STAPLES
Kevin Lewis , Supply Chain Director at Staples UK , outlines how the office supply behemoth is proving to be a world-class contender in the logistics market
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W hen consumers think of Staples , they might recall the company ’ s famous office essentials . From its ink and toner to its office furniture , the firm is renowned as a worldclass , multi-channel retailer . However , after selling off its retail business in the UK , Staples is pivoting towards a new market : the world of third-party logistics ( 3PL ).
Kevin Lewis , Supply Chain Director at Staples UK , has helped to steer the firm ’ s supply chain transformation , consolidating its six warehouses across the UK and Ireland into one cutting-edge facility . “ We ’ ve moved into a state-of-the-art distribution centre in Corby , Northamptonshire . In retrospect , it was much larger than we needed and it pushed us to look at how we could better utilise this asset . Now , we have some large-scale brands that have closed their own warehouses and made use of ours as a shared-user facility .” Winning business from traditional 3PL providers , Lewis contends that around 60 % of the activity on the site now revolves around 3PL . “ Our expertise has been focused on consolidated deliveries , consolidated invoices and the ability to mix our core product with actually almost any other product ,” he adds .
SEPTEMBER 2019