This year, UK-based Arrowpak International celebrates its 40th year in the worldwide moving industry.
The company - which has its headquarters in Suffolk, England - was founded by Robin and Carole Hood back in 1978 and has since grown to become one of the UK’s most successful family run international moving companies with clients that include the American military, the American Embassy, the Canadian Embassy, CNN news, fashion retailer Next PLC, and many trade partners around the world.
Robin and Carole started from a small office acting as agents organising moves for US military personnel from the nearby base. They soon had enough business to buy their own vehicles and carry out the work themselves and the business grew from there. Arrowpak International now has 70 staff as well as a number of sub-contractors along with around 30 vehicles of various sizes and over 250,000 sqft of warehousing.
Only about 30% of Arrowpak’s business is domestic removals the majority being made up of international movements and partnerships with moving, relocation and freight forwarding companies in the US and Europe. The company handles around 2500 international moves a year both inbound and outbound by either sea or air, mainly for the US military and embassy, but also for private individuals including privately owned cars and motorbikes.
Those visiting Arrowpak’s HQ will notice a certain common theme to the names of the company’s buildings: Sherwood House, Loxley House and of course the Arrowpak name itself, are all associated with Robin’s namesake Robin Hood; a popular folk-hero and legendary archer in medieval England.
The Hood family, including Robin and Carole’s son Robyn, are still very much involved in running the business, along with Director Terry Cobbin and six department managers covering military, commercial, road haulage, appliance care, finance and transport management.
Robyn commented, ”Celebrating our 40th anniversary is a huge milestone for us both as a company and as a family. Without the continued support of our overseas friends and local suppliers, we would not be in the strong position we are today as a truly international moving company. I would personally like to thank all those companies around the world who have supported us over the years as well as all the people at Arrowpak who continue to make it the success it is today.”
Terry Cobbin added, “The achievements of Arrowpak over the last 40 years are a result of the combined efforts of all the staff both past and present. The Arrowpak team are driven to do the best job possible for our customers and partners around the world. I believe it is this ethos that has enabled Arrowpak’s continued growth over the last 40 years and may it continue for the next 40!”
Arrowpak International is a member of several trade associations including BAR, IAM, AMSA and PAIMA, and is also ISO 9001 accredited.
Photo: Terry Cobbin