Please wait....
Please wait....
Home
'
InDaily : June 4th 2010
Contents
Front Cover
Richard Sykes has his eye on the future. Seeing the just released iPad for sale last week in Malaysia, he snapped it up and within 24 hours had seamlessly introduced it into his business life. Sitting in SCF Group s Mile End boardroom he enthuses about the iPad -- and about the next three years for this South Australian container equipment success story. His co-director Lindsay Carthew says Sykes "loves his toys". Sykes and Carthew are a perfect match. The money man and the ideas man; together they have taken a good idea based on impending change in a traditional industry and turned it into a $40 million business with more than 50 staff. SCF Group designs, builds, sells and leases containers. A breakthrough deal in March to supply Woolworth s has placed them in a strong national position. "With the Woolies contract we are dealing with an end user, not a transport company, so it opens up business opportunities with another entire industry sector," Sykes said. It s another step on an interesting road for two locals who appear to have changed little since the SCF story began. At the beginning of the 1990s Sykes was working in the transport business when he noticed the impact of containerisation and how some industries had not embraced its potential to make substantial cost savings. "The furniture removal business was an example of an industry that could dramatically change through the use of containers," he said. "As it stood, furniture was loaded onto semi trailers, driven interstate and then stored in a warehouse until the client was ready, then re-loaded, delivered and unloaded. "By putting the furniture into a container and then onto rail, you take out the need for a truck and driver and the freight simply sits in the container until the client is ready; it takes out double handling." Sykes s idea was matched with Carthew s financial background at Adelaide Bank. Together with another partner, Sykes and Carthew put in a modest investment amount and SCF was up and running. "We d actually first met at our local APEX club, APEX Unley which had quite a few people with business successes," Carthew recalled. "It was a good incubator for people with a desire to move ahead." The company started with the purchase of around 60 containers and a business plan based on find- ing solutions to people s problems by designing better containers. Kevin Naughton SCF -- The Odd Couple SCF Group directors Lindsay Carthew and Richard Sykes, who first met at an Apex club in 1983, have built their container business on friendship and shared enthusiasm. Continued Page 14 www.independentweekly.com.au * Interest paid on maturity on balances of over $10,000 and where the aggregate cash deposits is less than or equal to $1 million. For deposits over $1m ple ase call 1800 640 257. Rates are subject to change without notice. For latest rates across all terms visit w w w.macquarieprivatewe alth.com.au/td. Macquarie Bank Term Deposits are issued by Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (MBL), Australian Financial Ser vices License No. 237502. Fees and charges may be payable. Terms and conditions are available upon request. Macquarie Private Wealth s services are provided by Macquarie Equities Limited ABN 41 002 574 923 ("MEL"), participant of Australian Securities Exchange Group, Australian Financial Services Licence No. 237504, 1 Shelley Street Sydney NSW 2000. Please note that this information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, you should consider whether it is appropriate to your situation. MEL may receive remuneration from the issue of the financial products referred to in this advice in the form of fees or commissions which are disclosed in more detail in MEL s Financial Services Guide. MEL is not an authorised deposit taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). MEL s obligations do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (MBL). MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of MEL, unless noted other wise. If our level of service or quality of products has failed to meet your expectations, you may contact our Client Ser vice Centre on 1800 789 789 for information about our dispute resolution system and how that system may be accessed. MF544_SA_1 To apply and turn your cash into a timely investment, speak to Ed Blight or Jon Petineris at Macquarie Private Wealth on 08 8203 0200. 5.5%pa* on a four month Macquarie Bank Term Deposit Time is money. If you believe the old saying, why not put it to work? For a limited time you can take advantage of a great rate with a Macquarie Bank Term Deposit. Act now to take advantage of this special four month promotional rate and the opportunity to include a cash product in your portfolio.
Links
www.independentweekly.com.au
www.macquarieprivatewealth.com.au/td
Archive
June 3rd 2010
June 7th 2010
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page
