Mountain Warehouse, the brand name clothing and equipment retailer for the outdoor leisure industry, has selected DTS Logistics to handle its distribution. DTS Logistics is storing, picking and packing the Mountain Warehouse range, as well as distributing clothing and equipment to the retailer’s stores.
Commenting on the contract Tim Sykes, commercial director of Mountain Warehouse, says: “We approached DTS Logistics due to the recommendation of others, but once discussing our requirements we realised DTS could offer us the added value services we needed and more.”
DTS has also won a long-term consolidation and distribution deal with Speciality Retail Group (SRG), the formal wear and suit hire retailer. The deal includes DTS providing distribution to SRG’s 87 UK and Irish stores, consolidating all deliveries at its Enfield facility, as well as doing quick response delivery to the shops for retail and hire garments.Hays Logistics’ specialist Home Delivery Division is handling furniture home deliveries to The Cotswold Company’s customers nationwide as part of a £6M, three-year contract. The Cotswold Company is the multi-channel furniture and home furnishings retailer.
Furniture home deliveries amount to 44,000 per year and are rising rapidly for The Cotswold Company. According to marketing director Andrew Shapin: “Furniture accounts for more than half of our sales, but it was responsible for over 80% of returns and cancelled orders and we are keen to improve this with higher levels of customer service.”
Catalogue and web sales outnumber store sales but with more stores planned, The Cotswold Company sees itself as a multi-channel retailer. Up to July 2003 a shared delivery service was used but Shapin was keen to see improvement: “Our home delivery is critical to our success and we want to give our customers the best possible experience so they keep coming back. As far as I am concerned we have not made a sale until the customer has received the goods in their house and are happy. Hays Logistics is central to achieving service that exceeds our promise and delights the customer.”
The new dedicated home delivery service is operated from a 2,790sq m distribution centre in Shipdham, Norfolk, with a core fleet of liveried vehicles delivering furniture from 8am to 8pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Furniture is taken to the desired room in the customer’s home as part of the service. IT systems are closely integrated and with real-time systems integration between The Cotswold Company and Hays Logistics.
“This represents a significant investment for us. But we are confident this service will help us with market leadership by building a solid foundation and reputation. Business doubled from 2000 to 2002 and we are looking for it to double again over the next three years.”
