PROFILE: GEM LOGISTICS
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
GEM LOGISTICS says that where it is based is just as important as what it can do.
Operating out of Raunds, Northamptonshire means that the facility is centrally placed from the ports of Thamesport, Southampton and Felixstowe which assist in being able to offer same-day turnaround The company’s delivery vehicles are never too far away from some of the UK’s busiest distribution centres. “We can deliver to these places within two to four hours, so we have the flexibility for same-day deliveries,” says Alan Lynch.
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Publishers can use the warehouse to directly manage their stock or have Gem Logistics handle it on their behalf
client needs. A publisher may have sales and marketing but no finance element – we can perform that on their behalf. We offer full service capabilities and then create a bespoke solution for each customer.”
We have the
flexibility for same- day deliveries. A lot of our rivals don’t. Alan Lynch, Gem Logistics
“So it’s great having the flexibility to reach those frequently serviced distribution centres on the same day, particularly when it comes to new releases or something that has a time constraint. We need to be able to turn things around and still maintain our excellence at a service level.”
Alex Croft adds: “I’ve sat on the other side of the table as a retailer, waiting for a delivery and being given a 12-hour potential slot. But being told your order will arrive in two to four hours – that kind of thing gives you far more value in terms of planning and how you can process it.”
September 30th 2011 PICK YOUR OWN
So determined is Gem Logistics to ensure that its partners understand they are in control, the warehouse space is even treated like it belongs to the publisher or manufacturer that has stored stock there. Entire aisles are dedicated to the likes of Ubisoft and Take-Tw o, and through the logistics firm’s system, they can log in at any time to monitor and modify their stock levels. “We store their stock, they send us their orders and we do the fulfilment on their behalf,” explains Lynch. “Everything here is fulfilment on behalf of customers. It’s their inventory, they do the buying and selling. We also complete invoicing, cash collection, debt insurance, and much more, on their behalf.”
These services have appealed to companies beyond gaming (see ‘That’s Entertainment’, page 33). Giants of film and music have been impressed by the facility – and not just because of its size.
“Not only is it immense in size, but it’s also immensely flexible,” says Lynch. “Within that space, there are a lot of different services that can be delivered to various different customers, be they on the publishing side or even from a non- traditional market.
“Each customer will look for a different kind of service. It might be value-add, refurbishment, reverse logistics or bundle opportunities. There’s a whole raft of skillset and value-add that can be completed, whether it’s new packaging, shipping out, cross-docking or sending out to end users, dependent on what is important to the partner. We think open-ended flexibility is a big hook.”
THE NEXT EVOLUTION With its current services fully established, Gem Logistics is looking for different ways to expand. New partnerships and additional functions are being discussed and the firm is focused on the future, quick to identify every new opportunity. “The capacity and the appetite is there to extend what we do and actually start being proud of the facility, the capability, the resources and the skills that we have and look to extend that out,” says group strategic development director Alex Croft.
“It might be to new partners within existing sectors that we’re in or actually extending those goods, services and skills across new sectors and consumer goods as well.” Lynch adds: “There have been some good wins that will be announced very shortly, and there’s a whole raft of other agreements covering a range of our services, not just the full distribution solution.”
Let’s not forget that Gem Logistics’ Raunds base is still relatively new to the scene. The attention it has drawn from the publishing world and the High Street in a little over a year has given the firm a strong foundation from which to grow. “This is a very new facility – you can still smell the fresh paint,” says Lynch. “It has only been finished recently, but since we’ve moved here, we’ve already picked up several substantial contracts – and that’s without any major PR or promotion. “When people come here to see the facility and we tell them it’s dedicated to third-party logistics, they think that’s fantastic because they know they’ll get the total focus of an experienced team and a state- of-the-art facility. “What we’re trying to do from this facility is the next level for us, and will provide our next period of growth.”
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