No matter what your shipping requirements are, Mercator is here to support you. With highly effective sea, road and air freight services all around the world, we’re sure to provide you with a solution that suits your needs.
Mercator was founded in 1991 by our MD, Paul, who recognised the industry’s trend towards specialist freight forwarding services at that time. By this point, Paul had already spent the best part of twenty years of his career in the shipping industry. Having worked for P&O as a ‘bunker broker’ buying fuel for the ships, and then onto working as an import and export account manager in Morrison Pollofen & Blair, and then in Abco Shipping, Paul gained the knowledge base of international trade that allowed him to set up his own freight forwarding company.
Mercator was soon established as the UK’s leading freight forwarder for oriental rugs and carpets. Through extensive work, contacts and knowledge, Mercator now proudly takes its place as one of the UK’s leading freight forwarder of deep sea imports and exports.
Whilst we still handle oriental rugs and carpets, we also arrange shipping for a variety of cargo, including UK manufactured furniture, ambient food stuffs produced in Asia, candles manufactured in the USA, engineering components produced in the UK, UK manufactured chemicals, beauty products and charcoal, to name a few.
Through our global network of freight forwarders in over 350 offices across more than 95 countries worldwide, Mercator ensures you work with the best experts when shipping your goods.
We understand how important operations are to a business's success. At Mercator, we'll arrange everything for you, leaving you time to work on running your business.
Since we were established in 1991, we've handled over 20,000 UK Exports and over 40,000 UK Imports. With over 100 years of collective experience, you have the peace of mind that your cargo will be safe with us.
Mercator is not constrained by corporate mentality and has the knowledge, experience, global network and above all, the determination to deliver a straight forward solution to every shipping task.
With worldwide representation through our global network of freight forwarders of over 350 offices in more than 95 countries, Mercator will select the best experts to assist with the shipment of your consignment across the globe. Teamed with these contacts Mercator can offer comprehensive freight shipping services in almost every country.
Management Team
George Goehlert
Business Development & Director
Mark Randall
General Manager
Sophie Milnes
Finance Director
Client Services Team
Jess Patrick
Import & Export Operator
Christine Yan Ting Li
Customs Clearance Operator
Claire Linkhorn
Finance Assistant
Sharne Lawes
Import & Export Operator
Consultants
Paul Goehlert
Founder & Consultant
Julie Goehlert
Finance Consultant
10, St George’s Business Centre,
St Georges Square,
Portsmouth, PO1 3EZ, UK
Mercator is a family-run, UK based independent freight forwarder, offering highly effective sea, road and air freight services around the world.
Business Development & Director
George joined us in 2010, and after 18 months out travelling the globe, returned to us at the beginning of 2014.
George began his career with Mercator in the Finance Department, so has a good overview of the business as a whole.
George now heads up the company’s business development, overseeing the operations of both import and export clients, and supporting the Operations Team. Also heavily involved with MarcoPoloLine, George works closely with our international agents.
General Manager
Mark joined Mercator in 2007.
Responsible for routing cargo that is destined for and arrives into the UK, Mark heads up a number of our long-term accounts with our import clients, handling paperwork, customs clearance and transportation from sea and air ports.
Mark’s specialities include dry food goods, furniture and oriental carpets. Mark became our Operations Manager in 2018 and heads up the Import Department, ensuring the team manage all our customers’ imports effectively and efficiently.
Finance Director
Sophie joined Mercator in 2012 and is responsible for the finance management, including ensuring company finances are monitored and handled efficiently and that all client customs charges to HMRC and payments are managed effectively.
Sophie also heads up the company’s marketing and HR matters.
Import & Export Operator
Jess joined the team in 2017.
Jess’s workload spans both the import and export department. Working alongside Mark with imports and George with exports, Jess has received excellent levels of mentoring from the senior team and handles his own caseload of clients.
The latest customs clearance training and multimodal experience makes Jess a vital cog in the team.
Customs Clearance Operator
Christine joined our team in 2022.
Currently supporting the import department with UK customs clearances, Christine is well versed and experienced in the latest HMRC procedures and systems. Christine is also supporting George with a few key accounts, handling import sea and air freight.
Finance Assistant
Claire joined the team in 2018.
She works alongside Sophie in the Finance Department, monitoring and processing debtor and creditor lists.
Claire supports Sophie with reporting, outgoing payments and cashflow management.
Import & Export Operator
Sharne is the newest member of our team, joining us in May 2024.
Sharne brings a wealth of knowledge from her background in working at both shipping lines and UK based freight forwarding companies. She joins our team to support George with quoting and handling new business.
Founder & Operations Consultant
Paul is Mercator’s Operations Consultant.
Paul has taken a consultant role within the business as the next generation take over the day to day running of Mercator. Paul is on call for essential business decisions, troubleshooting and advise on complex shipments. Although Paul has stepped back from the daily operations at Mercator, he remains at the heart of quality management to ensure that all operations run smoothly, including all external and internal processes to provide the most effective and efficient services to all customers.
Finance Consultant
Julie is the company’s Finance Consultant.
As the next generation take over the daily running of Mercator, Julie has taken a consultant role within the business. Julie remains a crucial part of the company, as a mentor and source of advice for Sophie and the Finance Department, imparting her invaluable years of experience running the finances and quality control at Mercator.
