate possible business relationships with visitors and exhibitors. They were receiving requests for multi-modal shipments to Europe through rail and water due to their expanding clientele of commercial clients. MBE’s business strategy was prepared for future expansion in the city due to its established track record over a previous couple of years. They started looking for local business owners to open other locations in additional Hong Kong districts because their ultimate goal is franchising.
2019’s global pandemic devastated the whole world and spared no one from its misery. Many firms experienced transformation due to the pandemic’s significant impact on the market and business. Industry executives needed quick coping mechanisms to maintain the viability of their companies due to the effects of changes in the market. Denis and his team began an aggressive approach to the local clientele in Hong Kong after the market shifted and there were no longer any exhibitions as a result of the worldwide epidemic. Denis Makkaveev was able to adapt to the market shift in Hong Kong as new tactics and initiatives were implemented to minimize the consequences of the pandemic.
When asked to highlight the most significant accomplishments for MBE, Denis responded, “We did open the second store, and now have the most premium site directly in front of HK Exhibition centre, we grew the team, and we received a lot of notable clients, such as auction houses.”
What distinguishes MBE from its competitors? We gave this subject a lot of thought, but we came up with a definite conclusion: MBE places a high value on customer service and devotes a lot of resources to it. In today’s day and age, in order to survive in the service industry or any business for that matter, customer service holds an equal stature to the product or service. Denis emphasizes offering high-quality services more than the big players focusing on pricing competition. MBE has come a long way to its present grandeur by putting a lot of work into customer service.
When asked what he enjoyed most about his work, Denis said that “interacting with customers one-on-one and being on the frontline is always a pleasure and helps him grow as an individual. He genuinely loves this aspect of his job since getting to know each client individually is rewarding.”
Large courier firms like DHL, UPS, and FedEx are the core partners of MBE. They also have some prominent partners and essential suppliers in the market. In order to provide a high-calibre service that lives up to the client’s expectations, Denis and his team strongly believe in being transparent, accessible and keen to communicate with their partners.
When asked to describe his leadership style, Makkaveev said, “His leadership style is flexible. He wants to develop relationships with his personnel and work together to achieve the organization’s collective goals.” Denis instils the company’s culture in his staff through small gestures and inspires them by offering them the chance to receive a portion of sales proceeds.
Makkaveev believes that Hong Kong is home to a lot of aspiring young entrepreneurs. Makkaveev remarked, “I think there is plenty to satisfy MBE’s quality service niche. Since our pilot store debuted, our crew has more than tripled in size. Professionals from our international team trained each and every one of our staff.
Expanding their business and opening 1-2 additional stores is the central area of concentration for MBE in the near future. The future for Denis and his company MBE appears to be quite bright as the company is on a ladder to expansion.
