Interview Ticino Welcome No. 083 – September / October 2024. Christian Tepoorten, Partner and Director of Franzosini & Butti Ltd., recounts the insight and development of an idea that led him, together with Alessandro Butti and Marco Tepoorten, to establish a customs agency in Dover, specialising in offering customs clearance services in the United Kingdom.
From Monaco to Dover: what was your entrepreneurial vision that enabled you to transform a crisis into a new growth opportunity? 'It all began three years ago when I learned from the newspapers how Brexit had created customs turmoil, and the British authorities were searching for models to follow in reorganising their system. I sensed that this situation could also represent a great opportunity for us. Brexit had transformed the United Kingdom from an EU member, with open borders and tariff-free trade, into an external state, similar to Switzerland. This meant that all customs operations had to be reorganised, with new regulations and procedures. It was clear that our Swiss experience could be invaluable.'
What were the subsequent steps in realising this project? 'I immediately began planning how to transform this vision into reality. We contacted Alessandro Butti straight away, a family friend and experienced entrepreneur, a well-known and respected Italian customs specialist. His experience in the sector and his enthusiasm were immediately evident. In a short time, there were already three of us: myself, my father and Alessandro Butti.'
The beginnings, however, encountered considerable difficulties… 'Indeed. Our adventure began precisely when the pandemic broke out worldwide. In any case, during a period of full lockdown and at a distance of over 600 miles, we decided to open a company in the United Kingdom, in Dover, inspired by the Swiss model. With the help of two new employees and an office in the historic centre of Dover, Franzosini & Butti Ltd took shape. Surprisingly, we accomplished all of this without ever being physically on site.'