)
After growing from a homegrown operation into a boutique logistics partner for some of Australia’s rising e-commerce brands, Melbourne-based 3PL Virago Logistics is taking its next big leap beyond local shores, teaming up with New Zealand logistics group Pacificomm.
Founded in 2021 by Em Frost and Jessica Breakwell, Virago Logistics initially began as a way for the co-founders to manage their own e-commerce ventures, but eventually scaled to become a logistics service helping other ambitious female entrepreneurs scale their own brands.
Breakwell recently exited the business on amicable terms.
To date, Virago Logistics has helped pack and ship more than 250,000 orders for local Australian businesses like tanning and beauty brand Sol De Sur, swimwear label Sommer Swim and designer boutique Once Was.
Speaking to Business News Australia, Frost shared what the partnership means to her and the new opportunities it will offer for her 30-plus clients.
“It's really taking things to the next step. Being a small, women-owned business - it's got us to where we are, but in order for us to grow to the next level, it's really about connecting and being a part of a network,” she said.
“It's tapping into that network and allowing my clients who have aligned themselves to the business so far, to be able to go: You know, what do you want? New Zealand distribution? Amazing. We can make it happen.
“Allowing my clients to have the capacity to grow...if they can grow, we grow as a business. I'm always trying to make sure that my clients are getting the best out of me and the best out of our business.”
Under the partnership, Virago Logistics has moved out of three warehouses in the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham, opting to move into to a bigger space nearby with the support of Pacificomm.
The agreement will also see Virago Logistics gain access to warehouses based in the New Zealand cities of Auckland and Christchurch.
Founded in 2012, Auckland-based Pacificomm is a distribution and logistics company that has partnered with retail and e-commerce giants like Apple, Big W, Kogan (ASX: KGN), Kmart, Costco, Amazon, JB Hi-FI (ASX: JBH) and Samsung.
Pacificomm director of new ventures Ajay Sharma notes that the partnership is designed to give Virago the “horsepower” to scale further, supported by Pacificomm’s supply chain, freight and global forwarding expertise.
“What we do bring to the table is a bit more horsepower that she can tap into - like our supply chain teams, freight teams, global forwarding teams, back office, legal, commercial and finance - where we can take this young entrepreneurial business and plug in some corporate horsepower to help the journey and in turn, that will help us too,” Pacificomm director of new ventures Ajay Sharma said.
“We are already seeing a massive opportunity between Australia and New Zealand and customers who say: Could you handhold me into Australia?
“Equally, [Frost's] identified opportunities for Australian companies who want exposure in the Pacific Islands or up into Asia. We're having those conversations. There's a lovely reciprocal benefit, being part of the wider group.”
)
