Focus, part of DIY company Focus Wickes, has awarded European supply chain solutions company Wincanton a contract to provide a seasonal goods warehouse. Based in Derby, the 18,600sq m warehouse will contain seasonal and campaign stock, including garden furniture, electrical goods for the garden, barbeques and special promotional items, for all 270 stores across the UK. At its peak, the warehouse will hold 18,500 pallets and employ 70 staff, and about 95% of the stock will be imported by container and stored in the warehouse. The warehouse will function two weeks in advance of promotions and prepare for stock delivery on a ‘just-in-time’ (JIT) basis.
David Lloyd, supply chain controller at Focus, says: “We have had a long and reliable relationship with Wincanton and with seasonal fluctuations in volume, specialist management is required to ensure that everything runs smoothly. With the addition of the Derby site, Wincanton is now operating a total of around 790,000sq ft in warehousing on behalf of Focus.”
Martin Taylor, managing director, general retail and industrial at Wincanton, comments: “The demand for warehousing space for DIY retailers in general has grown over the past six months. Last year’s heat wave was a particular wake-up call for retailers, who were left with a need to match the sudden demand for summer goods with a ready supply of stock. We are able to ‘switch on’ extra capacity in the warehouse to meet such fluctuating requirements and can deliver stock on a ‘just in time’ basis.”
