From Monaco to Dover: what was your entrepreneurial vision that made it possible to turn a crisis into a new growth opportunity?
‘It all started three years ago, when I learned from the newspapers how Brexit had created a customs turmoil, and the British authorities were busy looking for models to follow in order to reorganise their system. I sensed that this situation could also represent a great opportunity for us. Brexit had transformed the UK from a member of the European Union, with open borders and customs-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 important’.

What were the next steps in the realisation of this project?
‘Immediately I started planning how to turn this vision into reality. We immediately contacted Alessandro Butti, a family friend and experienced entrepreneur, a well-known and respected Italian customs officer. His experience in the industry and his enthusiasm were immediately apparent. Soon, there were three of us: me, my father and Alessandro Butti. While my father and Alessandro, perhaps because of their daily commitments, saw this enterprise as a long-term project, I was already at work.

The beginnings, however, encountered many difficulties….
‘Indeed. Our adventure began at the very moment when the pandemic broke out in the world. However, at a time of full lockdown and over 600 miles away, we decided to open a company in the UK, 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. Amazingly, we did all this without ever being physically on site. We recruited employees without meeting them in person and chose our office based on virtual visits. This alone was a first big step towards success. Determination, practical sense and entrepreneurial skills took over. Even the most difficult project can be sketched out in such a way that it can be undertaken and realised: thus Franzosini & Butti Ltd was born. The company started operating immediately, even before finalising the opening of a bank account, which in the UK is quite a lengthy procedure, offering the first services free of charge to our clients for at least two months and ensuring that their intra-EU transactions were not interrupted. This approach allowed us to quickly build a solid reputation based on trust and reliability’.

‘Teamwork, combining the enthusiasm and innovation of young people with the wisdom and experience of veterans, is the key to overcoming any challenge’.

How did you solve the problem of operating in a vastly different customs regulatory framework?
‘There were no guidelines to follow, so we were forced to chart a new course. Moreover, everything was done without any government subsidies or support in either Switzerland or Great Britain. The experience I had gained from opening the office in Monaco was crucial. The presence in the field, the ability to co-ordinate operations with the parent company and the attention to detail had enabled Franzosini Monaco Sarl to become the first company authorised as a customs agent directly by the customs of the Principality. As Director and partner also of the English company, I personally took care of all practical matters in collaboration with the parent company Tepoorten Group SA and Alessandro Butti, setting the new office on the principles of efficiency, competence and speed that characterise the services offered by the group. Within a few months, the Dover office was up and running, ready to provide efficient and innovative customs services. Its opening marked a turning point for the Tepoorten Group, proving that with the right leadership and a clear vision, it is possible to thrive even in the most difficult times.

Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future?
‘We have very ambitious plans. We want to further expand our activities in the UK, opening new customs agencies in major UK ports and developing a dedicated operations department to handle domestic UK and sea shipments, with the aim of offering an increasingly comprehensive and integrated service to our customers. Our determination and our spirit of innovation have enabled us to turn an idea into a successful reality, and we are ready to enthusiastically face the new challenges that the future holds for us’.

What are the values that drive your Group’s activities and thus determine its success?
‘Teamwork, combining 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 shows how an entrepreneurial vision, together with unity and cooperation, can turn crises into opportunities.’