PROFILE: GEM LOGISTICS
Within Gem Logistics’ colossal Raunds warehouse are a raft of services that can be tailored to suit partners’ needs
Building momentum
Operating out of its brand new warehouse, Gem Logistics is reaching out to publishers in the games industry and beyond. James Batchelor visited the facility to find out more
FINDING THE right distributor can be a tricky process, but Gem Logistics’ pick ‘n’ mix-style offering could be just what publishers and retailers need.
A standalone business unit of the Gem Group, the firm operates out of a 250,000 sq ft warehouse in Raunds, Northamptonshire. This gargantuan building is fully owned by Gem Logistics, purpose built for the firm and opened in September last year. And its team has wasted no time in filling it. Already the shelves are packed with product from Xbox, Ubisoft, Take-Two, Codemasters, 505 Games and more.
But what’s more interesting is the range of services that operates around this stock.
Rather than being obligated to have Gem Logistics handle their entire distribution process, partners can pick and choose the services they require. Whether it’s sales, marketing, bundling, shipping or even just basic storage, the company can provide whatever a publisher or retailer needs.
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We’re proud of our facility, capability, resources and skills and look to extend that out.
“ Alex Croft, Gem
“That’s our value. We take those tasks away so they can concentrate on giving good customer service and driving their brand experience. Back office, the value chain or complete supply chain elements – we can provide those services as well. “We can do everything or we can do segments of bringing a product to market and selling to the customers, depending on what the
“Particular companies don’t necessarily want to get involved in certain parts of the process – but that’s what we do,” says operations director Alan Lynch.
Gem Logistics is overseen by operations director Alan Lynch (above left) who works closely with Gem’s group strategy director Alex Croft (above right)
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
GEM LOGISTICS doesn’t just handle games. The warehouse’s team is able to store, sell, bundle and ship a vast range of entertainment products, from music to DVDs and Blu-rays. In fact, all units of the latest Duran Duran album that went out to UK retailers – including bricks- and-mortar chains, e-commerce and even some direct-to-home users – were shipped out of Gem Logistics. “We’re good at something, and that something is shifting entertainment products – that’s now extending beyond software and leisure,” says operations boss Alan Lynch.
“It all comes back to our flexibility and creativity, but also our appetite. We’re trying to understand more about our partners so that we can increase what we do for them and add more value. The function of a distribution or logistics partner really is to add value and reduce cost. That’s the nuts and bolts of what we’re here for: we’re not here to talk to the customers or produce the product, we’re here to add value in the middle.” Gem Logistics’ non-games partners include RSK Music, Essential Music, Cornerstone Media, Hedkandi and Ministry of Sound – to name but a few.
September 30th 2011 33
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