LABOR-INTENSIVE industries like logistics and warehousing are a man’s domain. No one would dare imagine that a woman like Louraine Motoomull could break into this very tough field, initially from just being an employee to becoming a boss lady.
“My personal journey in the logistics industry started in sales department of a very well known global company. After my four transformational years of working there, I found the courage to venture out on my own because I realized that nothing is hard to fulfill if you want it,” she told the BusinessMirror in an interview.
Confident of the experience she gained from her previous employment, Louraine then felt that she’s ready to fulfill a childhood dream of putting up her own business. Armed with the right knowledge and network, she finally established Impextic Inc. in 2009 in her native province of Cebu.
With a capitalization of P60,000 from her personal savings, she purchased a multi-cab van worth P35,000. Little did she know this small cargo truck would pave the way for her start-up to now a medium-sized logistics and warehousing firm.
“We’re already across nationwide services. Though it’s not easy because I started from nothing, I think patience is the secret to achieve what we have right now,” said the company’s president.
Wonderful journey
THE establishment of Impextic is a one-woman endeavor. As a headstart, Louraine personally takes charge of the shipment of her first customer that imports medical supplies. She recalled driving the multi-cab van to pick up the client’s cargo of about 30 boxes on the way to the port of Cebu for their transfer to the shipping line.
“Since I’m the only girl bringing my customer’s shipments there, I felt like a ‘kargador’ and ashamed at first. I earned only P150 for that. But I got used of it and felt proud of myself that I fulfilled my commitment to customer satisfaction. And it ‘pays’ me a lot figuratively. That’s the essence of what I learned when I was starting,” she shared.
Such humbling experience led her fulfilling multiple roles within her business. Not only that she was the driver, but also the sales person, helper, admin, etc., doing all the possible positions necessary for the company’s operations.
“It’s something memorable. For me, it’s a good experience because there’s no such thing as instant. I’m supposed to be having like this journey before I came to what I want to become in life,” Louraine said.
The beginning of something big
RIGHT after its importation shipments and door-to-door delivery, Impextic then offered domestic services. Upon the encouragement of her husband Kernan, whom she met in Manila, Louraine expanded there in 2010.
Apart from her doing the usual marketing and constant visitation to her customers, Mr. Motoomull, who owns a technology firm, introduced automation internally for the sending of emails to a hundred of potential customers.
This helped gain more new clients, such that she decided to acquire additional delivery vehicles, which count up to 15 at present, and branch out to Davao in 2020 and Iloilo in 2022.
One of the biggest convenience store brands in the country became Impextic’s client. With its big storage requirement, it advised Louraine to expand into warehousing and distribution, which she heeded. This portfolio, to date, has accounted for 80 percent of the company’s businesses.
Currently, it operates five warehouses across all its locations—two in Manila and one each in its three provincial territories—accommodating numerous clients.
Hurdling challenges, moving forward
LIKE other forwarders in the country, Impextic also had a fair share of challenges that came its way.
“Because of the demand of customers, we have to meet their expectations. That’s one challenge that we are truly facing every day. Also, consistency of manpower because sometimes you cannot control the turnover of people. They come and go. So we need to find a way to still continue serving our customers despite of a lot of challenge,” she enumerated.
Apart from their employed 50 full-time workers, Louraine noted their engagement of a “shadow or a backup” of two to three people. She said: “In case the driver won’t report to work, we have a replacement. So might as well we’ll invest in a lot of manpower than to have a bad customers service feedback.”
The company, she added, spend on acquiring new vehicles to add to its fleet rather than outsourcing and, at the same time, software technologies developed by her husband’s firm to automate some of the company’s operations like inventory and monitoring.
From small cartons of products to large generators, heavy-duty equipment, vehicles and computers, Impextic will never back down from any challenge.
“We pride ourselves to having served over 400 corporations since our inception, delivering thousands of shipments nationwide,” Louraine said, while citing their commitment. “We will deliver whatever it takes.”
Helping fulfill this promise, she bared their plans that include the purchase of about five to 10 more vehicles in preparation for their franchise offering hopefully this year that could be of help to branch out further nationwide like in Cagayan De Oro soon and opening of new warehouses if the need arise.
“Three years from now, with our efforts, we aim to be like one of the reliable logistics providers in the Philippines. We want to also help other people that wanted to go into business. In that way, we don’t only fulfill our own needs but share the opportunity with other people who also dream to have their own business,” Louraine stressed.