Nestling in the picturesque French town of Annecy, just a hop and a skip from the Swiss border and Geneva, is a moving company called NM Europe. The company is owned and run by Andrew Smith who opitimises the can-do attitude of so many small but perfectly formed moving companies.

Andrew is English but has lived and worked in France since 1991 when he got a job, almost by accident, working as a salesman for Global International in Paris.  “I only spoke schoolboy French,” explained Andrew.  “I was really good at verb endings, but I didn’t know any verbs.”  Miraculously, despite his limited but fast improving language skills, Andrew made a success of his time at Global and, when the Chief Executive Dale Collins (now with Santa Fe in London) returned to his native USA, Andrew took over from him.

 
Some time later Andrew left Global to start a new venture with Simon Kirby (now with Agility).  The business was successful but, when it was sold Andrew had a non-compete clause and had to leave Paris.  Next stop Annecy.

He started his company in Annecy in 2004 to provide a range of trade services.  “Some of our customers want us to provide a full corporate origin and shipping or destination service which we are happy to do,” said Andrew. But although he likes the big jobs - who wouldn’t? - he is equally at home just organising a site visit to check access for a trade customer, or providing a packer, or unloading a truck. “We are set up to provide whatever our trade customers need, big or small.” 

Of course being just a few kilometres away from the Swiss border, Andrew is also experienced at handing moves to and from the Geneva/Lausanne area including the necessary customs clearance.  “We know how to work in Switzerland. They are sticklers for regulation.  Some say that in every Swiss person there is a little policeman trying to get out.  You have to respect the rules when you work there.”

There are plenty of moving companies in the UK and elsewhere in the EU that are happy moving throughout the continent.  But Switzerland, with its documentation requirements is a little more tricky.  For many, the opportunity of dropping a job off in Annecy, and letting Andrew handle the last-mile delivery, might make perfect sense.  You can contact him at: andrew@nmeurope.com.


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