Confidence and trust are often over-used words in business. But in the case of APEX Linvar’s work with River Island, the two words were the hallmark of success.
Even before work started, River Island’s Director of Logistics, Arif Ahmed, had confidence in APEX Linvar from the very fact that it was named as a partner on three tender submissions for the work to fit out the fashion retailer’s new 490,000 sq ft distribution centre in Milton Keynes.
At the cutting edge of fashion, River Island has ambitious plans for growth and the new DC is a central part of those plans. But with great stock comes great responsibility to ensure customers get the products they want.
And that’s where confidence in a racking and storage provider has to be maintained. Get the systems wrong, and not only does it mean customers could be left frustrated and angry, it means business can suffer.
Delays in the supply chain mean potentially costly delays for the consumer and that can’t be tolerated by any retailer, let alone a world-renowned one with more than 300 stores.
APEX Linvar, based just a few miles from River Island’s new Magna Park DC, worked with River Island to develop a solution; a holistic solution that also involved APEX Linvar’s specialist design teams (whose job it is to think of everything) advising on even the floor slab layout.
Not only did the design, which was a clever fusion between hanging garments, flat storage racking, conveyor systems and hand-picking stations meet the requirements, it was also developed in such a way as to allow for future expansion.
It’s a truly inspiring sight for visitors. A mix of engineering excellence, co-ordinated systems and a solution that has really been thought about in order to maximise space – and deliver success for the user.
In addition to the racking, APEX Linvar has also installed its SpeedCell mobile storage solution into an aisle at River Island. It has been retro-fitted into a number of pallet racking bays at ground level, storing fashion items and accessories in the facility that handles worldwide distribution.
An extra 5,000 picking locations were created in just that one aisle, using SpeedCell, which is made up of an array of mobile vertical shelving columns made from anti-static, flame retardant technical textiles, which slide sideways to reveal even more such columns behind them.
Bespoke storage and racking solutions are key to effective management of stock, particularly when the demand is so fast that it rarely stays in the facility for long. It makes common sense to design a tailored solution to ensure the right result and it takes experience and skill to do this correctly.
As Arif Ahmed comments: “The SpeedCell installation is one part of an APEX Linvar storage solution that has transformed the way our distribution centre operates and further enhances picking efficiency to ensure we deliver to our customers on time, every time.”
Arif also highlights another major factor in the success of the work carried out by APEX Linvar, and that’s how flexible and responsive the business can be.
As a forward-thinking retailer, River Island decided to invest in its new facility at a time when many companies were being cautious because of the state of the economic environment.
But even with delays, APEX Linvar persevered and when the project was ready to get the go-ahead, APEX Linvar was ready to go. In fact, Arif says that everything the company did gave him confidence that it would be a success.
Even though there are a multitude of examples of where APEX Linvar has gone further than the extra mile, one specific example is how APEX Linvar worked “hand in glove” with contractors, ensuring not only the right flooring was in place at the right time, but completing the installation within an extremely tight timeframe and in time for one of its busiest periods of trading.
It’s an ethos of getting things done. And it’s an ethos shared by River Island, resulting in a great cultural fit with APEX Linvar. Any problems (which can occur in an installation of any size) were brought to the table quickly, with solutions agreed upon and implemented to ensure no delays.
Andy Barrie, from APEX Linvar, says: “Real success in any project comes from being able to deliver. We do that through the handling of projects by skilled and experienced contracts teams, who can respond to changing requirements and communicate effectively with all partners.
“Our design approach with our customers in the enquiry process is to form a team relationship giving customers confidence that we are driving the project and knowledge that we fully understand their business requirements. By providing this consultative approach, we can demonstrate our ability in our design and pedigree in providing materials handling solutions that ultimately demonstrate a return on investment for our customers.”
If a measure of success with a client is whether they would recommend you to others. Arif says he would, and indeed, has, recommended APEX Linvar to his other contacts.
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