We face competition from many sources that could adversely affect our business.
Many companies offer, on an individual basis, one or more of the same services we do, and we
face competition from many different sources depending upon the type and range of services
requested by a potential client. Our competitors include vertical outsourcers, which are companies
that offer a single function, such as call centers, public warehouses or credit card processors. We
compete against transportation logistics providers who offer product management functions as an
ancillary service to their primary transportation services. We also compete against other business
process outsourcing providers, who perform many similar services as us. Many of these companies
have greater capabilities than we do for the single or multiple functions they provide. In many
instances, our competition is the in-house operations of its potential clients themselves. The
in-house operations of potential clients often believe that they can perform the same services we
do, while others are reluctant to outsource business functions that involve direct customer
contact. We cannot be certain that we will be able to compete successfully against these or other
competitors in the future.
Our sales and implementation cycles are highly variable and our ability to finalize pending
contracts may cause our operating results to vary widely.
The sales cycle for our services is variable, typically ranging between several months to up
to a year from initial contact with the potential client to the signing of a contract. Occasionally
the sales cycle requires substantially more time. Delays in signing and executing client contracts
may affect our revenue and cause our operating results to vary widely. We believe that a potential
clients decision to purchase our services is discretionary, involves a significant commitment of
the clients resources and is influenced by intense internal and external pricing and operating
comparisons. To successfully sell our services, we generally must educate our potential clients
regarding the use and benefit of our services, which can require significant time and resources.
Consequently, the period between initial contact and the purchase of our services is often long and
subject to delays associated with the lengthy approval and competitive evaluation processes that
typically accompany significant operational decisions. Additionally, the time required to finalize
pending contracts and to implement our systems and integrate a new client can range from several
weeks to many months. Delays in signing and integrating new clients may affect our revenue and
cause our operating results to vary widely.
We are dependent on our key personnel, and we need to hire and retain skilled personnel to sustain
our business.
Our performance is highly dependent on the continued services of our executive officers and
other key personnel, the loss of any of whom could materially adversely affect our business. In
addition, we need to attract and retain other highly-skilled, technical and managerial personnel
for whom there is intense competition. We cannot assure you that we will be able to attract and
retain the personnel necessary for the continuing growth of our business. Our inability to attract
and retain qualified technical and managerial personnel would materially adversely affect our
ability to maintain and grow our business.
We are subject to risks associated with our international operations.
We currently operate a 150,000 square foot distribution center in Liege, Belgium and a 13,000
square foot distribution center in Richmond Hill, Canada, near Toronto, both of which currently
have excess capacity. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in expanding in these or any
additional international markets. In addition to the uncertainty regarding our ability to generate
revenue from foreign operations and expand our international presence, there are risks inherent in
doing business internationally, including:
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changing regulatory requirements; |
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legal uncertainty regarding foreign laws, tariffs and other trade barriers; |
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political instability; |
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potentially adverse tax consequences; |
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foreign currency fluctuations; and |
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cultural differences. |
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