Weight Watchers has teamed up with Dawson Marketing Services (DMS) on a warehouse management project, to ensure that it continues delivering a successful and professional service to consumers and local group leaders.
Weight Watchers has used DMS to distribute its leader material and product range since February 2002. Unlike the regular method of distributing from its own warehouses in Abingdon and Maidenhead, DMS has been running the process from the Weight Watchers’ warehouse in Maidenhead.
The two companies have now taken the relationship a step further with DMS taking control of the overall running of the Weight Watchers warehouse by installing a DMS Warehouse Management ‘Implant’ team to manage the day-to-day planning and co-ordination of the distribution process and work alongside Weight Watchers on all aspects of the warehouse management, contributing to the overall productivity, planning and control of packing schedules and communication with clients and DMS’ nationwide delivery depots.
As well as implementing a management structure, DMS has taken over the existing staff under The TUPE regulations. The objective behind this move is to bring into Weight Watchers the DMS efficiencies and expertise, which should result in significant annual savings for Weight Watchers.
DMS business development director Richard Carpenter comments: “The last 18 months of working together have been very successful and this is an exciting opportunity for us to provide a completely new and unique service. The warehouse management project is still in its infancy, but both parties have taken this major step because of the total confidence we have in the benefits that it will add to the Weight Watchers business.”
In addition to the ongoing work, plans are being considered for further methods that can be implemented to increase control over the whole process, improve efficiency and streamline Weight Watchers’ spend.
With a massive resource in warehousing and a national distribution network, DMS provides comprehensive services in key areas such as call centre, fulfilment, direct mail handling and brochure distribution. It also offers clients a detailed web reporting service, enabling them to access up-to-the-minute information about stock levels, order analysis and despatch information.
