chazWelcome to the 15 December Warehouse & Logistics News, our last before Christmas. Soon we’ll be saying goodbye to 2009 and toasting 2010. As we closed, the experts were predicting the final figures showing the UK emerging from recession in the last quarter. Let’s hope they’re right, and 2010 is noticeably better all round.

December is traditionally the time to take stock and review business. So in our exclusive supplement we’re proud to present the Warehouse & Logistics News Review of The Year 2009 – a look back at some of the stories that stood out in the last 12 months. Thankfully the goods still have to be delivered: warehousing and logistics continues to be a bustling industry, and as you’d expect this is a bumper issue, a magazine in its own right, crammed with stories about the people making it happen.

One of the prime movers featured in our Review is Bernard Molloy, MD of Hoppecke Industrial Batteries Ltd, and Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport’s Warehouse & Materials Handling forum. Currently celebrating 40 years in the materials handling industry, Bernard is also featured on our front cover and profiled in our Big Interview.

Our final scheduled features of 2009 are on the Loading Bay and Batteries, to keep you up to date on these crucial parts of the warehouse. We’ll have plenty more interviews and features like these in our next issue, 15 January, plus all our regular sections.

Next year, the OECD expects growth and recovery in 2010 in most world regions, but warns the developed nations not to expect a smooth ride. It says growth is being held back by ‘substantial headwinds’ and will be modest for some time. It reckons the UK in particular needs a concrete plan to ease concerns about the stability of our public finances and predicts the main danger for rich countries in general is unemployment.

Sobering stuff. So what’s a good New Year’s resolution to come out as a winner? The first century Greek philosopher Epictetus had some enduring advice. He reckoned we should accept that external events are determined by fate and beyond our control, and greet whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. He also said, whatever the circumstances, we’re responsible for our own actions, which we should examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. Try doing that when your budget’s been cut and you’re under pressure to get results – not easy, but try sticking to it, and who knows what you might achieve.

Have a very Happy Christmas, and see you next year!

Warehouse & Logistics News

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