Business case: Vanderven Oriental Art
A valuable art shipment to a high-end client in Milan nearly went wrong
Unique works of art require equally unique, specialised logistics. A single mistake can cause not only material damage, but also jeopardise the relationship with important, discerning clients.
That’s why Vanderven Oriental Art has trusted Select Courier for over a decade to handle its international and high-value shipments. The platform operates seamlessly in the background, while the team steps in instantly whenever something threatens to go wrong — as happened recently with a shipment to Milan.
A global player in ancient Chinese art
From its base in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Vanderven Oriental Art operates worldwide in rare objects from Chinese art history. Every shipment requires care, discretion, and personal delivery.
“Each of our objects is precious and unique. We always want to know exactly where the package is, and we need to be certain it will be handed over at the door and signed for,” says owner Floris van der Ven.
Even documentation — such as certificates and catalogues — is sent only by courier, even within the Netherlands.
“They’re beautiful booklets — not something you just pop through the letterbox. We sell luxury goods, and that means the entire experience must be flawless,” says Van der Ven.
Clients expect personal service and discretion, so names of well-known recipients are intentionally omitted from shipping labels.
“Those can attract unwanted attention.”
“Time is everything — that’s where Select Courier’s strength lies.”
Peace of mind with Select Courier
The partnership began over ten years ago through a chance encounter with one of Select Courier’s founders. Since then, the company has become Vanderven’s trusted logistics partner — not only because of its advanced platform, but because of the people behind it.
“The connection was immediate. You could tell straight away: this is someone who knows what they’re doing,” recalls Van der Ven.
In day-to-day operations, he manages most shipments himself through the platform. With real-time Track & Trace, automatic documentation, and direct carrier integrations, every shipment is fully under control.
“Normally, you don’t even need to speak to anyone — everything just works.”
Yet the true value shows when things get tense.
“When something goes wrong, you need a team that jumps on it immediately. Time is everything — that’s the power of Select Courier,” Van der Ven adds.
A valuable shipment to Milan
A recent shipment demonstrated just how delicate art logistics can be. It involved an urgent delivery for a high-profile client in Milan — scheduled to depart on Monday and arrive before noon on Tuesday.
Halfway through transit came the notification: “Box damaged… returning to depot.”
That’s the moment when everything is on the line.
“That’s when I see red. Reputation and relationships are at stake — these pieces are unique and irreplaceable. They carry deep emotional value for the client.”
The immediate question: Where is the box? Is it still with the driver, or already buried somewhere in a depot, unlabelled?
“Once a package disappears deep into a depot, finding it again can be almost impossible,” Van der Ven explains.
Immediate escalation
“We called Select Courier right away. The person who answers the phone is crucial in situations like that. He stayed calm, asked the right questions, told me exactly what they were going to do and within what timeframe. He said: ‘Leave it to us — we’re on it, and we’ll update you as soon as possible.’”
Behind the scenes, the Select Courier team opened every line of communication — tracing, contacting the depot and driver, and ensuring the package wasn’t re-labelled.
“They were fully on top of it and kept me calm with clear updates. Those direct lines with carriers are worth gold. Without them, valuable time slips away — and you could easily lose the shipment altogether.”
The impact if things had gone wrong
In the end, the shipment was undamaged and delivered on time. To the recipient, the delivery appeared seamless — but behind the scenes, a potential incident had been prevented.
“By acting fast, the problem was resolved before it escalated. The client never noticed a thing — exactly as it should be,” says Van der Ven.
But what if it hadn’t been caught in time?
“If the box had actually gone missing, like I’ve seen happen before — a misplaced tick box, a delayed depot — you can lose much more than just the object. You lose trust.”
Such risks are invisible to the outside world, but very real for every shipment. That’s why it matters who you call — and how fast they act.
“You don’t judge a partner by how things go when everything’s fine, but by how they handle an issue. That’s where Select Courier makes the difference.”
The value of partnership
By acting swiftly, Select Courier prevented an incident and protected Vanderven’s reputation. For Van der Ven, that’s the real value of a logistics partner.
“I’d recommend Select Courier without hesitation — they’d be my first call,” he concludes.
“It works. And if something ever starts to go wrong, I know exactly who to call.”
SCHEDULE A FREE DEMO
DISCOVER WHAT SELECT COURIER CAN DO FOR YOU
Our shipping platform can be customised to meet your every need. From delivering your packages with increased speed and reliability to operating your business more efficiently. Schedule a demo to see how you can:
- Ship all your deliveries within just a few clicks.
- Manage your entire logistics process in one place.
- Seamlessly integrate with your current software.
- Access analytics and reports for better decision-making
SCHEDULE A FREE DEMO
DISCOVER WHAT SELECT COURIER CAN DO FOR YOU
Our shipping platform can be customised to meet your every need. From delivering your packages with increased speed and reliability to operating your business more efficiently. Schedule a demo to see how you can:
- Ship all your deliveries within just a few clicks.
- Manage your entire logistics process in one place.
- Seamlessly integrate with your current software.
- Access analytics and reports for better decision-making
