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.'
'We recruited employees without meeting them in person and chose our office based on virtual visits. Determination, practicality and entrepreneurial skills took over. The company began operating immediately, even before finalising the opening of a bank account, offering the first services free of charge to our clients for at least two months to ensure that their intra-community movements were not interrupted. This approach allowed us to quickly build a solid reputation based on trust and reliability.'
How did you resolve the problem of operating in a profoundly different customs regulatory framework? 'There were no guidelines to follow, so we were forced to blaze a new trail. Moreover, everything was achieved without benefiting from any subsidy or state support either in Switzerland or in Great Britain. The experience I had gained from opening the office in the Principality of Monaco was fundamental. As Director and partner of the English company as well, I personally handled all practical matters in collaboration with the parent company Tepoorten Group SA and with Alessandro Butti, setting up the new office according to the principles of efficiency, expertise and speed that characterise the services offered by the group. Within a few months, the Dover office was open and operational, ready to provide efficient and innovative customs services.'
Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future? 'We have very ambitious plans. We want to further expand our activities in the United Kingdom, opening new customs agencies in the main English ports and developing a dedicated operational department for managing domestic English and maritime shipments, with the aim of offering an increasingly complete and integrated service to our clients.'
What are the values that drive your Group's activities and therefore determine its success? 'Teamwork, which combines the enthusiasm and innovation of young people with the wisdom and experience of veterans, is the key to overcoming any challenge. The history of the Tepoorten Group demonstrates how an entrepreneurial vision, together with unity and collaboration, can transform crises into opportunities.'