By Leaps and Bounds
Modern Materials Handling
Automation was the answer when Custom Marketing Services jumped from a 150,000 square foot DC to one with 500,000 square feet.
July 2006
By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large
For many companies, finding growth is the biggest challenge.
Custom Marketing Services, a third party logistics (3PL) provider in Calera, Ala., had the opposite problem. The company needed to efficiently grow its materials handling capabilities to keep up with sales that were growing by leaps and bounds.
In 2001, the company dedicated 10,000 square feet of a 150,000 square foot facility to the distribution of home décor and entertainment products marketed directly to consumers through home parties. Within two years, the party plan/direct selling business was using the entire 150,000 square feet—and it still wasn't enough.