A Ride On The Heavy Side
A Ride On The Heavy Side
In an engaging interview with Steve Jordan from The Mover, Bill Lloyd, managing director of Asian Tigers Indonesia, shared his story about getting into the moving business—must say, a journey that began in a most unlikely place: surfing.
From Surfing to Moving
What began for Bill Lloyd as a call to be a leader in the moving business is far from conventional. A semi-professional surfer, he spent his earlier years traveling all over the world chasing waves—the ultimate surfer’s dream. It was during one of these travels in 1993 that he arrived in Indonesia, and it struck him like a ton of bricks how amazing the country’s surfing spots and rich culture were.
It was Bill’s love of surfing that brought him to Panaitan Island, a remote and pristine location off the west coast of Java. He and a friend did what most surfers can only dream of: finding what they thought was the perfect wave. His friend decided to cash in on this discovery by running boat trips for surfers, and Bill came along as the ship’s cook—a perfect combination of culinary skills and his love of the ocean.
Transition to the Moving Industry
In 2003, seeking a more stable career, Bill approached the owner of Lane Moving & Storage in Jakarta, Gerry Lane. Consequent to his unusual background and request to take leave whenever waves were big and handy for surfing, he still landed a sales manager’s job. His dedication and unique perspective quickly proved significant to the company.
Under his leadership, Asian Tigers Indonesia grew to seven branches with a staff of about 115 people. It was instead weighed down by serious challenges that began with the dramatic fall in world oil prices in 2014. The economic downturn saw many oil companies abandon Indonesia and a mass exodus of expatriates; this practically necessitated the closure of some branches.
Economic Turmoil: Steering through the Crisis
Notwithstanding these setbacks, several strategic decisions that Bill had made earlier helped the company stay afloat. By 2016, after Asian Tigers Indonesia had streamlined its operations and closed four of its branches, it still had a robust presence in most key locations. This was actually an added advantage when COVID-19 finally sent further waves of expatriates scurrying out of the country.
Bill never lost his optimism. With residency permits lately reinstated by the Indonesian government, he expected an influx of inbound relocations. “We already have some containers on the water headed our way, and a lot more in waiting,” Bill said. He projected a strong recovery toward the latter part of the year and into 2022.
Resilience and Adaptability
For Bill, the resiliency can be attributed to the ability of the company to adapt to circumstances. Because the operations were more streamlined and smaller in terms of size, it was easier to be flexible during the pandemic. “We are now at our fighting weight and in a good position to build it back up,” he said. Having been able to adapt to challenging situations, Asian Tigers Indonesia is well-positioned as a market leader for the region.
The Future of the Moving Industry
In the future, Bill recognizes that competitive pricing will become increasingly difficult, as the business world itself becomes more complex. Atop this is the association of increased pressure from lump-sum payments to assignees and fluctuating freight rates. Level-headed, he is still very confident in the ability of the company to provide competitive services, even if customers may have to wait a bit for the ‘right’ rate.
Personal Reflections
On a personal note, Bill did continue his interest in surfing. Now, he shares this interest with his son Patrick. Not only this, he has also taken a liking to golfing. He finds it refreshing and an exciting new challenge for a surfer like him who had been doing it for so many years.
Conclusion
The story of Bill Lloyd inspires: passion, resilience, and strategic thinking set some of the drivers in his life. His story represents how a semi-professional surfer became the managing director at Asian Tigers Indonesia. Such diverse experiences can result in very unexpected but successful career paths. Under his leadership, the company has gone through economic downturns and a global pandemic to emerge stronger and more robust than ever.
This interview shares his unique Bill Lloyd journey but also brings in insightful lessons on the moving industry and how much resilience really matters in sailing through challenges.
You can check the interview on The Mover.
